[time-nuts] Machining some aluminum help!

[cdelect at juno.com]

Well I did some research and found my new best friend!

If you remember I needed:  "I have a square aluminum tube 5" X 5" with a
.25" wall it's 8 1/2" long.

I need 20 holes in each end tapped for 4/40 and 1/2" deep."

This for a Rubidium standard I am working on.

I found all about self forming taps!

I drilled the 20 1/2" deep holes and then made a handwheel to attach to
the pulley on my drill press. After mounting the tap in the drill press
and putting a dab of Crisco on the tap I was able to tap each hole to a
depth of 7/16" as fast as I could turn the handwheel!

I then got another 8-32 self forming tap to do the holes for 15 feedthru
capacitors, again as fast as I could turn the handwheel.

I'm very happy to discover these taps!!!!

Cheers,

Corby