> > Could any wise member of this group help me with drilling perfectly
> conical
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Bob
Thanks Bob but the hardened point needs both to 'rock' in the point of the
hole whilst at the same time, maintain an accurate positional register in
the detent. It's for a unipivot tonearm BTW, where minimum friction is
desirable. I had thought of synthetic ruby clock bearings but they're a
little on the rare side in the UK.
Nick Mueller - 06 Dec 2006 12:52 GMT
> It's for a unipivot tonearm BTW, where minimum friction is
> desirable. I had thought of synthetic ruby clock bearings but they're a
> little on the rare side in the UK.
So you can't drill the hole, but have to grind it with maybe some brass and
diamond/grinding paste.
But I guess you should get the ruby bearings somewhere.
Maybe they have what you need: <www.selva.de> They do have an English page,
but I didn't find rubys (just brass bushings).
Don't ask me to order for you, they are a**holes.
Nick

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dave sanderson - 06 Dec 2006 13:01 GMT
> > > Could any wise member of this group help me with drilling perfectly
> > conical
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> desirable. I had thought of synthetic ruby clock bearings but they're a
> little on the rare side in the UK.
The flat is produced by the chisel bit of the drill. The only way I can
think of round this apart from tiny boring tools is to try a conical D
bit. Im not even sure that would work, as at the tip there is no
relative movement to do the cutting. have you tried a 'split tip'
drill?
Am I right in assuming the hole is conical, wide at the top, tapering
to a point, but a different angle to the point on the end of the thing
which sits in it? Would you get away with a round bottomed hole? the
hole is in the grubscrew isnt it?
Dave (whos pondering it now...)
Scrim - 06 Dec 2006 14:17 GMT
>> > > Could any wise member of this group help me with drilling perfectly
>> > conical
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> Dave (whos pondering it now...)
Could you just use the dent made by a sharp centre punch and hammer?
If the hole needs to be deeper, how about drill the hole with a normal drill
and then finish the bottom of the hole with an identical drill which has
been accurately sharpened to a point (might work) or form the bottom of the
drilled hole with a tight fitting hardened rod with an accurately sharpened
point, like a countersink again.
Scrim
mikemcd - 06 Dec 2006 14:33 GMT
> >> > > Could any wise member of this group help me with drilling perfectly
> >> > conical
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>
> Scrim
drill a flat bottomed hole
then turn a plug with the cone machined into the plug
press the plug in the hole
JG - 06 Dec 2006 17:09 GMT
from "Avondale Audio"
> > > Could any wise member of this group help me with drilling perfectly
> > > conical holes (with a point at the bottom) as I'm having a spot of
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> > > hex grub
> > > screws 3mm with the detent in one end to take a hardened steel spike.
> I had thought of synthetic ruby clock bearings but they're a
> little on the rare side in the UK.
Not at all rare but they wouldn't do what you hope. Clock/watch jewels
have parallel holes rather than conical. Admittedly the diameter is
between 0.08 and 0.32mm but not 'zero'.
If you call Cousin's technical advice on 01708 380180 they may be able
to advise you as to the suitability for your purpose.
JG
Nick Mueller - 06 Dec 2006 17:55 GMT
> Not at all rare but they wouldn't do what you hope. Clock/watch jewels
> have parallel holes rather than conical.
And, with a little thinking, it is clear why it is that way (and has to be).
If it would just be a conical (dead end) hole, the needle's point would
either touch the ground and have no guide sideways, or -if the point is not
sharp enough- have a guide sideways. In the later case, a through hole
would do the same job.
Nick

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Trevor Jones - 07 Dec 2006 01:24 GMT
> from "Avondale Audio"
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> JG
The balances on some of the cheaper end of production use cup and cone
bearings (mainly in alarm clocks and others with pin pallet escapements)
with a cup shaped as the OP is looking for. These are available from
clock repar suppliers. They are more likely to be glass hard steel than
ruby, though ruby (synthetic of course) may be available.
Cheers
Trevor Jones
Wayne Weedon - 06 Dec 2006 18:29 GMT
> Thanks Bob but the hardened point needs both to 'rock' in the point of the
> hole whilst at the same time, maintain an accurate positional register in
> the detent. It's for a unipivot tonearm BTW, where minimum friction is
> desirable. I had thought of synthetic ruby clock bearings but they're a
> little on the rare side in the UK.
Difficult problem. Drills will not drill to a point as the point can
only be thinned by a finite amount.
How deep is this hole and what diameter?
As someone mentioned a D bit may do it, but with a real point it would
be rather weak.
Now the scale of this problem might help others to help you ;)
Wayne...
Avondale Audio - 06 Dec 2006 23:26 GMT
> > Thanks Bob but the hardened point needs both to 'rock' in the point of the
> > hole whilst at the same time, maintain an accurate positional register in
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Wayne...
Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions particularly the ones about
the centre punch and the round bottomed hole.
The conical hole has to be made in an M3 grub screw and is sufficiently deep
to guide in the steel point during assembly or should it become dislodged.
The angle of the hole is greater than that of the pin which has to both rock
and rotate about this axis. I suppose the pin diameter will be around 1.5 -
2mm and the depth of the hole, some 3mm max.
What I believed was possible was to buy a drill bit with an infinitely sharp
point but thinking a little harder, this of course does not exist.
Hope that helps in the quest.