Cutting Honeycomb Aluminum

[ZooCity]

So I still have this set of 6 30x36 honeycomb all-over platens w. rubber tops and it turns out I need about a 21" x whatever" platen for a job next week.  I've had these for sale but have been plagued by extreme low-ballin' and deadbeat buyers.  I'd like to simply cut one down to size rather than buying a new tooling plate platen for the job as the cost would be about the same or less at this point ironically.  And you guys all know how much I love taking power tools to platens...

Anyone ever cut this stuff and can it be done with a circ or table saw and appropriate blade? 

I realize I'll have jagged edges on the ends that would need capped.  My concern is that I will crush the honeycomb while cutting and that a fancier cuttin' machine may be a requirement for sizing this material.

I think I'm also going to give Action a call, I'm sure they know what's up, they made 'em. 

[ZooCity]

... and the answer is no according to the fine folks at Action.  The band that trips up the outside of the platens apparently provides a degree of integrity to the platen overall.  While I may have successfully cut it to size (with some luck), that band would need replaced lest the edges of the platen collapse and distort.  Far too much of a project compared to buying another platen. 

Noted for posterity. 

If anyone else has experience with this I'd still love to hear it. 

[Northland]

I've cut some 6160 aluminum to pallet size using a Freud non-ferrous blade in a table saw.

[ZooCity]

Yeah, that works great but they honeycomb stuff is a different animal and needs the cap or band around the edge for support.

[Action1]

... and the answer is no according to the fine folks at Action.  The band that trips up the outside of the platens apparently provides a degree of integrity to the platen overall.  While I may have successfully cut it to size (with some luck), that band would need replaced lest the edges of the platen collapse and distort.  Far too much of a project compared to buying another platen. 

Noted for posterity. 

If anyone else has experience with this I'd still love to hear it.

Greetings:

Cutting the pallet down to size will be fine. There will be no change in the pallets flatness or rigidity. You will have a challenge with the edges being sharp, but pallet paper will shroud the edge well. I'll check here to see who provided the erroneous information to you and correct them. You are able to use a saw of your choosing, circ or table or jig, to cut down the material.

Erik

[mooseman]

I don't have a dog in this issue just wanted to say it is very refressing to see a Action to step up and correct this situation, hats off to that kind of business integrity.
mooseman

[inkman996]

I would suggest when you cut it be as close to the webbing as possible that way you have a rigid edge.

[ZooCity]

Well shucks, thanks for the correction.  How does action cut the stuff, out of curiosity?

[inkman996]

Well shucks, thanks for the correction.  How does action cut the stuff, out of curiosity?

Water jet?

[JBLUE]

Well shucks, thanks for the correction.  How does action cut the stuff, out of curiosity?

Water jet?

That would be a good way to do it. Go right through the rubber and all. The edge will be super clean and it probably wont even separate the rubber from the pallet.

[jsheridan]

That or a metal blade band-saw.

[Action1]

Well shucks, thanks for the correction.  How does action cut the stuff, out of curiosity?

We use may tools. The most common one is a special table-saw setup. We also use water jet, jig saws, & chop saws.

[Action1]

I don't have a dog in this issue just wanted to say it is very refressing to see a Action to step up and correct this situation, hats off to that kind of business integrity.
mooseman

Thanks Moose - that's why we've been able to stay in this industry for 20+ years.

[spotcolorsupply]

We use may tools. The most common one is a special table-saw setup. We also use water jet, jig saws, & chop saws.

I’ve seen the "Special Table Saw" setup.... A bad boy grizzly (I think?) flipped upside down.... Seriously cool 

[ZooCity]

Update: I cut one of the aforementioned honeycombs last week with an aluminum cutting blade on the circ saw and it worked out surprisingly well.  The stuff is quite stable to cut and easy to work with. 

And props to Action for building the solid alum 'caps' on these platens, looks like very solid construction.

Now I want a set of six honeycombs in 16x22, it's so light at smaller sizes and what a pleasure that would be for a manual printer.  Action people- do you recommend them for manual printing?  I'm not sure if the force of indexing with your hands would become an issue.  Although, the force needed to index would be far lower with the lighter platens.