CalG
Super Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2011
- Messages
- 5,107
- Location
- vermont
- Tractor
- Hurlimann 435, Fordson E27n, Bolens HT-23, Kubota B7200
I did do this. One difficulty is that to do this you need an accurate hole location. Depending on the part geometry this can be pretty challenging for those of us who aren't professional machinists. In my case, because I had drilled a pilot hole, and because my part was flat on both sides with the hole perpendicular to the faces, it was easy. But, then, the pilot hole had caused other problems. Perhaps a very small pilot hole would be the best of both worlds. No bigger than the bit web, and maybe smaller. That might even provide a way to get cutting fluid flowing through the hole and around the cutting edges of the bit the whole time or at least every time we pause the feed pressure.
Just because this came to my notification box....
On thicker material, After drilling the pilot to just shy of penetration through the far side, I like to fill the hole with cutting WAX or sulfur based cutting oil or canola oil if the work is steel.
The pilot hole holds just enough to be useful and not wasteful. Plus, it is where it needs to be.
If I forget, and push the pilot through the work, the wax comes in handy to make a dam for cutting oils, or just on it's own.
Hole making is the most frequent task in any machine shop. at least it was when I was in it.