Hey guys, what spec aluminum are we using for milling these plates? Is it 6061?
I believe so.
Cool. Just checking if anyone is using anything else. I use 3003-H14 for the beds on my printers. 6061 is substantially more expensive, as Alex has pointed out.
I have found my local supplier to charge the same price for both. Perhaps it is supplier specific. 6061 is tougher and would be a better investment for an OX.
It’s $20 vs $30 for 12x12 at onlinemetals which is where I’ve been getting the sheets for my beds.
So material alone would cost 60 for the ox plates?
I hope that’s all (don’t forget to add another $20 for shipping). Some are saying that 24x24 is required but I don’t see how that would make selling a completed plate design for $100 on eBay possible. @Alex_Lee you’ve done this, can you weigh in here?
I actually have no interest in making plates right now. You saw my ROUX build post last week? Those plates are MDF and won’t hold up plus I don’t want to learn CNC from scratch on something as big as 2’ x 4’. I’m designing up something small like the Stinger Micro Mill by Robert Hummel. Really straightforward frame design, printed plates to start, and a 12x12 working area. I need it to make mounting holes in the alum sheet for the printer beds. Then I want to use it to make the Robert Hummel RC Spindle, that’s why I’m asking.
That’s about what it cost me, ~70.00 for a set of plates. Add in a new end mill per set…it can get up there. 6061 or 6063 is my go to, most readily available.
Thanks for confirming!
I have 2 12x12 garolite X plates, it’ll be a place to start. And I’ll throw some 6061 into my upcoming metal order.
The plates are static, there’s really no need for 6061. You are only locating some holes relative to each other. No bending forces, all linear in the plane of the metal sheet. If garolite is strong enough, any 3mm metal plate will be similarly strong enough… Except lead, maybe 
I bought 6mm plates and it introduced other issues with screws, etc. if I had the choice, I would have used 3mm of anything that will hold a thread.
I just found these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-2-piece-T6-Aluminum-Sheet-Plate-6061-12-x-12-x-250-1-4-/261752570541?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf1ab42ad They’re less than $30 shipped to me, but I’m in the same state as the seller.
@Mandy_Ellifritz that’s shipping in a flat rate box so it’ll be the same shipping price to anywhere in the country. Good find.
What? Spring Texas? That’s like 20 minutes from where I live. Great find @Mandy_Ellifritz
Glad I could help. Now if I could only get my stupid DSL to work for more than 5 minutes so I could order some!
Leave some for me!!! I am going to ask the seller if I can pick up locally. Time to get my OX to start on something.
I didn’t realize that was 2 sheets for $30. That’s an even greater deal now.
@Dat_Chu make sure to add them to your cart then request the total from the seller so you’re committed to them and they don’t sell out. Now I just need to finish figuring out how much v rail to order.
I just bought 58 pounds worth, according to UPS.
A sincere thank you to @Mark_Carew_OpenBuild for shipping the same day I ordered so I could have it for the weekend.