[sdiy] Machining aluminum, part deux

[Tim Ressel]

Tap magig is real good for aluminum, especially for a
good finish. WD-40 works well too, and is easier to
find.

--TR

--- Tony Clark <clark at andrews.edu> wrote:
>    Hi List,
> 
>    Just some thoughts on machining aluminum...
> 
>    There are some things you can do to make it go a
> little easier.  
> First, depending on the size of the hole you may
> want to adjust the speed 
> of the drill.  The smaller the hole, the faster the
> drill should be 
> turning.  The reason to do this is to keep the size
> of the shavings down 
> to a size that is appropriate for the bit.
>    Of course it's not a good idea to run things too
> fast because you'll 
> generate too much heat from friction!  This is
> typically why people burn 
> out bits working with harder metals such as steel.
> 
>    Also, to make clean cuts, buy a lubricant called
> "Tap Magic".  This 
> stuff is brilliant for working with aluminum.  It
> keeps the holes 
> practically burr free (burrs being the #1 annoyance
> with me) and also 
> will keep your bits from getting clogged with
> aluminum shavings.
> 
>    Cheers,
> 
>    Tony
> 
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>          The E-Music DIY Archive - New Site Coming
> Soon!
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> "We wouldn't want to ship something that doesn't
> work"
>    - Carl Stork, general manager, Microsoft Windows
> division
>      Excerpt from EE Times April 2, 2001
> 


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax
http://taxes.yahoo.com/