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Author Topic: Confused about Dremel Tool  (Read 6569 times)

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Offline reefatTopic starter

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Confused about Dremel Tool
« on: September 08, 2008, 12:07:34 AM »
I am new to use any mechanical tool to build a robot structure. I have designed a model of my upcoming Small Robot in Google Sketchup. And already bought a large piece of HDPE (1/4"). Now planning to buy a Dremel Tool. Can anyone tell me, will the following Dremel Tool be good for my robot constructing job:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=1100. My budget for the Dremel is $80.

And...

1) What kind of cutter will be perfect for cutting HDPE and certainly fits in this Dremel?
2) I know 4-40 screws are ideal for robots. What should be the sizes of Drill Bit for this job?
3) I couldn't find any Video that shows how to cut HPDE. Does anyone know?

Offline ang5t

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2008, 03:02:25 AM »
Hi there. Well, here are suggestions from my experiences. If you have to cut a long straight line, longer than 1" or so, you may have problems keeping it straight. Unless you have a really steady hand and good experience using a rotary tool or similar. Dremel's are good for small details, rounding things off, drilling small holes, and loads of other uses. Just cutting long straight lines doesn't seem like one of the many uses. You may have better luck using a small table saw or something similar. I am also about to have to do this, so I would like to know what you come up with.
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Offline pomprocker

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2008, 10:03:22 AM »
I wouldn't use a dremel tool to touch HDPE with ( I tried it and failed )

It's not really fully variable speed like a hand held drill. Turning the dremel to the lowest setting of "1" is pretty fast, and the second you touch the HDPE it will almost jump out of your hand.

For drilling holes in 1/4" HDPE I used a drill (DC powered or AC powered is fine), and I bought a 21 piece bit set from craftsman.
For drilling holes for 4-40 screw, use a bit just below the diameter of the screw, and the screw will tend to self tap the HDPE.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hi?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=drill&x=0&y=0

For cutting the HDPE, I used a hand held Jig saw.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hi?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=jigsaw&x=0&y=0

« Last Edit: September 08, 2008, 10:04:20 AM by pomprocker »

Offline vidam

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2008, 10:17:30 AM »
I am new to use any mechanical tool to build a robot structure. I have designed a model of my upcoming Small Robot in Google Sketchup. And already bought a large piece of HDPE (1/4"). Now planning to buy a Dremel Tool. Can anyone tell me, will the following Dremel Tool be good for my robot constructing job:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=1100. My budget for the Dremel is $80.

And...

1) What kind of cutter will be perfect for cutting HDPE and certainly fits in this Dremel?
2) I know 4-40 screws are ideal for robots. What should be the sizes of Drill Bit for this job?
3) I couldn't find any Video that shows how to cut HPDE. Does anyone know?

1) What kind of cutter will be perfect for cutting HDPE and certainly fits in this Dremel?

Why not a hacksaw and a table clamp? What is HDPE anyway?

2) I know 4-40 screws are ideal for robots. What should be the sizes of Drill Bit for this job?

Google for keyword "Drill Index". My drill index said that a 4-40 takes a 43 Tap Drill and a 33 Body drill size.



Offline pomprocker

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2008, 12:00:04 PM »
Why not a hacksaw and a table clamp? What is HDPE anyway?

high density poly ethelene  :P

Offline airman00

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2008, 07:11:43 PM »
Why not a hacksaw and a table clamp? What is HDPE anyway?

high density poly ethelene  :P

basically the same plastic found in those cheap white cutting boards
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Offline kd5kfl

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2008, 06:34:25 PM »
Dremel tools are a wonderful thing, but not for this. The cutoff wheel is small, you have to angle the tool to cut things off.

I would use a 9" tabletop bandsaw. coarse blade, slow feed.

Offline reefatTopic starter

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2008, 09:51:30 PM »
But what kind of tool (specifically) is better for making holes on HDPE (for screws)?

Offline pomprocker

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2008, 11:09:54 PM »
a handheld drill or table top drill press

The one Admin uses is a Micromark benchtop drill press for about $150 search the forum for the post on it.

http://www.micromark.com/

carbide drill bits are recommended

Offline reefatTopic starter

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2008, 04:20:10 PM »
Can anyone give me any idea about how good the following Drill Press could be for drilling HDPE or Aluminium sheet?  ???

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100490179&N=10000003+90401

Offline MaltiK

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2008, 02:45:01 PM »
For White Sintra, which is very simialer to HDPE, I scored an indent on each side using an Exact-O knife, which required a bunch of force, and snapped it, worked perfectly!
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Offline ed1380

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Re: Confused about Dremel Tool
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2008, 03:01:13 PM »
any drill press would work. even a cheap one from harbor freight. thats what we have and i drill 1/4" steel with it
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44506

the bits is what makes of breaks the deal. but with soft stuff like alum and hdpe any cheap ones will work
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