Member postings for Men Ifr

Hi,

I need to drill a small hole (I selected 2mm) in a steel plate and aluminium plate.

I then put some 2mm rod through both to create a pivot point.

The problem is the pivot is very sloppy - the hole I drill (with Sieg equivelent x2/x3 milling machine and R8 taper) in the alloy is obviously bigger than the jobber bit I'm using.

I've measured the run-out of possible parts:

1-10mm 3 jaw chuck 0.07mm (arc euro part)

ER 16 collet holder 0.01 (ebay part)

2mm collet when fitted in holder 0.07

So I'm thinking the 2mm ER16 collet adds 0.06mm run out - the problem is with buying any of these parts I don't see a run-out specification.

Is 0.07mm normal/acceptable? I'm a bit dissapointed in the arc euro chuck but maybe all 3 jaw chucks are very poor?

Also - I can't measure the hole I drill... maybe its much further out than +0.07?

I thought maybe I can try to get some ~2.1mm rod or make some but the 2mm rod seems a reasonably tight fit in the steel so I think (but can't measure) the hole in steel is closer to the 2mm and the hole in alloy is 2.07mm or more...

Any tips or am I expecting far too much?

I thought about making a bigger hole but it would still have the same error in the size wouldn't it?

Just an update I bought a 14" Titan abraisive chopsaw for £80 from screwfix that was rubbish - the clamping system would not hold the piece properly - also it was very very slow to cut - much slower than an angle grinder with 1mm disk - maybe because the chop saw disk is 3mm.

Anyway I took that back and bought an evolution sliding 210mm mitre saw for £100 (reason is at least with a mitre saw you have a true 90deg angle to the back - the chopsaws appear to all have flimsy clamps that cannot be set upto 90 deg.

Anyway I'm massively impressed with this saw - goes through steel or alu very easy and both angles can be adjusted to get true 90degrees.

For smaller pieces I drilled through the base-plate so I can hold my milling machine clamps on there making it quite versitile.

Next job it to replace the plastic bits where the blade goes through which leave 10mm gap either side of the blade with something solid then I'll just cut a slot in that the blade needs so there is zero gap from the surface to the blade.

I want to buy small aluminium rod and have the ends say 2mm dia rivetted. I cant use normal rivets because I need a thicker center section.

So what grade alloy do I need? and is that fairly common i.e my local stockist should have it?

And what is the reason for this limitation is it the strength of the cutter or the removal of swarf?

If it is swarf can you cut through a material to a greater depth than you can cut a slot in it?

Martin - that's a very good suggestion thanks - I already have an ER32 and should get me going so I will just need to buy a suitably small collet for the 1st job that is probably using 3 or 4mm bar. Oh and a cutting tool - again they are very cheap.

Edited By Men Ifr on 21/11/2016 20:22:15

Edited By Men Ifr on 21/11/2016 20:22:41

Michael,

You may have done the obvious buy you may have hit gold - I didn't check for stockists in Cov as the last time I needed steel simple angle iron about 8 years ago i had to goto Nuneaton...

I'll have a nosy round to see what they've got and whether any carry alu as well.

Edited By Men Ifr on 13/11/2016 14:43:25

I can buy a 5mm colbalt bit from Arc Euro

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Twist-Drill-Bits/Drill-Bits---Cobalt/40-55mm

While I put my order in for the milling vice so that should work I assume. it's £2 so worth a gamble at any rate - will I need a smaller bit for a pilot first though?