Re: Making a punch die?

Hi Alan,

I'm actually more of an electronics guy. I decided to tinker with
machining so that I can make a "finished product" when I work on my
projects.

Seeing as how these dies are about $60 for simple round punches to
around $200-$300 for squares and connectors (DB, DIN, BNC), I figured
that making "cheap" punches would be worthwhile. (Heck, almost pays
for the CNC machine!) I plan on punching maybe 20 or so connector
cutouts in a year, so I can't imagine spending $200+ for each die.

I like the idea of CNC'ing the cutouts directly, and I was originally
thinking of doing that; but I just liked the idea of making my own
dies.

Moreover, if this idea does work, I might donate some homemade dies
to my alma mater. When I was a student, I was bummed at how shoddy
my case looked.

Joseph

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
> Hi Joseph,
>
> Are you a tool and die maker? ;>) That sounds like a neat idea! I
have
> many of the Greenle round punches, and I'd LOVE to have the "DB"
> punches. Ever price them? the next best (best?) thing to do is
make up
> a set of part programs to cut them! Locate them by the center, or
the
> left-hand hole, or whatever you like, zero the mill's axis where you
> want a hole, and run the Gcode!
>
> Alternately, a "library" of cutouts and hole patterns could be
saved at
> the CAD level, and when you need say, 17 holes in a box for a
parallel
> port breakout, you just "copy" the bulkhead BNC's 'D' cutout (OK, I
just
> make round holes), and "paste" it to all the locations you need the
> connector at! Just my .02USD's worth!
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
> Joseph wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > I'd like to make my own punch dies for cutting cutouts for
electronic
> > connectors in an aluminum case (0.062). Has anyone tried this or
> > seen information that might help?
> > Joseph