Re: Machining / Lathe questions

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "robert & june heidlebaugh by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com>

I hope your balls are anealed, or you wont drill them. I use a simple C
clamp with a countersink hole in the anvel to hold the ball in place
   Robert  H
-- 


 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 23:30:23 -0700
 > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Subject: Re: Machining / Lathe questions
 > Resent-From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Resent-Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 01:09:17 -0700
 >
 > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>"
 > <DamDeName-at-aol-dot-com>
 >
 > In a message dated 3/19/03 4:21:13 PM Pacific Standard Time,
 > tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
 >
 >
 >
 >> 1.  My first question is that I want to drill and tap a large number of 1"
 >> steel spheres which I am going to using as
 >> corona balls (spark gaps actually).  Anyone have suggestions on how to 
clamp
 >> these spheres properly.  I guess the proper way to do this to ensure proper
 >> centering would be to use a lathe (see next question), but precision 
isn't a
 >> hard requirement as they are only going to be used for spark gap balls.  I
 >> was thinking maybe taking some material putting perpindicular V-Slots and
 >> having the sphere rest in the intersection point.
 >>
 >> 2.  Secondly, I'm finding that lathe work is becoming a requirement on
 >> almost all my new tesla and high voltage projects (as well as others) and
 >> I'm finding the very high prices of out-of-house machining to be very
 >> restrictive so I think its in my best interest to invest in a lathe and
 >> start practicing.  Are there any lathes out there for under $500.00 that
 >> would be okay for practicing and would be tabletop sized (not a huge floor
 >> mounted lathe)???
 >
 >
 > Hi Captain---
 >
 > Clamp the sphere in a small machinests vice --- set up in drill press
 > ---slowly --- bring down a pilot sized drill to the approximate center of
 > the sphere ---- use very light
 > pressure --- the drill bit will tend to walk away from center ---- when you
 > find the
 > center of the sphere the drill will stay & drill the pilot hole ---
 >
 > Very light pressure & safety glasses a must -------
 >
 > I do machining & welding etc-etc .
 > I'm in Altadena , California ----
 > Been with Chip & the list for a  few years now ---
 >
 > Regards,
 >
 > Sandy
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >