What can I use to cut this aluminum LED channel?

[spencert]

I’ve been putting these up around my apartment for LEDs:

Before joining DMS, I cut them with a dremel and handsaw, which took forever and made straight cuts very hard.
Is there a machine I can use for this? I need to cut them straight and 45 degree angles. I’d prefer if I could cut the plastic cover at the same time, so it’s even. But cutting that by hand is fast.

I bought them from here. It says they’re anodized, which seems to be true. Most of them have a frosty finish. But the ends, along with spots I scratched, are shiny, even after months.

At its thickest, the metal is about 1/8"
The channel itself is 6/8" wide by 1/4" tall (and about 1/16" taller with the plastic cover in place).

[ozindfw]

Evolution Cold Saw in the machine shop. You’ll need training, though. Tool Time with Tim in the machine shop is usually Thursdays 6-8pm where you can learn to cut this and actually do the deed.

[spencert]

Thanks! I’ll check that out.
Is that usually on the event calendar? I don’t see it there now.

[tmc4242]

Is the aluminum saw out of commission ? That would be far better than the cold saw. No mess.

[John_Marlow]

The evolution is the saw for aluminum.

[TBJK]

It is reoccurring, I don’t put it on the calendar normally. I just announce on Talk if I am not going to be in.

[tmc4242]

Ah. When I think cold saw I think of the low speed water cooled saw.

My mistake.

[jast]

@tmc4242

cold saw I think of the low speed water cooled saw.

It is.
The Evolution is a dry saw.

Cold Cut Saw for the Metal Shop

Just to clarify: this is a cold cut saw: [image] It circulates coolant whilst cutting, keeping the material and blade “cold”. They are usually considered “industrial”, and the one we have is definitely considered inop. This is a “dry” saw: [image] no coolant; special blade, works dry, and has lower speed than “miter saws”, which are intended to cut wood. Works well for virtually any metal, and “miters” decently. and this is an abrasive “cut off” saw: [image] They work fine, but heat th…

[Bill]

Seems to me like a bandsaw would a miter gauge would make easy work of that…

[spencert]

I went to Tool Time with Tim on thursday, and he showed me how along with giving me permission to use the machine.
I forget the name of the machine, but it was this one:

It’s right to the left of that door that’s between the machine shop and the plastics area.

[ozindfw]

@spencert

I forget the name of the machine, but it was this one:

Evolution Cold Saw

[jast]

@ozindfw

Evolution Cold Saw

To be pedantic, Evolution dry saw. Cold saws use coolant. Dry saws use special blades (carbide tipped). Both cut metal.

[ozindfw]

You are, of course, correct. I got into the habit because that is the way they were introduced (the Kalamazoo and Evolution)