[time-nuts] Machining some aluminum help!
jimlux
jimlux at earthlink.net
Fri May 19 00:13:14 UTC 2017
On 5/18/17 2:36 PM, Chris Albertson wrote:
> It would be easy to re-design the job for cheaper machining.. Do you
> really need to tap the holes? You might use self taping screws. Id the
> would work then you can do the work yourself with just a hand drill.
>
> OK it you must use machine threads and they must be #4 size try "rivets"
> these work like pop rivets but leave a hollow thread insert in the hole
> that will take screws. Takes all of 5 seconds to install a thread hole.
>
> Think again about threading aluminum. It is not very strong, it would be
> easy for an end user to strip the #4 threads. Better to use the rivet or
> other steel thread insert. Even native nuts installed with flush rivets
> is better
Interestingly enough, for 4-40 hardware, the screws fail before the
aluminum does. The area of the thread engagement is quite a bit larger
than the cross section of the fastener that is not thread.
For large fasteners, where the thread depth is a smaller fraction of the
fastener diameter, this may not be the case (as anyone who has stripped
the threads on an aluminum cylinder head with a steel sparkplug will
know, in a deep and visceral way).
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