Best way to make microchannels?

[Lithan]

I'm making a homemade microchannel waterblock. I have a craftman 3/4hp standing drillpress, a RTX tool (dremel), and several other tools, but no mill. Can I make clean channels without a mill, or will I need one. If I will, how much am I looking at to buy a mill that will work (I'll probably only use it this one time).

[Stang_Man]

you're gonna need a mill for this..

a good mill, hand operated mind you, is around 8-12k for a good one.

know anyone who works at a shop that has an open machine and the time to do it? if so, ask them, they may be able to do it.

;) good luck

[Çhrist0ph]

sometimes high schools and colleges have mills to use...but you usually have to be taking a class there :P

[Lithan]

I have access to a shop, but its mostly for working on large machinery (front end loaders, all kinds of cats, turners, etc). I doubt they'd have a mill there. There's a metal shop at my old high school. But I haven't been there for six years so I doubt I could pass myself off as a student.

[Çhrist0ph]

befriend a highschooler who has shop class and give him the plans :lol:

[saaya]

you can buy a mill set for a drill machine, its a lot cheaper but of not so good quality, but it will be enough for a waterblock.

[JayPSC]

Yup you can buy a cross slide table/vice for your drillpress
This sort of thing:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3810825206&category=26198

Jay

[Weapon]

Originally posted by JayPSC
Yup you can buy a cross slide table/vice for your drillpress
This sort of thing:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3810825206&category=26198

Jay

yeah - that will do it. just remember to move the piece very slowly and cut the channels in multiple shallow passes. that is very similar to the contraption I used to make one of my blocks -- I went a bit to fast on one of the outer channels and roughed it up a little but after I slowed down, things worked nicely.

I don't have any good pics of the block in process but this is the finished product:
http://www.cox-internet.com/weapon/images/Dscn0805.jpg
the plates are brazed together and the fittings are hard soldered in place. no leaks outta this one. :D

[Stang_Man]

Originally posted by JayPSC
Yup you can buy a cross slide table/vice for your drillpress
This sort of thing:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3810825206&category=26198

Jay

that looks interesting, i'll have to try it.

[funktional]

http://www.wakuebau.de/bilder/gallerie/2.jpg

http://www.wakuebau.de/bilder/gallerie/19.jpg

http://www.wakuebau.de/bilder/gallerie/25.jpg
http://www.wakuebau.de/bilder/gallerie/33.jpg

All done with dremel and drillpress. A mill that is capable of doing microchannels in copper will cost 500$ or more. So just take your dremel and your drillpress ;)

[nas]

ok here is an idea for you , hand operated "mill" .

get 2 metal sticks , and make a "track" outa them on the currint board , then take the driller down to the point ya want , lock it , and push the part all the way on the track by that u will have yourself a single axis mill :)

[Lithan]

Thanks for all the help guys.


Funktional. The first pic. How exactly did you do those channels?

also, which of those blocks works the best?

And you didn't use o-rings?

[Reflex1]

hmm i mite try make some blocks too this summer ...i got a drill press here, just need to buy a cross slide vice. and a dremel :p:

[funktional]

Originally posted by Lithan
Thanks for all the help guys.


Funktional. The first pic. How exactly did you do those channels?

I just made them in there with my dremel and cutting blades. Takes some time and you have to be careful at the or end or you will cut through the copper. just measure the channel depth from time to time.


also, which of those blocks works the best?

The best block is the last one. Its not as simple as it looks. You can see a channel in the middle of the top. I put a few jets in it and dimples below the jets. works pretty goot :)


And you didn't use o-rings?

I used a special foam. the bubbles in it are very little and the pores in it are closed. Silicone or UHU tak also work well.

[Prandtl]

there is smaller/cheaper mill that can be use for machining wb and still give good results. Here are two exemple.
first one (http://www.homier.com/itemdetail.asp?i=03947&c=11)
second (http://www.homier.com/itemdetail.asp?i=03989&c=11)

In any case, be ready to spend a good $500 for tooling on top of the mill. The second one is what Bladerunner (http://www.zfz.com/) use to make most of his blocks. I know quiet a few other individuals who use those type of mills and make very good block... I personnally made my WW clone on a similar mill using a slitting saw (1/32" thick).