question:
we're talking about a curved hole here. as one drills a straight hole into a
material, there is a method or science of curved drilling, where the hole is
crilled at a slight curve.
what actually is curved drilling?
how does one do the same?
what is a drift bit? what is it's purpose and how is it used?
tia.

Curved or "slant-hole" drilling is common in oil exploration. There the bit
is guided by application of drilling mud at specific times and angles. I
don't know if there is an industrial equivalent for guided drilling of holes
in metal. Someone?

Bob Swinney
"Grace Christian" wrote in message
news:blaWa.29084$uu5.3713@sccrnsc04...
question:
we're talking about a curved hole here. as one drills a straight hole into
a
material, there is a method or science of curved drilling, where the hole
is
crilled at a slight curve.
what actually is curved drilling?
how does one do the same?
what is a drift bit? what is it's purpose and how is it used?
tia.

with the proper fixturing i can burn a hole on a radial axis with my edm

Grace Christian wrote:

james,
i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
an EDM?

No, EDM is electrical Discharge Machining. Since this is
rec.crafts.METALwork, we
assumed you might mean drilling in metal. There is a
rec.crafts.WOODworking,
or thereabouts, that might have more experience with special tools for this.
EDM only works on highly conductive metal (or metal-containing) workpieces.

now,the really stupid question. what is an EDM? i've heard of it but never
really researched. is it an expensive tool? your input is appreciated.


Commercially, a VERY expensive tool, certainly over $100,000 for a
multi-axis
CNC EDM machine.

Jon

james,
i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
an EDM?
now,the really stupid question. what is an EDM? i've heard of it but never
really researched. is it an expensive tool? your input is appreciated.
tia
"James P Crombie" wrote in message
...
Two things come to mind, one is a wood drill bit that is rounded on the
end and has a reduced shank. You can steer the bit as you drill, with
in the limits of the shank touching the sides. I think its mainly a
tool for electricians for installing wires around items.
The only other method I can think of would be to use a curved EDM
electrode and rotate it into the part. I have never seen it done but
its a possibility :-)

Bob Swinney wrote:
Curved or "slant-hole" drilling is common in oil exploration. There the
bit
is guided by application of drilling mud at specific times and angles.
I
don't know if there is an industrial equivalent for guided drilling of
holes
in metal. Someone?

Bob Swinney
"Grace Christian" wrote in message
news:blaWa.29084$uu5.3713@sccrnsc04...

question:
we're talking about a curved hole here. as one drills a straight hole
into

a

material, there is a method or science of curved drilling, where the
hole

is

crilled at a slight curve.
what actually is curved drilling?
how does one do the same?
what is a drift bit? what is it's purpose and how is it used?
tia.






--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

James P Crombie

Summerside Machinist
Prince Edward Island Amateur Astronomer
Canada 3D Designer

E-mail
Astronomy webpage http://www.jamescrombie.com
Rhinoceros 3D webpage http://www.jamescrombie.com/rhino/
Mirror Grinder page http://www.jamescrombie.com/pics/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

In article hTdWa.30882$uu5.3543@sccrnsc04, "Grace says...

james,
i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
an EDM?

Electrical discharge machining requires a conductive
workpiece. Wood does not qualify.

If you needed a curved hole in a block of wood, I would
suggest to cut the block in half, profile the curved
hole in both surfaces with a ball-nosed end mill, and
the glue the two halves back together.

Jim

==================================================
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
==================================================

Grace Christian wrote:

i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
an EDM?
now,the really stupid question. what is an EDM? i've heard of it but never
really researched. is it an expensive tool?

EDM can range from a home-built unit for little money to very expensive
production setups but it (Electro-Discharge Machining) would be useless
for wood.

However I have a set of three drills that are sort of a cross between a
Forstner bit and a spade bit that will drill curved holes. e-mail me if
you want a picture.

Ted

On 31 Jul 2003 13:38:18 -0700, jim rozen
wrote:

In article hTdWa.30882$uu5.3543@sccrnsc04, "Grace says...

james,
i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
an EDM?

Electrical discharge machining requires a conductive
workpiece. Wood does not qualify.

What about iron wood?
ERS

Hey Grace,.

Hmmmm... just a thought, but can you sand-blast wood? Maybe use a
curved "pipe" to do it?

You didn't give much explanation as to wood, sizes, distance, amount
of curvature desired, etc. Many woods can be steamed and bent to a
semi-permanent form. Choice would then be whether to drill a hole and
then bend the wood; or to bend the wood, drill a hole, and then
straighten the piece back.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On 31 Jul 2003 13:38:18 -0700, jim rozen
wrote:

In article hTdWa.30882$uu5.3543@sccrnsc04, "Grace says...

james,
i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
an EDM?

Electrical discharge machining requires a conductive
workpiece. Wood does not qualify.

If you needed a curved hole in a block of wood, I would
suggest to cut the block in half, profile the curved
hole in both surfaces with a ball-nosed end mill, and
the glue the two halves back together.

Jim

================================================= =
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
================================================= =

"Grace Christian" wrote in message news:blaWa.29084$uu5.3713@sccrnsc04...
question:
we're talking about a curved hole here. as one drills a straight hole into a
material, there is a method or science of curved drilling, where the hole is
crilled at a slight curve.
what actually is curved drilling?
how does one do the same?
what is a drift bit? what is it's purpose and how is it used?
tia.

To drill a curved hole in wood one bends the wood and drills the hole
and then bends the wood back again. Steam or Ammonia bending.

I have not looked into it, but would wonder whether water jet drilling
would do this.


"Bob Swinney" wrote:

Curved or "slant-hole" drilling is common in oil exploration. There the bit
is guided by application of drilling mud at specific times and angles. I
don't know if there is an industrial equivalent for guided drilling of holes
in metal. Someone?

Bob Swinney
"Grace Christian" wrote in message
news:blaWa.29084$uu5.3713@sccrnsc04...
question:
we're talking about a curved hole here. as one drills a straight hole into
a
material, there is a method or science of curved drilling, where the hole
is
crilled at a slight curve.
what actually is curved drilling?
how does one do the same?
what is a drift bit? what is it's purpose and how is it used?
tia.

the wood in question is "briar". it's a burl that grow underground and is
very hard.
the briar in question is used to make smoking pipesenglish pipesand some
designs require to have a curved airhole due to the bent shank.
with a straight pipea billiard there is no problem with drilling a
straight hole, but when it comes to an acute bend pipe, then it calls for
drift bits and curved drilling.
and i'll be damned if i know how it's done by some large factories.
cheers
"Brian Lawson" wrote in message
...
Hey Grace,.

Hmmmm... just a thought, but can you sand-blast wood? Maybe use a
curved "pipe" to do it?

You didn't give much explanation as to wood, sizes, distance, amount
of curvature desired, etc. Many woods can be steamed and bent to a
semi-permanent form. Choice would then be whether to drill a hole and
then bend the wood; or to bend the wood, drill a hole, and then
straighten the piece back.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On 31 Jul 2003 13:38:18 -0700, jim rozen
wrote:

In article hTdWa.30882$uu5.3543@sccrnsc04, "Grace says...

james,
i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve
with
an EDM?

Electrical discharge machining requires a conductive
workpiece. Wood does not qualify.

If you needed a curved hole in a block of wood, I would
suggest to cut the block in half, profile the curved
hole in both surfaces with a ball-nosed end mill, and
the glue the two halves back together.

Jim

================================================= =
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
================================================= =

bending or steaming this briar wood is not possible unless you want to crack
it.
bamboo and some other woods can be bent, but i don't think briar could.
so, the delimma is that steaming and bending is out of question.
cheers
"Beecrofter" wrote in message
om...
"Grace Christian" wrote in message
news:blaWa.29084$uu5.3713@sccrnsc04...
question:
we're talking about a curved hole here. as one drills a straight hole
into a
material, there is a method or science of curved drilling, where the
hole is
crilled at a slight curve.
what actually is curved drilling?
how does one do the same?
what is a drift bit? what is it's purpose and how is it used?
tia.

To drill a curved hole in wood one bends the wood and drills the hole
and then bends the wood back again. Steam or Ammonia bending.

UUUUUH!!!!!!
So Jon do you own one in your hobby shop???
Must be nice to be rich and lord it over everyone.

There are no stupid questions.
ONLY STUPID ANSWERS LIKE THIS ONE----
If you don't know then say so.
I would also like to see an intelligent answer from someone that knows what
they are talking about.

Roger L

"Jon Elson" wrote in message
...
now,the really stupid question. what is an EDM? i've heard of it but
never
really researched. is it an expensive tool? your input is appreciated.


Commercially, a VERY expensive tool, certainly over $100,000 for a
multi-axis
CNC EDM machine.

Roger,
Loosen up, willya? Jon did give an accurate and concise answer. He didn't
say he owned one of the $100 K CNC - EDM machines.

Bob (giva guy a break nownthen) Swinney
"Roger Foster" wrote in message
...
UUUUUH!!!!!!
So Jon do you own one in your hobby shop???
Must be nice to be rich and lord it over everyone.

There are no stupid questions.
ONLY STUPID ANSWERS LIKE THIS ONE----
If you don't know then say so.
I would also like to see an intelligent answer from someone that knows
what
they are talking about.

Roger L

"Jon Elson" wrote in message
...
now,the really stupid question. what is an EDM? i've heard of it but
never
really researched. is it an expensive tool? your input is appreciated.


Commercially, a VERY expensive tool, certainly over $100,000 for a
multi-axis
CNC EDM machine.

Jim sez: "2) I suspect he probably does own one:

Yeah, I know Jon is a manufacturer. I met him at N.A.M.E.S. this year.

Bob Swinney
"jim rozen" wrote in message
...
In article , "Roger says...

If you don't know then say so.
I would also like to see an intelligent answer from someone that knows
what
they are talking about.

LOL.

1) the answer was correct.

.

Jim

==================================================
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
==================================================

Eric R Snow


Electrical discharge machining requires a conductive
workpiece. Wood does not qualify.


What about iron wood?

Or wood from one of them steel magnolias.
FM

Ted Edwards wrote:

Grace Christian wrote:

i wish to use it on wood. would it be possible to drill a slight curve with
....
[...] I have a set of three drills that are sort of a cross between a
Forstner bit and a spade bit that will drill curved holes. e-mail me if
you want a picture.

There's a fairly clear picture of how to drill around a corner in
wood near the end of http://www.3dborr.se/uses.html , perhaps
with bits like Ted mentions. Also mentioned as "curved bits" at
http://www.wanlitools.com/c-bits.html
-jiw