Re: Machining Delrin at home (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 23:45:44 EDT
From: Mddeming@xxxxxxx
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Machining Delrin at home (fwd)

 
Hi Jeff,
 
I think we all agree on the positive qualities described by both the vendor  
and yourself. From a machining point of view it's an almost ideal substance. 
My  only concern was with the HazMat side effects which I had not seen posted  
elsewhere, especially in applications subject to significant heating.
 
Matt D.
 
 
In a message dated 6/17/07 11:37:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007  02:01:24 +0000
From: Jeff Behary <jeff_behary@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To:  tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Machining Delrin at home  (fwd)

Matt,

Delrin or Acetal is one of the most wonderful  plastics ever invented.  One 
of the machinist catalogues, MSC or  McMaster Carr? said that "within the 
confines of plastics this material is  considered perfect" and I agree 100%!

It machines beautifully, and is  one of the few components that can pass off 
as "hard rubber" for doing  restoration work.  For standoffs, coil forms, 
discharger rod handles,  spark gap knobs, bases, you name it!  You can turn 
it on a lathe and  it looks absolutely beautiful, and it hold threads 
perfectly too!  It  doesn't gum up the tools, it doesn't change color where 
it was machined,  and the black form makes a nice insulator that is nice 
looking too!   It also doesn't dull the tools as fast as other plastics, I 
think it may  be less abrasive.

Sometimes you can get a good value on Ebay for small  scraps, like off-cuts 
from CNC machines.

Jeff Behary,  c/o


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 16:01:24  EDT
From: Mddeming@xxxxxxx
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Machining  Delrin at home


Hi All, 
For those contemplating machining Delrin  at home (eg. in the  basement), I 
found this on a plastic vendor's  website 
"Acetal plastic (sometimes known by the trade name "Delrin") is  a  very hard 
plastic that is valued by machinists because it can be  machined to  
tolerances 
of .001". It is more slippery than UHMW  Polyethylene. It can be  machined 
with any metal- or woodworking tool.  (woodworking tools should take  tiny 
cuts 
per pass - this stuff is  HARD).  
Safety Information  
DO NOT ALLOW THIS PRODUCT TO HEAT  UP PAST 200F. It will outgas  ammonia, a 
toxic gas, AT LETHAL LEVELS."  
If your primary tends to get very hot, or you need a base for a  static  gap, 
etc., perhaps one should consider the above in choosing materials   for an 
indoor coil. For outdoor only use, probably OK, but machine only  in  
well-ventilated area only. 
Hope this is of use to someone.  
Matt D. 




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