Looking for a way to most easily, cheaply, quickly, ... cut
alumin[i]um  softdrink cans (Coke, Pepsi, ...) into two pieces with a
"vertical" cut. ie left with two U shaped pieces when viewed from top.
No specs on amount of deformation or roughness of edge etc. Target -
two half barrels which are not obviously rough edged or deformed.

- Two pieces to be as close to halves as reasonably possible (ignoring
assymetry caused by tab and hole).

- Metal not to be bent or deformed. Clean cut with no need for
smoothing desirable. Minor post cut tidy up OK.

- Ease of cutting probably important. Low cost more important than
speee BUT speed is good. Cottage industry / "appropriate technology"
method preferred although, if a high tech method was very cheap and
very fast it may be OK.

- Both ends ideally left in place.
Opened end may possibly be OK to remove.

LASER cutting an obvious choice.
How much power needed? (focus, conductivity, ...)
Could a properly focused DVD writer LASER be used (bursts balloons but
seems unlikely)
That would be an acceptable "high tech" solution.

Hacksaw or any hand saw tens to be brutal on such a deformable can.

Flame? Hard to be neat or accurate.

EDM - electro erosion. Speed? Would work.

Maybe slipping over a slit mandrel would work with one end removed.
End removable greatly undesired if possible.

Suitable feed to a suitable high speed blade with good support ...?

Blown abrasive cutting?

???


     Russell
--=20
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