Where can i buy some plate Copper?

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Glen Woolley

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Feb 23, 2012, 12:12:15 AM2/23/12
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Im looking to get a plate of fairly pure Copper (im using Copper for its heat conduction) for a project that will create ice by supercooling the base and slowly layering water (ice floats so there's always a thin layer of water at the bottom).

I need to make a open box with the dimensions of 70x70x100mm out of plate Aluminum with a thickness of 0.5mm (or something)

Do you guys know where i could find a place to get (and maybe cut) this stuff?

It also needs to make a hygienic waterproof box. Any advice on how to cut and join the metal in a hygienic and waterproof way? non-lead, Silver based solder?

Lasercutters dont do Copper do they?

Glen Woolley

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Feb 23, 2012, 12:13:48 AM2/23/12
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Out of a plate of Copper* I was going to use aluminum but its not as thermally conductive as copper.

Gav

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Feb 23, 2012, 12:22:03 AM2/23/12
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I've seen some in various art & craft shops, but I'm not sure of the thickness and it's pretty small sheet. From memory 'Riot Art and Craft' might be worth a call.

Small parts has some stock, but it's expensive and relatively small:

Aluminium is pretty close to copper's heat conductivity (approx half), and much more cheap and available (Bunnings carries 30x30cm sheets), so you might want to fall back on that if copper is tricky to source.

Cheers,
Gav

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Jake Anderson

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Feb 23, 2012, 12:36:15 AM2/23/12
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you can tig weld copper, if you want it welded I'm happy to help.

For supply take a look at say austral
http://www.australwright.com.au/
waterjet people will probably be able to cut and supply it for you if
you rather.


though I reckon your ice will form on the copper rather than on the top
of the water ;->
even polished it'll probably have enough nucleation sites to start the
formation there.

Ada Lim

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Feb 23, 2012, 2:58:22 AM2/23/12
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when googling, I discovered solder-it aluminium solder paste. now
this stuff is expensive - $1.20 a gram - but sounds good for fillet
brazing aluminium extrusion. has anyone tried it?

Tristan Steele

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Feb 23, 2012, 4:28:32 AM2/23/12
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Element14 sell aluminium solder (not paste) that apparently works well. I have bought some, but not yet used it. If you want to try a bit, let me know, sure we can work something out! (Im in Canberra).

Tristan

Xcuse typos plase, sent fro ny phone.



Ada Lim <ada...@gmail.com> wrote:


Dyrodium

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Feb 23, 2012, 7:44:36 AM2/23/12
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For the metal, A&E has you covered with basically any alloy in small
amounts:
http://www.aemetal.com.au/Webstore/default.aspx

Lasercutters can NOT cut copper, something to do with the melt pool
becoming super reflective, or something... I'd go with waterjet or
CNC. :D

Ada Lim

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Feb 24, 2012, 2:11:46 AM2/24/12
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On Feb 23, 4:12 pm, Glen Woolley <silverfir...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I need to make a open box with the dimensions of 70x70x100mm out of plate
> Aluminum with a thickness of 0.5mm (or something)
> It also needs to make a hygienic waterproof box. Any advice on how to cut
> and join the metal in a hygienic and waterproof way? non-lead, Silver based
> solder?

http://www.quicksales.com.au/ad/copper-sheet-0-55-x-300-x-300-mm-lathe-mill-steam-model/1836930

I was at bunnings today and they don't have aluminium solder, but they
do have silver/tin solder for plumbing / potable water applications.

it should be relatively easy to hacksaw up the sides and then solder
it together.

Kean Maizels

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Feb 24, 2012, 7:16:58 AM2/24/12
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>
http://www.quicksales.com.au/ad/copper-sheet-0-55-x-300-x-300-mm-lathe-m
ill-steam-model/1836930

Yeah, that's good old George Vesley from Offcuts Galore. Highly
recommended seller, and an excellent guy to deal with. I've bought
heaps of Aluminium/Brass/Copper/Delrin (ABCD!!) from him in the past.
He can probably also guide you on how best to solder/braze your creation
as he used to do metal sculptures. But those are probably not food
safe...

Kean

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