> Lasers are great. A ten watt fiber laser is about minimum for
> aluminium.
> Twenty is much better. Cheap to use, they are pretty efficient. Not so
> cheap to buy, but if you are doing thousands of cans...
>=20
> Single diode laser is not going to cut it.
>=20
> You can build a CO2 laser for cheap, it's old technology but it works.
> Lifespan is OK.


You need more CO2 laser than you think to cut aluminium, even thin stuff.
It has a habit of conducting heat well (as does copper).  YAG is a better
choice for metals.

EDM might work.

But... Coke cans have the annoying property of being covered in plastic to
stop the drink eating the alloy.  For amusement value get some sodium
hydroxide / caustic soda / lye / drain cleaner and drop a coke can in it.
(Nasty stuff, will eat you too.)

Any sort of spinning blade will distort the thin walls.  Maybe you can fill
it with wax.  You may be able to cut the top & bottom first (thicker) then
score the walls with a thin knife.

Tony

--=20
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