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Tips for drilling aluminum plate with a hole saw

similost said:
Must be nice to have access to a milling machine... Wished I had a first born to give him up to own one..
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One of the perks of my job.We have two of these Clausing-Kondia mills. I do alot of Aluminum,316L stainless and various plastics.
 
This is what the type I have used in the past . With wood .
Sorry first post got deleted when tring to edit earlier .



Barney
 

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A couple things Nate, Make sure you clamp down the piece before you start the drilling process. Hole saws tent to wobble if the piece will let it. Use a pilot hole first. Check your layout many times before you drill. And, TAKE YOUR TIME. Cheers.
 
If you're being a purist, drill halfway through the plate and then flip it over and drill the rest from the back.

This way the little separation bump (if there is one) will be inside the plate.

That's how Mcintosh used to do their glass faceplates.

You'll have to deburr less this way also.
 
The reason you flip the glass is to avoid pop-out when drilling straight through. That does not happen when working with metals.
 
may be good to just use some spray contact cement, and glue paper from a brown paper bag... might even get by using hair spray, it is a pretty good glue. then easy to lay out, and less problem with the swirlly marks.

or, work from the bottom side.
 
djnagle said:
The reason you flip the glass is to avoid pop-out when drilling straight through. That does not happen when working with metals.
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No, it doesn't, but there is usually a separation bump that needs deburring when cutting metals. Usually on the 'away from the drill' side, like I mentioned.
 
bharper said:
may be good to just use some spray contact cement, and glue paper from a brown paper bag... might even get by using hair spray, it is a pretty good glue. then easy to lay out, and less problem with the swirlly marks.

or, work from the bottom side.
Click to expand...

If you go to any machine supply house you can get a small can of dark blue layout ink for a couple bucks and it will last you years.....at this rate of use. Once applied, you can scratch in your layout and it you don't like it, just paint it again. When done, it wipes right off clean with mineral spirits.
 
I remember drilling aluminum crossmembers for boat trailers, and using this clear blue kind of waxy stuff on the bits. It kept the bits from sticking, and kinda kept them from getting loaded up as well.
 
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