drilling ceramic magnets

[Puggie]

Is there any nice DIY methods for drilling ceramic speakers magnets. I have a motor that is 3 parts bonded together (top plate, magnet and polepiece/base plate). I would like to drill and couter sink the top plate and baseplate/polepiece then drill the magnets so I can bolt the structure together instead of bonding it. This is so it can be dissasembled easily for 'experimantal modifications' (see my post on Faraday rings if you what and idea of what I'm looking at).

I presume I need stainless fixings so as they are non magnetic but how do I go about drilling the magnet? what sort of drill should I use and what cutting fluid? Also can this be done with it still magnetised (I don't have facilities to re-magnetise it)

[AndrewT]

Hi,
I'll be interested in the results.
I thought they would be too hard and too brittle to drill.

[kelticwizard]

Well, somebody's doing it for a business, so there has to be a way.

DRILLING CERAMICS AND FERRITE SUBSTRATES
The high-speed, sensitive drill has the capability of drilling holes as small as .013 inch in diameter per your specifications.

Source

Good luck.

[pinkmouse]

You brave soul!

The only thing I can think that would touch ceramic without shattering it would be a diamond coring bit, but good luck getting all then "swarf" off the magnet once you finished! You will need to keep the magnet quite cool as well, so you might want to cut it underwater.

[hooha]

I successfully drilled a number of magetized 20oz ceramic magnets to fit a #6 machine screws, so yes it is possible. I used a drill press set at highest speed, your standard off-the-shelf cutting fluid and a fancy drill-like grinding bit I got from Snap-On.

Unfortunately I don't have any specifics on the Snap-On bit used (I checked the web site and couldn't find anything resembling it), but it had a rounded end and very tight turns up the shaft. As mentioned it looked more like it was meant for grinding, but the Snap-On rep said to try it. Luckily for me it worked.

I drilled three holes per magnet and took my time at it, making sure to wipe the residual particles off. A bit of a pain since they are magetized and loved to stick around.

Hope this helps you. Perhaps someone can chime in to give a more specific name to the bit I described.

Mark

[Puggie]

thanks guys at least now I know its possible.

I figured cooling would be a big issue, the only think I had thought of using is some DIY stores in the UK sell drill bits for drilling ceramic tiles, I thought this may be possible, I may have to go speak to some tool shops though see what is available that looks like a diamond tipped grinding bit sort of thing.