Re: Making a punch die?

>
> Hi Alan
>
> If I remember to I'll mic some punches I have at the shop tomorrow for the
> clearances. I know I have some round ones and square ones.
>
> Lew
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alan Marconett KM6VV [mailto:KM6VV@...]
> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 5:28 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Making a punch die?
>
> Hi Joseph,
>
> Yes, I remember those days! Did a LOT of cutouts with an electric hand
> drill and a file! You might try getting ONE fresh punch, and carefully
> measuring the two punch parts. That might suggest clearances needed for
> other punches (?), and you can then cut your die parts with similar
> working clearances. I'm not a machinist or T/D maker either! It would
> be worth a shot! You could always "adjust" them later if they are too
> tight. I've never ACTUALLY seen the punch set for a DB25, but it should
> be similar??
>
> I'd be curious (as would others, I assume) to hear of your results!
> Meanwhile, I'm happy letting my sherline do them for me!
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
> Joseph wrote:
> >
> > 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