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Chassis Questions

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6/7/2000 9:33 PM

Matthew Springer

Chassis Questions

A couple of questions about chassis. (what's the plural of chassis?)

How are people punching holes in these things? I'm looking at taking a Hammond Aluminium box but need some way to cut holes for tranny mounting and tube sockets and pots and yada, yada...

Does anybody know what chassis dimensions fit in Fender repro cabs? This would be helpful, as I can get somebody to build me a cabinet without reinventing the wheel. Somebody got a list of Fender chassis dimensions?

I should mention I don't really have a drill press or access to one easily, just hand tools and good clamps... Also, I'm planning on working with aluminium since I am not a weight lifter by training.

6/7/2000 9:47 PM
Ray Ivers	Matthew, I recently bought some Greenlee chassis punches from Antique Electronics (www.tubesandmore.com). They were somewhat expensive, but after using them I don't think I can go back to the Dremel tool again. I used them on a steel chassis (which they cut through like butter) but I imagine they would work equally well on aluminum. Ray Ivers

6/7/2000 11:41 PM

Mathew,

In addition to the chassis punches that Ray mentioned, I use a "unibit". It is a stepped drill bit for drilling holes of various sizes. I usually use a chassis punch for knocking out holes for tube sockets, and the unibit for drilling holes for switches and starter holes for the chassis punch draw bolt. There are several different sizes of unibits having different graduations for drilling holes. The unibit works much better than the HSS drill bits I was using. The one I got cost about $40 at Eagle Hardware, which is about the cost of a chassis punch.

Hope this helps.

Steve

6/8/2000 12:05 PM

For tube sockets, Greenlee punches. I think I paid $25? from Mouser. 3/4" for your novals (9-pin) 1-1/8" for your octals.

Regular drill & bit(s) for pot holes, jack holes etc. For laydown trannies you can go a couple of ways. You can drill out the corners and then use a nibler tool to cut the metal. You can also drill around the perimeter and use a coping saw to finish the job.. Or drill a bigger hole in the corner and stick in a hacksaw.. mix and match. :-)

:-)

There's likely to be a good bit of hand filing to be done which ever way you choose.

6/8/2000 4:37 PM
Matthew Springer	How exactly does the punch work? Is it self contained or do you mount it in a drill press or a pair of vice grips, or what? Alas, my degree is in EE not MechE. If only I'd braved Thermodynamics, I'd know how to punch holes in metal today. And no offense intended to the MechE's out there. -Matthew

6/8/2000 5:05 PM
SpeedRacer	Punches are really wonderfully simple. It's a 2 piece cutting die with a bolt up the middle. What you do is drill a hole to allow the bolt through the chassis. Then you assemble the punch and use a socket wrench to turn the bolt which brings the two halves of the punch together, cutting hte chassis.

6/8/2000 10:36 PM
Brian	I need something to make holes in a rackmount chassis? I think the front rack panel is 1/8" thick aluminum. Will one of these Greenlee punches cut through this?

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