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piston fit/ OD tolerence
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:34 pm
by turner
do you think a delrin piston that is .75 would be a good enough fit for drawn aluminum tube at .759? this if for a coax rifle and i would like to use a small valve like a blowgun.
Or do you think i should go with the .120 wall thickness and turn the plastic down on the school wood lathe. floating o rings would be easy, but how close can you turn the OD to using a caliper?
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:03 pm
by Technician1002
Is this Feet, Yards, Meters, Angstroms, mm, etc. Units of measure would be helpful.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:07 pm
by metalmeltr
.009" isn't much. A sheet of computer paper is between .004" and .005". The paint on your car is about .003" thick. Long story short i think you will be fine.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:12 pm
by turner
oh its in inches, i just want to make sure cause other parts i have measured made on lathes are like .002" do you have any idea on the tolerances i could make on a wood lathe with plastic? Ive never used it, but it seems like it wouldn't be that accurate.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:28 pm
by metalmeltr
You would be lucky to get it within several thousandths.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:29 pm
by Technician1002
Taking lite passes and monitoring progress, reasonable tolerance can be done. I get very close using a drill press.
http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/tutoria ... 21740.html

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:46 pm
by turner
Ive made smaller pistons on my drill press, but i never get the the arbor in strait and it seems like o ring groves would be a pain. maby i should just try it with a .009" gap
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:54 pm
by Technician1002
Use the drill press vise to both drill the plastic for the arbor and then again to align and screw in the arbor. After drilling, leave the plastic on the drill press vise. Replace the bit with the arbor in the press and hand screw it in using the press for perfect alignment. You can open the top of the press, remove the belt, and hand turn it in.