How To Make A Dome Out Of Sheet Metal
The learning curve is a few weeks if you are already handy with sheet metal.
How to make a dome out of sheet metal. Anneal the metal sheet and let it cool. Hydraulic die forming is quicker and lends itself more to duplicating formed art or other production. After filing the edges i was ready to start shaping the dome. In both sheet metal is sunk or pressed into a die.
The sheet metal takes the form of the design cut into the die. Make a full scale layout of the dome arc using the 36 inch radius on a sheet of metal. We had fun making this video of a sheet metal dome build. The way you do it is you special order a 3000 series soft aluminum sheet.
Cut the metal sheet so that it is about 10 mm larger than the form. Then using a shot filled leather bag and a rounded mallet you rough shape it then you smooth it out with an english wheel then you repeat as needed to get the right shape. Sketch the form you want to dome onto the plastic s sheet and cut it with a jewelers saw with a coarse saw blade. Why not poke fun at some of the diy videos out there.
Divide this arc with stations every 6 inches along the length of the arc. Using a paper plate for a guide i drew a circle on the sheet. Number the stations from the base up number 1 through 10.