Hello from Singapore
 

Hi, I'm actually a researcher in physics and I'm making a demonstration for prospective undergrads that visit my university. I need to use sheet metal and I need some help regarding that.

]Hi, I'm actually a researcher in physics and I'm making a demonstration for prospective undergrads that visit my university. I need to use sheet metal and I need some help regarding that


What kind of info on the sheet metal do you need?
Peter

Hi Stephen and welcome!:)

Welcome to the site Stephen . I am sure you will find what you need here.

David

Hello Peter,

I would like to have a 180 deg twist in a thin sheet of aluminium (the thickness is not very important to me), length ~1m and width ~10cm. I would also like to have the twist to be spread all over the length, so that the curvature is small.

Is this something easy to make? Do I have to design special tools?

Shouldn't be to tough, an "English wheel" or light work with a planishing hammer.

Do you need it turned and welded, a mobius strip?

Many jewelers would make this strip as practice. Does your university have a fine arts program?

I would like to have a 180 deg twist in a thin sheet of aluminium (the thickness is not very important to me), length ~1m and width ~10cm. I would also like to have the twist to be spread all over the length, so that the curvature is small.

Is this something easy to make? Do I have to design special tools


I am not to sure I understand :confused: but I think you can do it with rollers
Peter

Hi Doug, We don't have an English wheel but I can have a go with a hammer. What thickness of aluminium would you suggest? There won't be any load on the sheet.

No I don't need a Mobius strip, just a straight segment.

We do have an arts program, I'll check!

Hello Peter, I want a twist like this http://forums.autodesk.com/autodesk/...ly_twisted.JPG but 180 degrees.

Stephen, given that you are only talking about a 1" wide strip of aluminum, I's suggest just shearing a strip, putting one end in a vice, putting some vice grips on the other, and while pulling STRAIGHT back on the other end, rotating it. You'll probably want to do about a 48" piece because the ends will probably be distorted from the vice and vice grips.

You'll have to go a bit past 180 to get it to stay because of spring back in the metal and the alloy you use.

I'm confident this will work BUT I'm not as confident that the bend will be uniform across the entire length. It would be worth a try.

Kerry I agree with you, I was about to say the same thing. If you keep a constant 'pull' on the panel as you twist it should come out very even. I used to do similar things in wrought iron.

David