Machining work in the UK

[etherealshade]

I'm looking for someone to do some boring on a couple of flashlight bodies, and I was hoping to find someone within the UK who could do it. This is so I don't have to worry any potential customs nonsense, or other international shipping problems.

Ideally, I'd love to find a machine shop (or local CPFer) in London where I could have this done, but anywhere in the UK would be great. Does anyone here either live in, or know someone in the UK who could provide such a service?

Thanks in advance, for any suggestions....

:popcorn:

 

[tx101]

I would be interested as well :thumbsup:


I did have my 6P bored out by a UK based CPFer a while ago
but from what I understand he no longer has access to a lathe :(

I have a SF C3 that needs boring out :D

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Yep would be nice to have this in the UK...

Post if you want it, and I'm sure with enough interest we can work something out.

 

[Meganoggin]

I have a toolmaker on site. I don't know if he would be interested (we keep him pretty busy), but I'll ask. What would a reasonable charge be?

Pete :duh2:

 

[tx101]

I have a toolmaker on site. I don't know if he would be interested (we keep him pretty busy), but I'll ask. What would a reasonable charge be?

Pete :duh2:

I paid a tenner including P&P for the boring on my 6P

 

[precisionworks]

I paid a tenner including P&P for the boring on my 6P

Wow ... at that rate, it would pay me to ship stuff from my shop to the UK to have it done :eek:

 

[etherealshade]

I've seen a couple modders around offering bore services for around $30usd... I would imagine something in this range, or maybe a little higher, given that it'd be small jobs rather than batches. :shrug:

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I have a toolmaker on site. I don't know if he would be interested (we keep him pretty busy), but I'll ask. What would a reasonable charge be?

Pete :duh2:

It depends on if he can do alot or not....I have maybee 10 hosts I would concider depending on price, but I would be a bit scared on doing some ( rarer surfires) as there is not too much material there...

I'd send a used surefire 6Z to play with though if he'd to do a trial / proto....

 

[tx101]

Wow ... at that rate, it would pay me to ship stuff from my shop to the UK to have it done :eek:

The boring was done during his lunchbreak and he was returning a favor ;)

 

[Meganoggin]

I think I'm going to sacrifice one of my 6P's.... Can anyone confirm the ideal diameter for the bore? I only have ****fire 18650 cells to check, what diameter are the AW cells, have you got a micrometer TX?

 

[etherealshade]

I've got a set of calipers at work, not as accurate as a micrometer, I know, but I can measure my cells with that if it's enough.

 

[Tally-ho]

I'm looking for someone to do some boring on a couple of flashlight bodies, and I was hoping to find someone within the UK who could do it.

If I were you I will try a google search for machinists forums...it will not give you a trusted store right away, but it could give you an idea.

 

[tx101]

I think I'm going to sacrifice one of my 6P's.... Can anyone confirm the ideal diameter for the bore? I only have ****fire 18650 cells to check, what diameter are the AW cells, have you got a micrometer TX?

I measured my ID of my bored 6P and it is 18.53mm
When inserting an AW 18650 2200mAh you can almost feel
the air being pushed out but the cell does come out freely

From what I have read elsewhere on the forum, the thinnest part
of the battery tube is the part where the O ring goes on at the
tailcap end. I measure that part at 19.68mm


EDIT measurements taken with a cheap pair of calipers :D

 

[Meganoggin]

Well... my calipers say my Leef bodies average around 18.7mm, anyone have any diferent measurements?

Perhaps I should ask one of the real modders.... but I don't want to seem a jerk :ohgeez:

TX - did your mate use a counterbore or a drill on his lathe? How was the finish?

Cheers - Pete.

 

[tx101]

I have no idea how it was done :o

Putting my finger inside the battery tube it feels smooth with the occasional
"ridge" The CPFer who did the boring did mention that he was not entirely
satisfied with the finish but I think he was being a bit too self critical :rolleyes:

I'll send him a PM but I know he is not very active on the forum now

 

[Essexman]

Maybe we should have a group buy for a lathe? Followed by a pass a round, so everyone has a go :nana:

The worse thing ever, the dept next door to me is a prototype dev shop. Lathes, mills, grinders, everthing you ever needed to make nice metal parts. But I'm not allowed to use any of it :( Health and safety, and insurance reasons, even though I started life as a toolmaker! :shakehead

I sometimes ask them to mod parts for me, but it takes a while and only gets done when there's a machine free, and when they feel like it. Sometimes I feel like breaking in at a weekend and spending a few hours in there, I'm sure they would never notice :D

 

[Ogg Vorbis]

Hey guys, my attention's been directed to this thread. I'm the mysterious CPF'er who's done a little boring in the UK:nana:

Unfortunately I'm at uni these days, I'm back at work through the summer, Christmas and Easter though, but it's not as easy for me to jump on the machines as it once was :mecry: I'd more than love to spend a few hours boring the bodies out, it's really easy once you've got it all set up, just load, cut, measure, done!

tx101 mentioned i wasn't too happy about the finish on his. I had trouble with the tool 'chattering' which makes a nice squealing noise when cutting and leaves a slightly bumpy finish. I managed to polish this out in this case, but a nice rigid set up can be achieved to avoid it, i've done 4 bodies in total and had to set the machine 3 times, and this was the only time it happened :fail:

Anyway, enough words, here's a couple of pictures :devil:

Here i used a dial test indicator to try and get the o-ring grooves to run true and concentric with the lathe spindle to ensure the material was an even thickness in the thinnest parts.

The body was gripped in a Hardinge 5C emergency collet that had been bored to fit the area where the 'C' head fits.

A boring bar was then used to remove the material, but still leaving a lip to prevent the battery from slipping through

AW batteries are a nice fit in all the bodies i did, ****fires are hit and miss.

Hope that gives you some food for though :whistle:

Cheers,

Dan