Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Can't see why it won't work.
But would be quicker to make 2 with different internal bore diameters. Also quicker to swap from one to the other.
Re: Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Yeah, a one-piece would work I guess, and possibly be the better option.
Cheers.
w./
Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Fair enough.
If its an on going job with lots of different sizes being made, would it not be wise to invest in a pillar drill instead?
Re: Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Yep, got a pillar drill but not a floor-stander, the trouble is that some of the work simply won't fit and there's little point in me blowing hundreds on a new drill that won't get that much use... Even if I swung my existing pillar over the edge of the bench I'd still be having to mess with clamps/supports in the hope of getting a hole drilled square. Just thought this would be a nice simple solution to my problem.
Cheers.
w./
Re: Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Yes it's good idea, I have an old Record drilling jig with inserts left over from my woody days and I just dust it off when I need it , a small amount of time spent making one would save you a lot of time and money.
Phill
Re: Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
I don't think there's any need to use stainless steel - normal mild steel would be fine. You could make the inserts thread into the guide block. If you hold them with a grubscrew, machine a small flat on the insert for the grubscrew to push against otherwise the burr will stop the insert coming out easily. Could make the inserts 'top hat' shaped so that they're easier to pull out...
Re: Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Thanks guys. Nice suggestion regarding the flats, Jonathan - just altering the designs now...
Dom, I'll send through some diagrams tomorrow (this!) evening.
Cheers.
w./
Re: Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Wal, it’s always nice to see people coming up with new innovative products that offer a solution to a problem. I look forward to seeing the new designs if you will be sharing them here as well.
The only thing I can’t see you've covered is how you will align the base unit over the location to be drilled/tapped. I’m thinking a rod made of clear plastic, bored out to almost all the way with a small center cross or a marking in the center of what would then be a tube with an end to it may work well, though I’m now thinking “but how well would you be able to see down the tube to place the mark/crosshair, L.E.D illumination built into the plastic tube?
What do you think, have you got something else in mind?
.Me
Drill/Tap Guide Block for 15mm aluminium plate edges.
Just as an aside.
If you had swung your pillar drill over the side of the bench and clamped the plates underneath. The job would be finished by know, at no extra cost. :)
Nice design and animation though.