Tutorial of Making a aluminum tray
Things you need
1. Couple of Different Hammers
2. A Timber wood Piece
3. An Aluminum Sheet
4. Different Dollies
5. Metal Cutter
6. Metal Ruler
7. A Marker Pen
Process of Metal Shaping
Step 1: Make a template
Find a timber wooden piece and a round-shaped metal
Use ruler and round-shaped metal to draw the outline of the template
It is supposed to be like this
Use different band saw to cut the timber template along the outline
It is supposed to be like this after the cutting
Use different sanding machine to sand the edge then we made a template for our tray!!!
Step 2: Get the right sized aluminum sheet
Take out the aluminum sheet and get the metal cutter for further use
Because the aluminum is way too big compared to the timber template, we have to cut it into the right size. Use guillotine to cut it and make sure the edge is straight
This is pretty much the accurate size of the aluminum sheet.
After the rectangular sheet has been cut, we have to draw the outline of the timber template. Just a little bit bigger than the timber template. The edge of the tray depends on how you want it to be. Usually it is about 1-2 cm away from the timber template.
This is what is should be after you've done the drawing.
Cut the useless part off. Then we have the perfect-sized aluminum sheet! \
Step 3: Make the shape of the tray.
Clamp the aluminum sheet and template together in the workshop.
Hammer four sides of the tray firstly
It is supposed to be looked like this after you've done hammering four sides.
Use different hammer to knock four corners. I recommend to use the flat metal hammer because that will make the aluminum sheet stick with the template tightly.
It is supposed to be looked like this after you've done cornering.
Cut off the useless part to make sure four sides of the tray is completely on the same height.
Some parts of the corner has been knocked into the aluminum sheet and to solve this problem...
You may have to use different dollies to refine the corner
Just do it like this...
And then sand the entire tray edges to make it feel very smooth.
Finally you will get a beautiful aluminum tray!!!
You may want to polish the tray by using this Brasso Polish oil. It is up to you!!
Disciplinary Reflection
Throughout everything I have been through, I have tried to ask myself "How is all of this related to my degree (Architecture)?" And I have got the answer for it.
For this rectangular aluminum tray, it is actually can be used on a lot of different purposes in the field of architecture. Just slightly change the shape, it can be used variously because rectangular is always the most famous shape in the world.
The aluminum beam is one of the structure that related to the principle.
The structure of the building.
The rectangular structure is the most steady structure.
And metal roof is also inspired by this principle.
