How to machine these tiny parts, especially the cross-hole?
![Screenshot 2023-03-27 at 9.57.20 AM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-27 at 9.57.20 AM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99688-ea9278ca5090fdd4fba3dc4018ad992e.jpg)
Here's one way not to do it. I drilled holes in a plate the thickness of the length of the pins and put over-length ones in:
![Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.13 PM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.13 PM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99689-e0a341d52dc00a6230b510eb8f292761.jpg)
The idea was to mill them off to the correct length. But I made the fit of the pins too loose and they spun when the end mill hit them. Also chipped the teeth on the carbide end mill....another one bites the dust!
So I drilled new holes in the plate so the pins were a fairly tight press fit into the holes and that worked well to machine them off to the correct length:
![Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.26 PM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.26 PM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99690-e401e8b4caf8827e51bd8511b596764d.jpg)
The longer one is my indexing pin, for the next step. I had the spacing exactly .2" on centre for the pins, as well as the index pin. So with that known, I flipped it up on end, indexed off the longer pin, and accurately drilled the cross holes:
![Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.38 PM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.38 PM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99691-5f73c9c87217e02f96e216074a27381e.jpg)
Then I just tapped the pins out with a pin-punch and job done!
Rick
![Screenshot 2023-03-27 at 9.57.20 AM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-27 at 9.57.20 AM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99688-ea9278ca5090fdd4fba3dc4018ad992e.jpg)
Here's one way not to do it. I drilled holes in a plate the thickness of the length of the pins and put over-length ones in:
![Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.13 PM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.13 PM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99689-e0a341d52dc00a6230b510eb8f292761.jpg)
The idea was to mill them off to the correct length. But I made the fit of the pins too loose and they spun when the end mill hit them. Also chipped the teeth on the carbide end mill....another one bites the dust!
So I drilled new holes in the plate so the pins were a fairly tight press fit into the holes and that worked well to machine them off to the correct length:
![Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.26 PM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.26 PM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99690-e401e8b4caf8827e51bd8511b596764d.jpg)
The longer one is my indexing pin, for the next step. I had the spacing exactly .2" on centre for the pins, as well as the index pin. So with that known, I flipped it up on end, indexed off the longer pin, and accurately drilled the cross holes:
![Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.38 PM.jpg Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 5.32.38 PM.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/99/99691-5f73c9c87217e02f96e216074a27381e.jpg)
Then I just tapped the pins out with a pin-punch and job done!
Rick