FOAK : Drilling Copper

Hi All,

Googling has proven far from fruitful, so I'm back to ask the experts.....

1 x Solid Copper Lump (Computer Heatsink Core).
4 x 1mm - HSS/Cobalt PFX A907 Jobber Drills
- Use on alloy steel, titanium alloy and nickel

1 x Pillar Drill.

How would one progress through the lump of copper ?

Slow / Fast ? Coolant / Dry ? I've just snapped one drill off already, so
don't want to lose another !

Piccy of aforementioned copper here :
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/brownie/hs_job.jpg

 

Take the helmet off.

 

google for zero rake drill

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, "Brownz @ Work"

Use milk as a coolant. Yes, seriously, it works very well on copper.

My gut feel would be to go as fast as your pillar drill can manage for
such a small drill, and "peck" it. Remove the drill from the hole
frequently to allow it to cool and clear the swarf.

Hold the job in a drill vice, preferably bolted to the drill table. You
really don't want it to move during the drilling.


--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in
Performance Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
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Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Not in the time frame I have, plus I'm not going to attempt to grind down
the correct angles on a 1mm bit !

Ta anyway. Noted for future ref.

 

I have some thin coolant, so I'll give that a go.

I'd set it to the slowest speed, so that was probably my problem.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, "Brownz @ Work"

I'll bet milk works better, it makes an amazing difference IME.

Keep the feed rate low. I meant to ask, are these through holes, or
blind holes? If they're through then take very great care when the drill
breaks through.

It'll still snap, but at least you took care... ;^)

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in
Performance Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

I've got a couple of spares. Remind me next time we're due to meet up
and I'll bung one in the bag.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in
Performance Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

<Pats new Record drill press vice>

 

Is that your only vice ?

 

<pats new Record bench vice>

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

In copper?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in
Performance Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Job done, no snap-age either, which is a bonus.

A patient process of drill a few mil, clear the swarf with a comp air can,
add a little lube, repeat til end.

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/brownie/job_done.jpg

Couldn't find any milk so had to make do with two of those little tubs of
"Millach Maid" coffee whitener, which seemed to work a treat - it realy is a
great milk substitute ;-)

Thermocouple fitted and setting as we speak, train ticket booked to Lahndarn
tomorrow. Job's a good un' as they say.

Eye thang ewe for your expert advice sir, you are a true gent.

 

Nip down your local Lidl - a couple of weeks ago they were selling just
that thing and you might find one or two left.

 

Surprised me too. It wasn't a heavy-duty thing, but ok for a quid.