implmex
Diamond
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2002
- Location
- Vancouver BC Canada
Hi All:
I'm building a robotic hand right now, and I'm making finger joints.
This involves tapping dozens of M1.0 x 0.25 threads and I have had poor success just rigid tapping these tiny threads in the past.
So here's how I do it these days.
(This is just for prototyping...I have only one finger to do so far, and there are 41 tapped holes in total)
I write the code for drilling in the conventional way.
I drill all the holes.
I then make a copy of the code with everything stripped out except the X-Y coordinates.
I set up an end mill holder and a tapping chuck that's just a 1/4" rod with the tap set screwed into an accurate concentric bore at one end and a 1 inch diameter knurled button on it so I can turn it with excellent "feel".
The endmill holder allows the tap and its holder to float up and down.
I can then drop the head in Z so the tap is just above the workpiece.
I then single block through the locations and hand tap at each location, using the spindle to hold the tap in good vertical alignment.
It works well, but I have an old old Haas Minimill that has only the most primitive door interlock on it so I can defeat it with just a C clamp and run the code with the door open.
What do you guys with more modern machines that have sophisticated interlocks do?
Can you even run a program with the door open?
Can you trust rigid tapping with a 1 mm diameter tap with say something like a Brother or a Robodrill?
Do you threadmill tiny holes like these?
Do you try to form tap them?
Do you have another way you'd care to share?
My way is great for the prototyping phase, but it'd be a bloody PITA to try to run any kind of production volume this way, so I'm looking ahead and planning...
Cheers
Marcus
Implant Mechanix • Design & Innovation > HOME
Vancouver Wire EDM -- Wire EDM Machining
I'm building a robotic hand right now, and I'm making finger joints.
This involves tapping dozens of M1.0 x 0.25 threads and I have had poor success just rigid tapping these tiny threads in the past.
So here's how I do it these days.
(This is just for prototyping...I have only one finger to do so far, and there are 41 tapped holes in total)
I write the code for drilling in the conventional way.
I drill all the holes.
I then make a copy of the code with everything stripped out except the X-Y coordinates.
I set up an end mill holder and a tapping chuck that's just a 1/4" rod with the tap set screwed into an accurate concentric bore at one end and a 1 inch diameter knurled button on it so I can turn it with excellent "feel".
The endmill holder allows the tap and its holder to float up and down.
I can then drop the head in Z so the tap is just above the workpiece.
I then single block through the locations and hand tap at each location, using the spindle to hold the tap in good vertical alignment.
It works well, but I have an old old Haas Minimill that has only the most primitive door interlock on it so I can defeat it with just a C clamp and run the code with the door open.
What do you guys with more modern machines that have sophisticated interlocks do?
Can you even run a program with the door open?
Can you trust rigid tapping with a 1 mm diameter tap with say something like a Brother or a Robodrill?
Do you threadmill tiny holes like these?
Do you try to form tap them?
Do you have another way you'd care to share?
My way is great for the prototyping phase, but it'd be a bloody PITA to try to run any kind of production volume this way, so I'm looking ahead and planning...
Cheers
Marcus
Implant Mechanix • Design & Innovation > HOME
Vancouver Wire EDM -- Wire EDM Machining