Aluminium plate mounting hole problem
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Posted by: engel ® 03/10/2006, 11:16:39 Author Profile eMail author Edit

we have robotic plate with cooling circuit.it is used to cool components stationed in 144 cooling tubes,which are mounted on this plate & water flows through these tubes. Our problem is,this plate is made up of aluminium.So,while moving the plate from production area to cooling/parking area,sometimes cooling tubes gets damaged,resulting in,mounting holes threads being wiped out.So,we usually retapped them with a larger hole from original hole of M4 to M6. Now,some of our M6 holes are also damaged & we can`t drill them as at a distance of 2.3mm there are vaccum holes,which will be affected if we try to further drill/tap the mounting holes. So,my question is,how can we solve this problem i.e how can we get back M4 hole here?We can`t weld as material of plate is aluminium.Filling with aluminium material also looks questionable. Any suggestions how to tackle this problem?

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Re: Aluminium plate mounting hole problem
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Posted by: randykimball ® 03/13/2006, 18:44:40 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Can't weld... what kind of alumium is it?? Some aluminums weld well. /←randy→/ The worst suggestion of your lifetime may be the catalyst to the grandest idea of the century, never let suggestions go unsaid nor fail to listen to them.

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Re: Aluminium plate mounting hole problem
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Posted by: Marky ® 03/10/2006, 12:32:09 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Can you install a Helicoil insert?

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Re: Aluminium plate mounting hole problem
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Posted by: engel ® 03/12/2006, 04:54:59 Author Profile eMail author Edit

We can`t use helicoil as the gap between mounting hole & vaccum hole is 2.3mm & helicoil needs redrilling,retapping.

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Re: Aluminium plate mounting hole problem
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Posted by: Kelly_Bramble ® 03/12/2006, 09:05:21 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Sounds like your #$%&#^. You can not remove material to tapp a larger size or install a threaded insert. Can you use a nut with the fastener? Have you looked at nut plates? I'm not picking on you - In general, threaded inserts should have been used to start with. When designing threaded features in aluminum, it is normally ok to just put the thread in the material if the follwoing applies: 1. Fasteners will only be installed one time - ever 2. You have a #2 or larger thread 3. At least 1.5x dia. preferably 2x dia. fastener-thread interface Use a threaded insert in aluminum if the following applies: 1. Fasteners will repeatedly be removed and installed. 2. Fatique loading 3. Small fasteners Good luck!

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Re: Aluminium plate mounting hole problem
Re: Re: Aluminium plate mounting hole problem -- Kelly_Bramble	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: engel ® 03/14/2006, 06:19:39 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Can`t use nut & bolt as below this mounting hole cooling channel is running. The tubes are removed once in three months for cleaning water channels.

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