Re: Machining Delrin


<Searcher7@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1136425294.968165.73010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Mike Henry wrote:
>> <Searcher7@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:1136162540.747826.15860@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >I have a lot of small parts I'd like to make and I read that
>> > woodworking tools would work on Delrin.
>> >
>> > But since dimensional accuracy is important, I was wondering if I could
>> > use something like a Dremel lathe(or perhaps a hand held dremel with
>> > the proper jigs).
>> >
>> > Would the Delrin gum up the tooling?
>> >
>> > I'm trying to get by without having to save up for major machinery, and
>> > would appreciate any advice.
>>
>> I turned some 7/16" Delrin rod down to 7/32 the other night at about 1200
>> rpm using a freshly ground HSS bit. That seemed to work fine so maybe it
>> will give you an idea of what sort of speeds will work.
>>
>> What do you define as major machinery and what sort of budget do you have
>> for tools?
>
> As far as what I define as major machinery, that would be anything I
> can't keep in my room. :-) And as for a budget, what's that? :-)
>
> Since I'll be working with Delrin and stainless steel I have been
> looking for the necessary tools to accomplish what I want to do. I
> recently won a Rotabroach on eBay and I think that perhaps I should get
> a micro-mill next.
>
>> I've never seen or used a Dremel lathe, but suspect that it hass too much
>> runout for much accuracy and the surface finsh won't be too pretty. It
>> also probably won't work very well if you need to turn down some 2" OD
>> Delrin rod.
>
> Here's a Dremel Lathe:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6026058544
>
> I've also recently won bunches of Delrin rods on eBay. The largest
> diameter being .750".
>
> I figured that it was a long shot, but I was looking into possibly
> making some of the smaller parts I need with the Dremel lathe.
>
>> Maybe I missed an earlier reply from you but did you ever mention mention
>> what sort of accuracy you need and what sort of parts you are trying to
>> make? The answers to those questions would garner much better advice.
>
> As for accuracy, how do you gauge that? I want to be able to turn down
> a Delrin rod to 1/4" diamter and use it as a hinge pin in a 1/4" hole
> that I also drilled in Delrin.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Darren Harris
> Staten Island, New York.

[That seems basically possible to me. I've machined Delrin and it worked
pretty well. It's harder to clog up a lathe tool than an endmill (which is
what I was using) so I'd rate your chances of success pretty high. It
doesn't sound like your tolerances are too tight, but a 1/4" rod would have
a hard time fitting in a 1/4" hole if everything was exact. You either need
to make the rod a tiny bit smaller or the hole a little bigger for it to
function as a hinge. If the hole is drilled, it can be made more round by
reaming, and the diameter will be more accurate; drilled holes are somewhat
triangular.]

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

>


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Machining Delrin
    ... >> As far as what I define as major machinery, ... For machining Delrin, I shoudln't have to worry about the cost. ... >>> I've never seen or used a Dremel lathe, but suspect that it hass too much ... >>> Delrin rod. ...
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  • Re: Machining Delrin
    ... >>> woodworking tools would work on Delrin. ... >> will give you an idea of what sort of speeds will work. ... >> I've never seen or used a Dremel lathe, but suspect that it hass too much ... >> Delrin rod. ...
    (sci.polymers)
  • Re: Machining Delrin
    ... >> Since I'll be working with Delrin and stainless steel I have been ... >>> I've never seen or used a Dremel lathe, but suspect that it hass too much ... >>> Delrin rod. ... > a hard time fitting in a 1/4" hole if everything was exact. ...
    (sci.polymers)
  • Re: Machining Delrin
    ... >> Since I'll be working with Delrin and stainless steel I have been ... >>> I've never seen or used a Dremel lathe, but suspect that it hass too much ... >>> Delrin rod. ... > a hard time fitting in a 1/4" hole if everything was exact. ...
    (sci.polymers)
  • Re: Machining Delrin
    ... >> woodworking tools would work on Delrin. ... > will give you an idea of what sort of speeds will work. ... > What do you define as major machinery and what sort of budget do you have ... Here's a Dremel Lathe: ...
    (sci.polymers)