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[P] Tapped threads and copper gaskets cut

A project log for Coaxial8or [gd0144]

Full-colour FFF? Multi-materials with unparalleled interlayer bond strength? Abrasives without abrasion?

kelvinakelvinA 05/11/2024 at 05:160 Comments

The machinist technicians just happen to be quite busy at the moment, so I only asked them to mill the top faces.

The nominal thickness of the clamp block section is 4.65mm, meaning that it must've been even thicker than the 4.5mm modelled in CAD beforehand. Perhaps the engineers at PCBWay read the review I left for the c8or r0 and thickened it slightly.

Then I went to the waterjet technicians to ask for the flat parts such as the clamp plate. They just happened to have a small piece of 0.65mm copper that was large enough for 2 gaskets:

They have very sharp edges. I plan for those edges to point up into the clamp plate.
The technician recommended that I undersized the holes -- due to the tapered walls the waterjet would create -- and then drill then tap, so I offset the faces by 0.25mm.
I asked for 3 sets so that I could have a practice round.

I'm thinking that I should've just left the sizing as is, because the taper through 3mm aluminium is very minor but now the holes are too small to just tap directly. I'm likely going to just wait either until the techs have time or I print a jig or something like using a pillar drill, as I don't think I'd ever get all 32 M6 threads tapped perpendicular to their faces. Worst case is just ordering more parts from PCBWay.

The M6 threads took a bit of careful consideration to get started, but I only got the threads to bite in one location meaning that it likely was going down the printed threads.

The finished thread certainly looks better in c8or r1.

Lastly, I lined up my eye directly over each of the M4 holes to tap and used a fiducial marker like a shadow or tip of my foot to mark the horizontal line (to account for my head slightly drifting) and then placed the tap directly over so that I could account for any 2D angle errors.

I used a long tap to get the threads started and then a shorter tap (see below) that fully cut the threads. Well, almost fully cut them in the case of the thermistor. I haven't tried yet, but I'm hoping that I can finish tapping with an M4 bolt and an Allen key.
I like the milky greens and silvery greys in this image.

So far, it feels like the 2-for-1 offer is paying off, such as the confidence / peace of mind of knowing that I've got a second life if things go pear-shaped. I still haven't dealt with the powder inside them though.

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