Enlarging Hole

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

Hi, this is a picture of a standard aluminium shaft support. They come in a huge range of metric sizes and are used extensively in CNC machines.

My problem is I need some to clamp 1 inch diameter bar.

I have a number of 25mm clamps. Can anyone suggest a method of opening one out by 0.4 mm?

Bear in mind that I only have a watchmakers lathe and drill press so boring is out of the question. Also, I don't want to be buying reamers or anything else.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks, Steve

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

A location posted might elicit help from someone local?

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Kind of puts a different slant on the "A listing of potential helpers" thread that came up a little while ago. This the second request for help that I have noticed in 2 days & it is just the sort of thing a local hobbyist might do in a very short time for a pint of beer & start a new friendship

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 23/12/2017 15:32:24

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Steve if you live near to me you or I could drop them on my little mill and bore them out. Sutton in Ashfield, Notts.

David

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

Use a piece of the 25mm bar with abrasive paper to 'work' the mounting to 1 inch…it helps to slightly taper the piece of bar for about 10mm….sit in front of the telly, put your mind where it can't be offended and get twisting the bar back and forth until it just passes into the mounting….you have effectively opened up the mounting by the thickness of the abrasive paper (which will probavly be good enough)

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

If you are close to the Lichfield area I would willingly do that for you.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by Chris Evans 6 on 23/12/2017 15:39:33:

If you are close to the Lichfield area I would willingly do that for you.

Ditto North Cheshire

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Another example of the "reason" to have at least a general location on your Public Profile.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Ream out.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Howard,

He has already said that he doesn't want to be buying reamers, his lathe is watchmaker size and he has a drill press so pretty basically equipped

Brian

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Use hand tools to chamfer end of 1" bar and cut edges into it to full diameter. Use mole grip and bore the parts through by hand. Before boring, clamp parts with spacer and bolt otherwise they will spring apart with the cut. Or if you are feeling lucky merely file the bore, it will probable close enough for what you want.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Could He use a between centers boring bar? If a list of People willing to lend a hand is made, I would be available although I am "across the pond" this is a WORLD WIDE read forum and has tremendous reach and knowledge.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

I am in Thirsk North Yorkshire and would be glad to help, either boring out the supports or reducing the bars to fit

Brian

[Alan VosParticipant @alanvos39612]

My first thought was a round file. The only indication of the fit required is 'clamp'.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

The fit is achieved with the bolt clamp, bore size to a degree doesn't matter. The difference in bore size affects the centreline height of the bar but this can be got over by shimming if required.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Doubtless ken whotsiname would do it for a tenner (or maybe a twenty note)….

I would ream it, if he was close, as I expect there is one lurking somewhere in the workshop.

Another alternative might be to contact the nearest model engineering society.

A hundred of us could offer locations, only to find out he is on some remote island….

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Ditto everyone who has mentioned location — why would you want/need to hide? Would help in north Lancashire

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Steve Crow on 23/12/2017 14:54:50:

… Can anyone suggest a method of opening one out by 0.4 mm?

Bear in mind that I only have a watchmakers lathe and drill press so boring is out of the question. Also, I don't want to be buying reamers or anything else.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks, Steve

.

Gentlemen

Although several of you have generously offered to do the work for Steve [if he lived nearby], may I point out: That is not what he asked for.

Addressing the actual question: I would say that the drill press is, with the use of a vice or clamps, quite capable of doing the job safely and effectively … Just make up a little boring bar [not dissimilar to a flycutter] and feed it in.

Obviously some centering device will be needed, but that's pretty much just a washer.

MichaelG.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

I'm with Michael on this although I would be inclined to fill the gap with a sliver of something and clamp the screw up tight.

Rod

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JohnF on 23/12/2017 21:27:21:

Ditto everyone who has mentioned location — why would you want/need to hide? Would help in north Lancashire

Perhaps he's worried about being burgled or is concerned about identity theft?

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Roderick Jenkins on 23/12/2017 22:09:24:

… I would be inclined to fill the gap with a sliver of something and clamp the screw up tight.

.

Absolutely, Rod

I forgot to mention that.

MichaelG.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Seems like flap wheel in an electric drill might be good enough?  Or a cylinder hone?

Edited By not done it yet on 23/12/2017 23:41:41

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Or if you don't want to make a boring bar then what about a 1" blacksmiths drill in the drill press, would depend a bit on what speed the drill will come down two.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

When you say a watchmaker's lathe, how small is it?

Is it possible to clamp the block to the cross slide and use a tool held in a chuck to bore it out?

If you mount the block upside down you will only need about 1" clearance over the cross slide.

[Author]

Posts