Drilling/tapping in ends/side of aluminium plate

[matt-b2]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - Looks like I'll be investing in a decent floor standing pillar drill then. After a quick look, seems only the more expensive models tilt 90 degrees, with the cheaper ones only tilting +/-45 degrees.

Matt.

[EddyCurrent]

You could clamp a piece of wood on either side, two pieces of 75mm square for example. If done correctly this would create a flat area with the plate end down the centre at 90 degrees to the surface.
Then you could attach something like this; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Press-Benc...item566de7aea9 to the wood so it's central on the plate and drill your holes.

[Neale]

Bench-mounted drill can work, if you can bolt it near the edge of a bench and swing the head sideways. Then clamp the work to the end of the bench. It's worked for me! Fiddly, but you get there.

[njhussey]

Bench-mounted drill can work, if you can bolt it near the edge of a bench and swing the head sideways. Then clamp the work to the end of the bench. It's worked for me! Fiddly, but you get there.

I've just done a similar thing drilling my rails. I put my pillar drill on the bed and clamped it whilst drilling the holes, difference here was the work was fixed and i moved the drill...but the same principle. It worked great :)

[matt-b2]

Thanks guys, for the further suggestions.