D-BITS IN THE WORKSHOP

When drilling long holes, the use of the D-bit is virtually essential. In this article, DUPLEX explains how these tools are used

In the small workshop, the D-bit is unsurpassed for drilling long holes with great accuracy for alignment and bore size. As an example of this, a clock pendulum weight, consisting of a 3 in. dia. brass bar 8 in. in length, was drilled axially from end to end in the lathe with a 1/4 in. dia. D-bit. When the work was mounted by the bore between dead centres, it was found to run quite truly and, in addition, the shank of the tool was a close, sliding fit in the well-finished

and resembles the letter D. These tools obtain accurate guidance from the circular part of the shank and, when drilling, do not tend to run out of line, as may happen with a twist. drill that relies for guidance on its two side lands. On the other hand, the two lips of the twist drill are ground to promote free cutting, but the D-bit has only a single cutting edge, extending from the centre to the periphery, and there are no flutes for the passage of the swarf.

HE

D-BIT IS SO named because its end-face, seen in elevation, is semi-circular in shape

bore. Needless to sav. the drilling operation took a long-time, but this was justified by the satisfactory result obtained. As in this instance, the D-bit alone can be used for forming a bore, but quicker drilling is obtained if a pilot hole is first drilled, as this relieves the work on the single cutting edge and affords an additional passage for the swarf. Making a D-bit Ground silver-steel, which can at least, be relied on for straightness, is perhaps the material most generally used for making D-bits. The end portion is filed down to, say, 0.001 in. above the diameter, to allow for honing at a later stage; the micrometer should be used for checking this dimension, as judgement by eye may be deceptive. The filed-down part should not be made too long, or the tool will be weakened and guidance impaired, but, if it is made too short, there will be very little room for the swarf to accumulate and the tool will have to be withdrawn more often .to clear the chips. As shown in Fig. 1, front clearance

is given to the cutting edge, and this edge, seen from above, is formed obliquely, so that it cuts only as far as the centre line, and the rest of the edge is thus kept from rubbing against the opposite side of the bore. It will also be noticed that the outer end of the cutting edge is slightly rounded off and, when this is done, adequate clearance must be given below the rounded point. After the point has been filed to shape, the end of the tool is hardened for a distance of an inch or so and then tempered to a pale straw-colour at the extreme tip. The tempering is readily done by heating the rod at a short distance behind the point and quenching in water immediately the play of colours begin to show at the cutting edge. To save possible disappointment later, it is advisable to test the hardness of the steel at this stage by applying a file to the under side of the tool point. The D-bit is finished ready for use by honing the upper, flat surface on an oilstone, in order to form a smooth cutting edge and, at the same time, to stone the tip down to the diameter line. The front face of the tool is also honed to complete the

Left, Fig. 1: A typical D-bit of the type described

Below, Fig. 2: A D-bit drilled to provide for axial lubrication

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bit is fitted. The guidance and the increased thickness advantages of of the metal at the tiv facilitates the this are that the attachment of the cutler-bit. In any tool is much case, preparing the work by_ drilling stronger, and a pilot hole greatly increases the rate any tendency to of machining and affords better lift at the be- clearance for the swarf. ginning of the The cast-steel cutter-bit, which is cut is checked held in place by two screws, is slotted by the increased in order to provide for adjustment area of guidance after resharpening. Before being at the tip. hardened, the cutter-bit is secured in The cut-away place and its outer edge is filed or p o r t i o n c a n machined to correspond exactly with be r e a d i l y the circular outline of the body of machined with the tool; for, if the blade does not an end-mill, and extend to the full diameter of the this recess is shank, the tool will jam in the work n o r m a l l y o f and, if it is too broad, the tool will sufficient depth cut irregularly, owing to lack of Fig. 3: Two types of D-bits with adjustable cutter blades to ensure that proper guidance. the upper face of the removsharpening operation. Once the tool able cutter-bit lies on the centre Rigid abutment has been finished in this way, any line. By positioning the cutting edge The cutting edge of the blade is of resharpening must be carried out by in this way, the D-bit can be used to the same form as in the D-bit first honing only the forward face and bore solid material; but where, as in described, but it has the advantage leaving the upper surface untouched. the first example illustrated, the that it is readily adjustable endwise cutting edge lies above centre, it and also for height and overall Machining with the D-hit becomes essential to drill a pilot diameter. When adjusting the setting of the blade, it is important to fit a As it is essential to give a D-bit a hole to the full depth in the work, so true start, the work is first drilled to as to remove the core and allow the packing strip to provide a rigid abutment for the cutter-bit and prevent a depth at least equal to twice the tool to cut freely. With the latter arrangement, the any movement during subsequent diameter of the tool and this is followed by enlarging the drill hole end of the tool is given even greater machining operations; with a boring tool to fit the D-bit closley. The tallstock drill chuck is used for mounting the D-bit and for this work the tailstock must be set in accurate alignment. The tool is carefully fed into the work and if it has been given a true start it will continue to follow a straight path. As there is little room at the end of the bit in which the chips can collect, the tool will have to be withdrawn at Another useful hint from a reader frequent intervals, perhaps even at at every 1/8 in. or less of penetration. This will be less laborious if the lathe is fitted with a rack-feed tailstock, but towards the end of drilling a long hole the tailstock itself may have to be By J. B. CHANNON moved back in order to bring the tool clear of the bore. When drilling steel, a D-bit will cut more freely if given an adequat e supply of cutting oil, and in commercial I hope that the following suggestion practice this is sometimes ensured may be of interest to readers who have (as represented i n Fig. 2) by drilling encountered the same difficulty as I the tool axially and feeding the have in making footsteps for buffers lubricant under. pressure to the in 3-1/2 in. or smaller gauges. cutting edge. With larger D-bits it My solution, which worked very may be possible to arrange for a well, was to find an old brass bush return flow of the cutting oil in order about 2 in. dia., knurl the outside to wash away the chips from the with a sharp medium cross-cut, bore cutting edge. till rim was about 3/32 in. thick, part Another tool of rather different off 3/16 in. wide. Then anneal, cut, form, suitable for machining bores of straighten out, using hide hammer, larger diameter, is that illustrated in file curves to fit buffer stocks, saw off Fig. 3. Here, instead of the end of small pieces, and solder on. the tool being reduced to a half-circle, One such strip will easily made it is reduced by approximately a 10 or 12 footsteps. quarter-circle and an adjustable cutter-

MAKING BUFFER FOOTSTEPS

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