ATM drilling rubber

[Charles Broward <afn43753@afn.org>]

Hi,
        We have had good success drilling rubber by making a drill or tool using
hollow tubing with the end sharpened.  I sharpen the end by rotating the
tubing against a sanding disk.  I lube the rubber with soapy water, and am
very careful to clamp the rubber between wood blocks drilled and split to
firmly hold the rubber without scrunching it out of shape.  We use a drill
press, and remember to push excess rubber out of the inside of the tool you
make!
        A tubing clamp can be made  using short sections of hose of the desired
diameter (inside and outside).  Use two pieces of hose about a inch long
that have their touching ends cut at a diagonal.  As you compress the two
together using a bolt and wing nut or bike seat clamp. As they compress,
the two pieces slip at the diagonal cut, effectively increasing their
diameter...Tada...instant clamp.  Bicycle handlebars use a similar internal
clamp to hold the handlebars to the front fork except that instead of
rubber ,  metal is used.
        Wandering through a friendly bike shop can be a useful exercise for ATM'ers!

Clear Sky
Chuck Broward,  Alachua Astronomy Club


          
|====================================================|
|  Charles Broward--Coastal Eng Lab--Univ of Florida |
|    352-392-1051 work           352-475-1014  home  |
|    afn43753@afn.org       broward@coastal.ufl.edu  |
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