I need to cut a 250 mm length of 1.5 mm stainless and brass capillary tubes into 16 mm sections. Precision is not critical, instead I’d like to not crimp the ends. Right now I’m going to try using a rotary Dremel cut-off wheel. Would one of the lasers be an alternative? How would you suggest I do it?
Our normal lasers cannot cut metal but the fiber laser may be the ticket.
I wonder if even the cold saw could work? Depends on the thickness of the tubing
@NickE , Thanks for the quick reply.
These capillary tubes are very thin, that is, they are only 1.5 mm diameter tubes with 0.2 mm center hole. I assume the cold saw it too massive and possible the fiber laser too. They are too hard for a knife. And the crimping jaws of a diagonal pliers (dikes) creates a mash at the ends.
I’m trying to make a bunch of tips for a BeadSmith Thread Zap for melting bead filament. Note the broken nichrome wire in the bottom pict.
Brian, I can leave you a jeweler’s saw and some blades. It will be slow going on the stainless but should go very quickly on brass. There should be no deformation and any burrs can be cleaned up with a needle file.
@ewei, I’ve got only a few cuts - like 10 presently. Maybe I could just join you there when you are there, borrow them and return them. When is your next time you’ll be at Asmbly?
P.S. I just ordered the brass ones (they are cheaper) and they’ll arrive on June 4th. So maybe best to plan afterwards, say June 5th afternoon or early evening
I have some cutters designed to cut bicycle cable housings without crimping. I wonder if that would work.
You can could make a slug to go inside the hollow section so it reduces crimping. Also are the tubes removeable. You could turn them on the metal lathe.
Thanks for all the insights and options.
This seems far too small for the bed fiber laser.
If you want to drop those off somewhere I can do a fantastic cut on my MOPA in stainless now.
I can cut it clean without any dross or heat affected zone.
I’ve been machining teeny, tiny stuff out of utility knife blades so I can have microtooling in tempered steel.