I get the feeling that Machine Shop is a better place to ask about this particular topic than Metal Shop. I need some steel bar stock in the area of 2x4mm. I know such a thing exists, it’s on eBay in the UK and Australia:
Problem: both ebay and the seller say they won’t ship to the US, and it’s the same seller on both countries’ listings.
Obviously, this being the United States of Freedomurica, all of my searching so far has only turned up fractional inch stock in a minimum of 3/32x1/2" (2.3x12.7mm). Anyone know where I can find what I’m looking for, or alternatively, how I can cut out 36 very precise 2x4x8mm chunks of steel without waiting on Haas training to return to the schedule or losing my sanity?
And before anyone asks, steel is key here. Can’t be any other metal. Because ferromagnetic reasons.
Now there’s an idea. Grainger carries 50-packs of 2x2x10mm for $9. Double up on the keys and I can make it to 2x4. They’re retained by the part they’re going into, and it’s not structural. That could well do it.
eBay has small pieces. You’ve listed a range of thicknesses, do you need all of them or just one in particular or anything between 2mm and 4mm (.078" ~ .157"), .125" is very common, probably find scrap that size around in the scrap bin. Any particular type of steel? Mild, SS.
Onlinemetals.com you can order .105"/12 gauge = .2.67mm hot rolled really cheap, a square foot is $8.81
This can be done easily on Bridgeport. If you use .105"/.125" (2.67mm ~ 3.175mm) thickness, you can mill it the width and length. What kind of tolerance ±??
The pieces need to be 2mm x 4mm x 8mm, and I need 36 of them.
I put some 2x2x10mm key stock on order. They’re rounded over with 1mm radius at each end, so a few minutes on a grinder in a jig should take all of these to 2x2x8 rectangles, which can be stacked in this application to make up the 4mm. I think that’s the best move in this situation.
