[sdiy] speaking of drilling... Small drill press recommendations?

[David G. Dixon]

Yeah, 1/8" is a bit thick.  I'll probably switch to 3/32 when I go back to
the metal shop for more.  However, it's only a potential problem with the
pots which hold on the stooge bracket, and even then I'm catching at least
one full thread, so no worries.  As long as I have no raised edges on the
stooge bracket where I've punched the hole, I'm OK.  If I do, then I just
peen them down with a hammer.

As far as the stainless stooge brackets, because I have access at school to
the punch as well as a pedal-operated guillotine for cutting and a press for
bending, it is actually extremely easy for me to fabricate the brackets.  As
with everything else, I have a system for laying them out and making them.
I can lay out, cut, punch and bend a custom bracket in about 15 minutes.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tim Parkhurst [mailto:tim.parkhurst at gmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 2:48 AM
> To: David G. Dixon
> Cc: Scott; sdiy
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] speaking of drilling... Small drill press
> recommendations?
> 
> On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 10:55 AM, David G.
> Dixon<dixon at interchange.ubc.ca> wrote:
> > I have been drilling my own 1/8" 5052 aluminum panels for a few months
> now.
> >
> > I use 1/32" stainless steel for my stooge brackets, but I punch the
> holes --
> 
> Wow, I know people should go with whatever works best for their own
> applications, but 1/8" thick panels really seem like overkill. Not
> only is it a LOT tougher to cut / shear, but it takes longer to drill
> and you have to make sure your panel components have a threaded 'neck'
> that is long enough to go all the way through and leave room for
> hardware on the other side.. Try some .050" or .063" (1/16) and see if
> that doesn't do the trick for you. Even a tall 5U panel should be
> plenty stiff in 1/16", especially once you attach an angled PCB
> bracket to the back. If you really need a stiffer panel, try .093" but
> that should be PLENTY thick for anything short of a military
> application. Honest.
> 
> If you really wanted a trick panel and you had access to a sheet metal
> brake to do some bending, try making a panel out of 1/16" and bending
> a short tab on one side (both sides for a really wide panel). The tab
> should not extend all the way to the top and bottom because you'll
> need a flat face where the panel mounts to the rails, but the tab
> works well as a stiffener even if it is only about 75% as 'tall' as
> the panel. You'd be amazed at how much stiffer the panel gets when you
> add that bent flap to the side. Bonus: if you make the tab long enough
> and drill a couple of holes in it, it doubles as a PCB mount bracket!
> 
> As far as the Stooge style PCB brackets, try some mild steel instead.
> Most hardware stores carry it, and 1/32" is just fine. Once you're
> done cutting, bending and drilling, you'll want to sand it, primer it
> and paint it to prevent rust, but I think you'll find it SO much
> easier to work than stainless that you won't mind the extra steps.
> 
> 
> Tim (designs mechanical stuff like this for a living) Servo
> --
> "Sire, the church of God is an anvil that has worn out many hammers."
> - H.L. Hastings