Expansion links

[andyhigham]

I drew my expansion links using CAD (2D), I then had a local water jet cutter cut them from a piece of gauge plate.
Water jet cutting leaves a slight taper, (0.15mm in the slot) but the software in the machine allows for this. I just need to give them a dress up with needle files.
Are standard needle files up to the job on gauge plate or would I be wise to buy a set of diamond needle files?

 20190425_083801 by Sigma Projects, on Flickr

[steamer5]

Hi Andy,
Don't you just love water jets? I see you can get a table top one, limit looks to be about 6 mm in steel if I read it right.
Sorry cant help on the files front....but any excuse to buy new tools!

Cheers Kerrin

[simplyloco]

Apr 25, 2019 8:09:12 GMT andyhigham said:

SNIP. I just need to give them a dress up with needle files.
Are standard needle files up to the job on gauge plate or would I be wise to buy a set of diamond needle files?

I find gauge plate 'takes' filing very nicely so any decent files will do. However, I dressed the inside and outside of the Brit ones with wet and dry paper held in a small slotted spindle, which was run in the Proxxon at about 5000 rpm. I polished the faces on the big linisher.
The result speaks for itself!
John

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[gingerneer]

Andy

On unhardened gauge plate a normal file should be fine, I would use a newer/sharp file.

Will