Monday, November 20, 2006
Wire gauge drill bits...
One of the most finicky bits of making a reprap in the States is drilling the extruder barrel orifice. About the finest gauge drill bit that you can get in most hardware stores is a wire gauge #60 which is just a shade over 1 mm in diameter. I've been gritting my teeth about buying one over the internet because it will cost about $3 and cost maybe $6-7 to ship. That sort of thing claws a big bloody hole in my stingy Scotts-Irish soul.
Tonight, though I was down at Orchards Supply and there was an old guy there who really knew his tools. He showed me a set of #60-#80 wire gauge drill bits for $30. A #80 is .343 mm in diameter. I snapped it right up.
If anybody else needs such a set you can get it over the web directly from the manufacturer who is in the Lower Hudson River Valley.
http://www.gyrostools.com/products.asp
They work in my Dremel. Now to see if I can hold my hand steady enough to avoid breaking them. It will be interesting to see if 0.5 mm is really the smallest extruder orifice. :-)
Tonight, though I was down at Orchards Supply and there was an old guy there who really knew his tools. He showed me a set of #60-#80 wire gauge drill bits for $30. A #80 is .343 mm in diameter. I snapped it right up.
If anybody else needs such a set you can get it over the web directly from the manufacturer who is in the Lower Hudson River Valley.
http://www.gyrostools.com/products.asp
They work in my Dremel. Now to see if I can hold my hand steady enough to avoid breaking them. It will be interesting to see if 0.5 mm is really the smallest extruder orifice. :-)
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I would suggest you use them in a drill press and lube the bit. Note that you can get a drill press-type dremel holder for your dremel for $45 or so:
http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-220-01-WorkStation/dp/B00068P48O/sr=8-1/qid=1164198788/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-9528414-6286428?ie=UTF8&s=hi
http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-220-01-WorkStation/dp/B00068P48O/sr=8-1/qid=1164198788/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-9528414-6286428?ie=UTF8&s=hi
Yes, be gentle with the drill press aproach. I've broken tiny bits by exerting to much pressure on them. The must drill at their own pace.
Maked me feel stupids. :)
Maked me feel stupids. :)
Just a heads up. Micro Mark has the exact same drill bit set for about $8 less. I'm a Scott also.
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82416
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http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82416
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