VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 05-16-2011, 08:47 PM
dwschaefer's Avatar
dwschaefer dwschaefer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 68
Default Cutting USB Holes

Back working on panel .. don't mind all the big GRT holes EXCEPT the USB holes .. never can get them to look great. Anyone got any good ideas how to cut these well? I always use a very small file .. but with 090 it's a real pain and never straight.

Thanks..
DWS
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-17-2011, 01:32 AM
DeltaAlphaZulu DeltaAlphaZulu is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 45
Default

I'm no where near up to this, and don't know the dimensions for the USB, except for looking at the back of my computer and guessing. But I saw very recently someone had done some narrow rectangular slots by using a Dremel with a router bit. You can get various sizes so I imagine you could do that and just square off the corners with a file?? Assuming of course you have, or have access to, a Dremel. When I saw what was done, and knowing I want to put USB in the panel, that was the technique that I thought I would explore for that purpose when I got there.

DAZ
__________________
Darren Rickett
RV-8: Empennage kit - working on it, Wing kit received
Gosford, NSW, Australia

Build Site: http://www.darrenrickett.com/rv8/index.php
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-17-2011, 03:08 AM
1911pilot 1911pilot is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 149
Default

How about these?


A bit larger than needed for this but they are pretty and fairly easy to install, 7/8" hole if I remember correctly. I use them at work for racks from time to time.
__________________
9a Empennage
#91208
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-17-2011, 06:07 AM
DanH's Avatar
DanH DanH is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 08A
Posts: 9,500
Default

You can cut a USB hole with nothing more than a drill and a file, in a painted, finished panel, in the airplane. Patience, patience.....
__________________
Dan Horton
RV-8 SS
Barrett IO-390
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-17-2011, 07:08 AM
Alan Carroll's Avatar
Alan Carroll Alan Carroll is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 778
Default

Could also cut down one of these to use as a mask if you've already made a too-large hole:

http://www.datapro.net/products/usb-...late-dual.html
__________________
Alan Carroll
RV-8 N12AC
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-17-2011, 08:53 AM
douglassmt douglassmt is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 714
Default Nibbler

Don't know the exact dimensions, but a nibbler might work, then dress up with a file.
__________________
Bryan Douglass
=VAF= 2020 dues paid
RV-10 N242BD
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-17-2011, 09:10 AM
Mike S's Avatar
Mike S Mike S is offline
Senior Curmudgeon
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
Default

Nibbler is too big, if you are trying for a minimum sized hole.

I drilled a couple holes at the ends of where I wanted the slot, used a coping saw to open up the slot, and a file to finish it off.

Works well.



__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909

Rv-10, N210LM.

Flying as of 12/4/2010

Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.

"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."

Last edited by Mike S : 05-17-2011 at 09:29 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-17-2011, 08:03 PM
Funguy's Avatar
Funguy Funguy is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 82
Default

Probably overkill!

http://onlineshop.murrelektronik.com...pageturning=10
__________________
RV6, Flying C-GOFG
CLA4 - Holland Landing
Toronto ON
Donated to Dec 2020
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-17-2011, 09:18 PM
Lars Lars is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Davis, CA
Posts: 1,156
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanH View Post
Patience, patience.....
Sure......
__________________
Lars Pedersen
Davis, CA
RV-7 Flying as of June 24, 2012
960+ hours as of June 30, 2020. Where did the time go?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-18-2011, 06:44 AM
rzbill's Avatar
rzbill rzbill is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,692
Default End Mill

I used a mill and a 1/4" bit to cut a 1/4 by .530" slot. Male USB slips right in.

Image below shows 2 slots just to the left of the EIS.

__________________
Bill Pendergrass
ME/AE '82
RV-7A: Flying since April 15, 2012. 850 hrs
YIO-360-M1B, mags, CS, GRT EX and WS H1s & A/P, Navworx
Unpainted, polished....kinda'... Eyeballin' vinyl really hard.
Yeah. The boss got a Silhouette Cameo 4 Xmas 2019.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:02 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.