Keyhole flange series ?

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DonW

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Joined
Dec 15, 2003
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Anyone intersted in a keyhole flange series. Will require a router table and drill press.
 
So did you use a drill press to drill the big hole, and the router table to do the other cut? I think I can picture how you did it. I think the hardest part is getting the measurements for the hole spacing exactly right. You have any tips for that Don?
 
Tom,

The entire flange including the circles are made with one jig. After the jig is made (1/4 acrylic) its repeatable over and over.
As for the spacing a compass and protractor make it easy. I use the cheap ones my kids got in ele. school.
If you dont want to be that precise you can use an indexing mark.


Don
 
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Cool on the protracter Don, I will have to pick one up. I did use one of those when I made my skimmer, and it did work pretty good.

So anyway If you do a write up on the process you came up with, do it! I for one will appreciate it.
 
The jig drawing. Assuming you want to use 6" acrylic tubing and 1/2" headed screws. Just add another centering hole for different tube sizes.
 
Hi Don,
I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake and how this works. I'll have to mock it up to see where the slot part and the drill press parts come into play. what type of router are you using? Hmm, router table...

Jon
 
Jon,
The jig is used from start to finish, meaning you do not need another circle cutting jig. I use a Porter Cable 3 1/4hp fixed base router mounted in a router table. You can use just about any flat router table and router. As far as routers go you just dont want a old used up one that has runout in the arbor. I'll post pics from start to finish including building the jig. I'll switch my tooling over to smaller home owner type tools (1 1/2hp router, small drill press and regular carbide router bits ).

Don
 
boy Jon this fits into just the right timeing for our DIY beckett skimmer we are building huh?
Darrell
 
Jig without under supports installed. The center pin 3/16 above the base for 1/4 material. All lines are knife scribed. Dont use a pen or pencil or the holes will be off due to line thickness. This one is indexed for eight holes.
Sorry for the bad pic. look close youll see the scribe pattern.

Don
 
Hey Don, Nice Helmit! You wanna go for a ride soon? I would like to go w/ you before I head down to California on the 26th.

So are you going to show some example pictures of how this jig is used? I really don't quite get it yet.
 
Tom,

I'll get some set-up pics later (camera batteries charging).

I'd love to go for a ride. You'll have to take it easy on me, not sure the OLD gixxer can keep up.:razz:

Don
 
Set-up to cut discs. Cut two identical peices of stock and and stick together with carpet tape. Rough circles then drill a 1/4 hole all the way through one and half way through the other. Align edge of jig with router bit and clamp in place. Put the pieces over the pin, fire up the router and spin the stock.

That gives you two identical discs. Now move the jig in to the 1/4 hole. Use a 1/4 straight bit to center and clamp down. Then change over to a 1/8 bit. Spin the stock and cut the oring groove. Make a pass then raise the router until the o-ring fits. Now pop the two pieces apart and restick with the o-ring in the middle.

Next post will be the drill press process.

Don
 
So where you getting your o-ring at Don? I am using the o-ring stock from McClendons that you glue together, and it seems to work pretty good.
 
Tom,

I actually use the stuff that holds the window screen in a frame. Its hollow so it will compress flat and wide. I can put 35 psi of air in the flange before it starts to leak. If I use a screw driver to tighten the screws I can get 48psi. As far as I know thats plenty tight. A dab of silicone on the seem works fine. The best part is a 50 ft roll cost $2.29 at Lowes.

Don
 
Thanks Don! Here are a few flanges I made today using your method. It worked really good, but I need to pick up a drill bit big enough for the key holes. I used the biggest one I had and opened them up a little w/ the dremel.
 
Cool Tom glad it worked for you. Hopefully it will make it will make one of your projects easier. Spinning on the drill press sure makes holes easy. Comes out perfect every time.

Don
 
Yes Don, that was a really good idea buddy. Did you come up w/ that? That made it so much easier and much more accurate. I felt like a human CNC machine today. I am going to get started on a new calcium reactor tomorrow, and will employ a keyhole flange on it :D I am going to have a go at making my own version of a Deltec fluidized reactor. Just need to find some ROWAlith.
 
o-ring

Don what tool do you use to cut the o-ring grove the smallest round router bit I could find was 1/4"
 

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