[TowerTalk] Tool for F-connector holes

[Grant Saviers]

A custom broach could be made. Square and hex are made in stock sizes. 
They start from a drilled hole and a double D could be made, but a lot 
of holes would be needed to justify the cost.  Of course they wouldn't 
work in a small box, there isn't enough stroke and the difficulty of 
backing up the wall against the thrust of the broach.

I think the 3d printed adapter is the winner. Also could make them in 
acrylic cut on a low end laser cutters.  I'm going to 3d print some in 
ABS and see how they work.

btw the female F chassis connectors I have measure about 0.365" diameter 
and 0.293" across the flats.  For my connector the max adapter thickness 
is about 0.070" with a solder lug and the nut threads fully engaged.  I 
think two mounting holes will suffice.  For a Carlon box some ABS to PVC 
glue would make the adapter watertight.

Be extra careful drilling plastic with regular drills > 1/4".  Unless 
the cutting lip is stoned flat, they will grab.  The mold draft on 
Carlon boxes aggravates the problem and holding the box by hand is 
really dangerous.  (I've drilled dozens in a vise and hate doing it). 
Single flute step drills are ok if the step length works for the wall 
thickness.  Or buy special point drills made for drilling plastic that 
also won't grab on breakthru.

Grant KZ1W

On 3/12/2019 8:31 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
> 
> 
> On 3/12/2019 7:23 AM, jimlux wrote:
>>
>> what about making a sheet metal "cookie cutter" that you could heat up 
>> and stamp through?
>> _______________________________________________
> 
> Or, look up "broaches".  I've seen those used in machine
> shop to make odd ball holes.  Probably way too expensive
> for hams.
> 
> Rick N6RK
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