Author Topic: Circlip groove  (Read 42482 times)

Offline John Rudd

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Circlip groove
« on: March 19, 2024, 10:47:38 AM »
I need to machine a circlip groove in a 3mm silver steel shaft for some circlips.

Circlips themselves are 0.6-0.7mm thick and are 2.3mm.

So to the collective, I put it to you, what’s the best way to tackle this?

I tried an abrasive disc ( my fav method.) in my Dremellookalike but the end brg is knackered so it wobbles like a jelly….I tried Stew Harts method using a slit saw….hmmmm some erroneous noises made me abandon that idea…

Silver steel doesn’t machine like EN1a sadly….so open to suggestions please….

What works for you?
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Offline Joules

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2024, 12:35:32 PM »
Grinding bits of Eclipse hacksaw blade, just below the teeth, if you have something that can hold it like a parting blade.  Otherwise sacrifice a small HSS drill bit in some metal stock you can hold in a toolpost. Your dodgy Dremel can part profile it, do you have diamond stones for finishing ?  Keep stick out to a minimum unless you have a pile of small drills to use.


Oh !!!  Is your silver steel part unhardened ?
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2024, 01:26:15 PM »
Steel is not hardened…

I’m thinking using a broken 1/8” centre drill suitably profiled to make the groove, sharpened on my t and c grinder..
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Offline Joules

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2024, 02:16:25 PM »
Sounds like a good approach to getting it sorted.
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2024, 02:31:41 PM »
Just wish the silver steel wasn’t so hard!
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Offline BillTodd

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2024, 03:51:29 PM »
I found a used carbide grooving insert 0.75mm by my measurement.  Might have one good edge, or would sharpen on a diamond lap.

Ph Horn 312.0070.15 1N32

Pm your address and I'll pop in the post
Bill

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2024, 04:54:41 PM »
Bill,
That’s a great gesture….I’ll bear it in mind. Does it need a holder of some sort?

In the meantime, I’ll give some other ideas a go…
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Offline BillTodd

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2024, 06:14:58 PM »
Side on it's triangular with a hole in the middle.

Ideally it needs to sit in a V open at the bottom . It's not difficult to make if you have a mill.
Bill

Offline Joules

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2024, 01:50:23 AM »
Nice insert Bill, that's given me ideas for my own tooling cut from hacksaw blade.  Times like this I wish I had an EDM machine  :thumbup:
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Offline ddmckee54

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Re: Circlip groove
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2024, 11:16:17 AM »
Used carbide drill bits with a 1/8" shank can be had off Ebay for less than a buck a piece.  These can be used to make a variety of small tools, both external tools and internal.
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