Working With Hardox

[widow_twanky]

Any tips on working with Hardox.

I havent worked with it before but I am assuming that its not that much different to normal steel.

I assume that drilling isnt that easy and its worthwhile using special drills.

As far as cutting is concerned I was thinking along the angle grinder route. I was wondering if there is a need for any specific type of blade or if this is not the right way to do it.

Andy

[grant_ploughbot]

Youll find 90% of people end up cutting it with an angle grinder, it just eats the teeth off a bandsaw.
Drilling/milling isnt too bad, just cut nice and slow with lots of coolant. Best to get some nice cobalt dril bits.

[swanaldo]

i used a 1mm stainless steel cutting blade on my 4 1/2 inch angle grinder. its thin and you have to be careful not to break the blade but works a treat.

[tunna]

Plasma cutter every time,


Der Boyz

[widow_twanky]

Pasma cutter!!

Id only just convinced myself to pay out for an angle grinder.

I had originally thought Id use my junior hacksaw!!

Andy

[tunna]

if your near Walsall anytime give me a call ,would be happy to cut it for you,

Der Boyz

[mattan]

Watercutting works fine too

[maddox]

Lasercutters dont want to work with it, because the surface coating SSAB uses on it.

[johnny_boy]

Laser cutters dont want to work with it, because the surface coating SSAB uses on it??
The coating is a primer paint, thats all. Lasers go through it without any issues, as does plasma, gas and waterjet. Are you sure you know what you are talking about Mario?

[maddox]

Yes I do know what Im talking about.
Its not that lasers cant cut it, its the chance the laser will be damaged.
Lasercutters (the people operating the lasers) dont want to cut painted or coated materials as the gasses by the evaporating paint can coat the laserhead. Any matter not transparent to the laserlight on the laserhead leads to overheating of that head. Meaning if it goes wrong, its mayor ££££££.

Also, lasers have a certain spectrum, not all lasers are good in cutting all the materials. Can you imagine the problems if the paint or coating is very reflective or absorbing in the cutting lasers spectrum?

When a laser is set to cut , it moves with a certain speed determinated by laserpower, material, thickness of the material and the wished for accuracy.
With a coating reflecting or absorbing part of the lasers energy, you can end up with a cut to wide, or worse, not have a burntrough, and that gives a nice volcano effect. Almost garantied a dead laser.
Why do you think the start of a cut is a hole a bit wider than the cutting line itself?
To be sure there is burntrough.