"njrich" wrote in message
om...
Gentlemen,
Hope you are fine wherever you may be.

I have a job which came my way which calls for making 2"x2" square
holes in 3/4 inch aluminum plate.
I am a construction worker, carpenter, with access to a heavy
mill-drill machine and a small home shop size band saw. I have to make
24 of these square holes in separate 5" x 6" x 3/4" sections. The
tolerances are not tight. + or - .01 inches is ok.

My question is what is the best way to do this? From what I can see
there are three choices.

1. Layout the square, drill a 5/8 hole, put a hacksaw blade through
and start hacking away. Finish off
using an end mill. Of course I might need a new set of arms when I'm
done. i need a new brain already!

2. Due the same but weld the bandsaw blade through each plate and cut
using the band saw before
finishing with the mill.

3. Drill out a square shape formed by a series of holes using a 1/4"
drill bit and finishing with the mill.

My 3 ideas might suggest to you that I have little experience with
machining metal. And that would be
quite true. So I would appreciate your suggestions.

How about finding someone with a large broaching machine? If you drilled the
holes first it might not be all that expensive.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller
http://www.kasamba.com/viewExpert.as...1&banID=21 00