Things to NOT do...
The discussion on gloves, clamping etc. on the Hole Punching thread made me think a things to NOT do thread woul d be a good idea...
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131771-Techniques-for-punching-holes-in-metal-for-panel-mount-components
My first contribution is do NOT use standard length drill bits at high speed in a tool such as a Dremel. I was using an standard length 1/8 drill bit at 20,000 RPM and it went out of balance and bent at about a 45 degree angle, it took a nice swipe at my hand in the process. Use the short bits sold by Dremel or something of similar size.
C.W.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131771-Techniques-for-punching-holes-in-metal-for-panel-mount-components
My first contribution is do NOT use standard length drill bits at high speed in a tool such as a Dremel. I was using an standard length 1/8 drill bit at 20,000 RPM and it went out of balance and bent at about a 45 degree angle, it took a nice swipe at my hand in the process. Use the short bits sold by Dremel or something of similar size.
C.W.
Comments
I knew a very careful, very skilled machinist who spent decades working with killer machinery and he never hurt himself or anyone else. Then one day at home, he was under his car performing a simple maintenance task and, while reaching up to tighten a hose clamp, dropped his screwdriver. It fell point first into his eyeball and he lost the eye.
@ctw: I would add to use only quality drill bits. I can't believe your bit BENT. That means it was an unhardened cheapie. A quality bit may break, but will never bend. Yours was probably soft and dull, which may have caused or contributed to your problem.
And surely I don't need to say never try to cut sideways by pushing a drill bit sideways... that would just be wrong!
My wife and I were making a parachute once. I wanted her to teach me how to use the sewing machine. I couldn't believe they got their (people who sew) eyes so close to a high speed needle without wearing safety glasses.
BTW, sewing was too hard. I pinned all the panels in place and my wife sewed them all.
Duane
I'm not a materials science guy, so I'm just guessing a bit here (no pun intended). But I know if you run a dull bit too fast and hard, it can over heat, and maybe the frictional heating could possibly serve as a bad heat treatment, causing the steel to lose its original properties, making it softer?
In any case, moral of the story: maybe use a little bit of cutting oil when drilling steel or hard aluminum.
@Duane: No matter whether you do it right or wrong, you only need to make a parachute once.
In this case it was plastic, one of those blue project boxes that RS used to sell. It was an el-cheapo bit. Rumor has it that I MAY have been using the side of the bit to cut an oblong, but that's surely not true...
C.W.
'Been there, 'done that. That's why I want a cheap spot welder. 'Anybody know where to get one?
-Phil
I thought the Epilog could be taught to spot weld?
Jim
-Phil
'
_Grizzly.com_ has the HOBART spot-welder for $400 not a bad price at all.(US made) 220/240v 1 phase. only $18.00 to ship.
'
Harbor Freight as a cheap Hobart spot-welder knock-off. ~$200.
Get the 220v model. The 110v model doesn't make strong enough welds.
'
The HOBART works much better and is well worth the extra $.
'
P.S. Don't touch both of the big bare copper tongs while pressing the weld switch. 1.5volts @ 5000 amps !!!!
There was some discussion about why wearing gloves in some operations is NOT a good idea. Check out this: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131771-Techniques-for-punching-holes-in-metal-for-panel-mount-components&p=1008681&viewfull=1#post1008681
The tongs might get hot enough to give you a blister but 1.5V will NOT give you any kind of electrical shock.
Keep your tongue in your mouth.
Aside from destroying taste buds over time, it's not recommended.
Mainly don't do any tests like this at the AC fuse box!
Plus it just tastes bad!
xanatos, you're exactly right! The people looking for an energetic meal say the flavor of AC and DC is quite different, noting they are both electrically on the bitter side. AC has a repeating sour but MilliAmps taste the worse - those millis need lots of sugar. Though we can't recommend the taste test for anyone, if one must indulge in a charging diet, make sure the electricity is fresh. There's nothing worse than stale electric.
-Phil
-Phil
Reminds me of something an old veteran told me when I first started. He was a radar technician working with the British in WW2 and had been sent to examine a captured German radar station. When he arrived there was a Russian technician already examining the equipment. The Russian tech had arrived without any test equipment so he had been estimating the voltages by brushing his finger across the contacts or conductors. After using his test equipment to measure the voltages and comparing it to the Russian's estimates he was surprised to find how close they were. No guess was off by more than 25% and most were much closer than that.
Or fry bacon...