Author Topic: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.  (Read 2720 times)

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Offline ROBOT420Topic starter

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http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/420photo420/media/20130327_190829_zps55588f8b.mp4.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/420photo420/media/20130405_140416_zps02c15b01.mp4.html?sort=3&o=3

So I am have started final assembly and the self tapping screws that I was gona use are not cutting it on this metal as it used to be a wheelchair and is quite strong. I have lots of power supplies, relays, LEDs, ect to mout on there, and hot glue seems pretty cheap-ish. Any advice? Thanks!
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Offline jwatte

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2013, 11:56:52 AM »
Self tapping screws only work on plastic and aluminum, and perhaps very thin sheet metal in mild steel.

To do mounting using bolts in thick steel or alloy/stainless steel, I would drill holes and tap them, or I would drill through holes (clearance holes) and use a nut and lock washer on the other end.

Btw: Very sparkly purple color you got there. Good job!
« Last Edit: April 23, 2013, 11:58:39 AM by jwatte »

Offline jkerns

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2013, 11:58:04 AM »
Drill and tap the holes and use machine screws.
I get paid to play with robots - can't beat that with a stick.

http://www.ltu.edu/engineering/mechanical/bachelor-science-robotics-engineering.asp

Offline ROBOT420Topic starter

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2013, 12:08:08 PM »
Thanks for the reply! I have never had much luck with metal bits (at all). What is a good brand of drill bit that I can get from Lowes or Advanced auto? Also do I run it in Forward for penetration, or in reverse to remove metal shavings from the hole? 
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Offline jkerns

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2013, 12:19:22 PM »
Any would work. I suspect that Advanced Auto will have the tap you need.  If you can't find number drills you can usually get away with the closest fractional drill. For example, for a 10/24 thread you want a number 25 drill, but 5/32" will be close enough.
I get paid to play with robots - can't beat that with a stick.

http://www.ltu.edu/engineering/mechanical/bachelor-science-robotics-engineering.asp

Offline ROBOT420Topic starter

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2013, 06:53:18 PM »
Got em, and some rubber washers too. More pics to follow, trying to get my duel car horns with chrome grills mounted and working right now.
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Offline jwatte

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2013, 08:01:01 PM »
For metal drilling, I prefer M42 cobalt drills. They can cut into stainless even, and dull a lot slower than regular high speed steel bits (coated or not.)
In general, you can drill up to 2 times the diameter of the drill before you need to retract to clear chips/swarf, and then keep drilling. You'll want a drill press or mill for good results; hand drilling in steel has never worked out for me.
I get my drill bits from drillbitwarehouse.com which has nice quality cobalt drill bits at reasonable prices, and only a $35 minimum order: http://drillbitwarehouse.com/home?page=shop.browse&category_id=6
For tapping, you have to cut a small amount (half a turn to a turn) and then back up to clear chips; repeat. You also have to have a very steady hand (or drill press that you crank manually) and use some kind of cutting fluid. Safe-Tap, WD-40, and 5/20 motor oil all work alright; WD-40 is a little light, and the motor oil is a little heavy.

Offline Duane Degn

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2013, 05:44:43 AM »
I second the drill press advice. Harbor Freight sells some cheap presses. I'm sure a more expensive press would be better and a cheap one but a cheap one sure beats not having one at all.

When cutting threads into hard metal (steel), it's recommended to start the cut with a tapper tap. This has a less aggressive cutting surface to make it easier to begin the threads. This is then followed with a plug (or second) tap. A bottoming tap is then used to cut the final threads if your cutting threads into a blind hole.

Here's a set of three taps I found at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Tools-2738--Piece-Set/dp/B003K15ERU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1366802730&sr=8-7&keywords=three+piece+tap+set

Offline jwatte

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2013, 12:26:02 PM »
If you hand tap, you absolutely need to start with the taper tap!

If you use a drill press for holding/alignment, and turn it by hand, you can get away with starting straight on the plug tap, as you will have a perfectly straight start. This is also useful for cutting threads on the outside of round stock, I've recently learned.

Offline ROBOT420Topic starter

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Re: Purple flake bot! I need suggestions on mounting components please.
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2013, 11:41:23 AM »
Phase one is done.

http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/420photo420/media/20130429_123146_zpsae19c0c5.mp4.html


The relays and such are now screwed to the steel with 2 washers and 1 rubber washer on each screw as spacers and shock absorbsion. Next, to wire 'em up and add more goodies.
Don't know jack, but want to know it ALL....let the journey begin!

 


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