The metal shop provides space, tools and resources for metal fabrication. This document provides a plan for the development of the metal shop.
Mission
- Guild mentality
- Pride
- Lead by Example
- Teach
- Leave It Better Than You Found It
Major Tools & Equipment
*High priority means that this tool needs has a high acquisition, maintenance, modification or repair demands.
Sheet Metal Work
Tools for manipulating sheet metal.
| Tool | Priority | Status | Need |
| Plasma cutter | High | Needs torch current sense | For plasma cutter table |
| Metal brake (straight bends) | High | acquire | Fabricating boxes, shapes for sheet metal projects |
| Metal shear (straight cuts) | High | acquire | Fabrication |
| Punch | Low | acquire | Holes for projects |
Pipe and Bar Stock
Tools for cutting and working with hollow tubing, solid rods, and smaller bar stock.
| Tool | Priority | Status | Need |
| Pipe bender | High | See "Need" | We need a system to be able to temporarily secure equipment (pipe bender, anvil, band saw, grinder, drill press) to the floor in work and storage locations. |
| Large pipe cutter | Low | acquire | For clean cuts of pipes and making threads. |
| Small pipe cutter | Medium | acquire | Hand tool for cutting pipe |
| Metal bandsaw | High | Missing safety gear | Needs belt/pulley guard. Needs prominent e-stop. Needs wheels, rubber feet on other end. |
Thicker Metal Work
- Mill (CNC, or convertable to CNC)
- Metal Lathe
- Drill Press
- Grinder
Welding
- MIG Welder
- TIG Welder
- Oxyacetylene Welding
- Safety curtains for vision and spark protection
- Clothing: apron, gloves, welding helmets
- Work lights
- Power
- Ventilation
- Welding supplies list
- Welding supply storage
- Welding consumables accounting (prices and pay jar)
Fastening
- Hand tools
- Air wrench
- Spot welder
- Rivet tool
- Rivnut tool
CNC
- Large CNC Table (for plasma cutting & 3 axis routing)
- Small CNC
Other tools
- Press
- Hardness tester
- Temperature controlled kiln (for hardening)
Painting
- Paint booth
- Powder coating tools
- Rust removal tools and supplies
- Priming equipment
- Etching and anodizing
Preparation and Finishing
- Files
- Metal shears
- Wire brushes
Metal Supplies (quality or size not available from local sources, for purchase)
- Common nuts, bolts, washers (metric & SAE)
- Rivnuts
- Rivets
- Sheet metal stock
- Bar stock
- Supplies stock list, sources, price marking, pay jar
Safety Supplies
- Fire extinguishers
- Protective gear
- First Aid Kits
Training