Thread: Small milling job - ACT

Dear All

I do have a lathe which I use mainly for watchmaking jobs, and I have not ventured yet in the realm of milling and milling attachments.
Hence this post.
I am currently building a screw head polishing tool, and I am at the point where I need to make a slot (correct term?) in an aluminium bar.
The aluminium bar is 100mm long, 40mm wide and 16mm thick.
The slot would be in the middle of the bar, size 30mm wide (leaving 35mm on either side) and 5mm deep.
Would anyone in Canberra be able to help with this task?
I know that alternatively I could file the slot in the bar - somehow I feel that a machine's finish would be better than mine.
Please PM if you can help.
Thanks to all.
Frank

Frank,

Sorry, I don't understand your question. Do you mean either:

1. You have a piece of aluminium 100 mm long, and want to cut a 5 mm deep slot in the middle 30 mm long, leaving 35 mm from each end of the slot to the end of the bar? If so, how wide would the slot need to be?

or

2. Do you want to cut a slot (more like a pocket in this case) 30 mm wide and 5 mm deep in the 100 mm long bar, leaving 5 mm on each side. If so, how long would the slot need to be?

or

3. Do you need a 5 mm wide through slot 30 mm long in the middle of the bar, leaving 35 mm from each end of the slot to the end of the bar?

How accurate do the slot dimensions need to be? If very tight dimensions are not required any of the three alternatives would be a quick and easy job. I'm a bit far away for you to drop it around though!

Frank.

Originally Posted by franco

Frank,

Sorry, I don't understand your question. Do you mean either:

1. You have a piece of aluminium 100 mm long, and want to cut a 5 mm deep slot in the middle 30 mm long, leaving 35 mm from each end of the slot to the end of the bar? If so, how wide would the slot need to be?

or

2. Do you want to cut a slot (more like a pocket in this case) 30 mm wide and 5 mm deep in the 100 mm long bar, leaving 5 mm on each side. If so, how long would the slot need to be?

or

3. Do you need a 5 mm wide through slot 30 mm long in the middle of the bar, leaving 35 mm from each end of the slot to the end of the bar?

How accurate do the slot dimensions need to be? If very tight dimensions are not required any of the three alternatives would be a quick and easy job. I'm a bit far away for you to drop it around though!

Frank.

My understanding is

The slot would be in the middle of the bar, size 30mm wide (leaving 35mm on either side) and 5mm deep.

30mm wide slot, across the width (40mm long), in the centre of the 100mm length. 35mm left each side. 35mm x 2 + 30mm = 100mm. 5mm deep.

As you say, a simple job for the right person.

Dean

Yes, but if this is the case

Originally Posted by Bullseye

I know that alternatively I could file the slot in the bar

It must be a through slot if it can be filed, so 30mm long, 5mm wide and through the bar. We need clarification

Michael

Frank, a quick drawing is probably the best way to show what you need

Its all good, we're doing it tomorrow.

I take it as a 5mm deep x 30mm wide recess across the long axis of the bar, leaving 35mm at either end. It doesn't really matter, we can clarify everything here.

Ew

I & I think many others will be interested to know exactly what the OP really wants. I know that 35 + 35 + 30 = 100 (the length of the bar,) but 5mm deep in a 16mm bar, that the OP says he could file sounds VERY difficult to me (that is to file it) Hope Ueee can send a pic.
tinkera

I am not sure what the confusion is. As Ueee says, but add that the slot is the full width of the 40mm wide section, hence the filing ability. Again this is only my opinion, but no matter how I read the OP I cannot see any other possibility. I may still be wrong of course. Ueee will reveal all. I was waiting for him to offer.

Dean

Originally Posted by Oldneweng

I am not sure what the confusion is. As Ueee says, but add that the slot is the full width of the 40mm wide section, hence the filing ability. Again this is only my opinion, but no matter how I read the OP I cannot see any other possibility. I may still be wrong of course. Ueee will reveal all. I was waiting for him to offer.

Dean

Dear All
thanks for your interest, and sorry - my description of the task could have been better.
Anyhow, Ewan has kindly agreed to help - thanks Ewan - job to be done tomorrow pm.
I took a pic on my phone of the drawing I made for the job - below.
The part to be milled is the bar on the bottom - slot in the middle.
The top bar (horizontal) is an old steel threading tool - a pin vice will be inserted in the largest hole at the far end.
The pin vice will hold the screw head to be polished. The two bolts on either side of the milled slot will allow to regulate the height of the bar so that the screw head held by the pin vice rests square on the polishing surface.
A makeshift tool, I know.
Cheers
Frank


photo(2).jpg

Ok, I was wrong in one small detail!

A makeshift tool, I know.

If it does the job.

I live on a hobby farm. Makeshift is rife. Never enough time.

Dean