Hello all,
Does anyone have a problem with me drilling out the holes in transistors to make them bigger? I have a load of nylon screw spacers that are just too big and it would be good to use them up.
Can I do any damage to the transistors by taking a drill to them?
Cheers
Charlie
Does anyone have a problem with me drilling out the holes in transistors to make them bigger? I have a load of nylon screw spacers that are just too big and it would be good to use them up.
Can I do any damage to the transistors by taking a drill to them?
Cheers
Charlie
Nope, I have done it on occasion.
Just remember that if it is a steel TO-3 case it will be very difficult to hold once the drill bit catches.
So be very careful and secure the part first before you start to drill.
Make sure the bit is sharp and of good quality (Titanium coated preferably) if you are cutting into steel.
This will help keep the heat down.
Tab type are generally made of copper and it won't be as hard to work with.
Also it maybe a good idea to have some Ice water handy to cool the part quickly as a lot of heat will be generated from the drilling process!
Basically just watch the temperature of the part well you are drilling as you may have to start and stop for the part to cool down a few times.
Ice comes in handy for this.
Enlarging the hole in 2 or 3 or even 4 steps will help with this as well as it takes time to change the bit, allowing for the part to cool and using smaller steps of increment means less cutting area and less heat generated per cut.
Jer 🙂
Just remember that if it is a steel TO-3 case it will be very difficult to hold once the drill bit catches.
So be very careful and secure the part first before you start to drill.
Make sure the bit is sharp and of good quality (Titanium coated preferably) if you are cutting into steel.
This will help keep the heat down.
Tab type are generally made of copper and it won't be as hard to work with.
Also it maybe a good idea to have some Ice water handy to cool the part quickly as a lot of heat will be generated from the drilling process!
Basically just watch the temperature of the part well you are drilling as you may have to start and stop for the part to cool down a few times.
Ice comes in handy for this.
Enlarging the hole in 2 or 3 or even 4 steps will help with this as well as it takes time to change the bit, allowing for the part to cool and using smaller steps of increment means less cutting area and less heat generated per cut.
Jer 🙂
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Hi Jer,
Thanks for your answer. Good tip about the ice water (although I never thought of putting a device in water before!) as I have just done it and they do get very hot, I hope I havn't done it damage.
Thanks again
Charlie
Thanks for your answer. Good tip about the ice water (although I never thought of putting a device in water before!) as I have just done it and they do get very hot, I hope I havn't done it damage.
Thanks again
Charlie
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