3D aluminum

[john_l]

I need 4 of these architectural aluminum hand railing ends. We have searched high and low and can't find anything close enough in design. We found the name of the original source in the original building plans from 1949 but they are no longer in business.

I would think casting is impractical for just these 4 pieces. I could picture 2 halves milled out of block and then welded together, sanded, polished.

I have seen many photos here of profile cuts in thick metals done on bots but is there anyone here who has done any 3d milling? If it is even possible? Any aluminum cutting ball ends?



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[john_l]

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[Gary Campbell]

John...
Brady Watson (and others) have done this. Somewhere around the archives is an article about his cutting an impeller for a water pump from aluminum. IF you can hold it down, you can cut it.
Gary

[myxpykalix]

to create your button end you could use a "button cutter" bit, look up magnate.net

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