We are pleased to announce we have now completed a production run of a newly designed Drill Bushing. We call it an ID Drill Bushing. some technicians refer to this bushing type as a “Slip Fit” drill bushing. At first glance it appears to be a standard “slip fit” drill bushing.
ID Drill Bushing Note: Set Screw ReceptacleID Drill Bushing. Note: Size of ID Bore Engraved on Head
Subtle Design Improvement
We have, however, improved the design by incorporating a machined receptacle into the outside diameter of the Drill Bushing. The receptacle is positioned to mate precisely with the ” half dog” of the set screw. Together, the set screw within the receptacle work to securely retain the drill bushing in the SAS-Canada Drill Bushing Block or the SAS-Canada Drill Bushing Cup during use.
ID Drill Bushing. Showing Stainless Steel Set Screw in Drill Block and Mating Receptacle in ID Drill Bushing
Initial Offering.
The initial offering of these Drill Bushing is in a 5 Piece set plus a 6061-T6 Aluminum Tray. The tray is now anodized to ensure corrosion and scratch resistance and to extend its service life.
5 Piece Set – ID Drill Bushings. ID Bore Sizes to Accept the Following Drill Sizes: #40, #30, #21, #10 and 1/4″. Also Shown the SAS-Canada Drill Bushing Block with Set Screws. 5 Piece Set – ID Drill Bushings. ID Bore Sizes to Accept the Following Drill Sizes: #40, #30, #21, #10 and 1/4″. Also Shown the SAS-Canada Drill Bushing Cup with Set Screw.
Complete Tooling System.
At Special Air Services-Canada Inc. our commitment is to design and produce a fully integrated and comprehensive tooling system. We are working to meet the demands of the Aviation/Aerospace Industry. Our goal is to offer tools that work together, precisely and effectively to help our customers become more capable technicians.
Its taken a little while to get to this point. So, the first ID Drill Bushing Tray was picked-up from our anodizing sub-contractor today along with 30 plus identical trays. Behold; Bright Red, Shiny and New.
A little while back, we made a decision to have all future aluminum componentsanodized. This process adds a decorative and professional surface protective finish to our quality products.
ID Drill Bushing Tray For Both SAS-Canada Threaded and Slip Fit “Doweled” Bushings
What’s the big deal.?
Well… maybe to some it isn’t.
But it is for us !
The ID Drill Bushing Tray
I have worked in the aircraft industry for 40 years. Over those years I seen many highly skilled craftsman deal with Drill Bushings they have acquired from used and surplus markets. It seemed like they “made do” with what was available rather than a source that considered their access to a real aid to help them be a better craftsman. Sure there are lots of suppliers out there of these kinds of tools, but I never felt that the tool was designed and intended for a craftsman in the aircraft industry.
We have been manufacturing Drill Bushing Sets for about a decade.
It all started about 10 years ago, my son who also works in the aircraft industry as a Licensed Structures Aircraft Maintenance Engineer came to me and asked if I would make a set of drill bushing to satisfy his reasonably complex requirements. At the tine I had just acquired a CNC lathe which was part of my technically expanding company.
I took on the challenge. With his suggestions and our combined experience in the field, we came up with a set of 27 different drill bushings. The initial run was for 10 sets. A total of 270 individual bushings. We then designed and machined a tray from 6061-T6 aluminum extrusion. Much like you see in the photo above and the copy of the drawing of our 27 piece Drill Bushing Set shown below.
SAS-Canada – 27 Piece OD Drill Bushing Set
Together we began to offer these sets to our co-workers and associates. It took a little while for the first 10 sets to sell. When we ran out of inventory, we made subsequent batches as there was vacant time in our CNC machining schedule. We have shipped these sets all across Canada, throughout the USA and as far away as New Zealand. Now we find it hard to keep up with demand.
So… to get back to the title of this post. This is the first step in the launch of a new group of product we feel is needed and has potential to offer an organized and simple component of a drilling tool system Special Air Services-Canada Inc. intends to offer over the next few months. Stay tuned for more announcements.
We are a small shop and some days it feels like we are carrying water uphill with a hole in the bucket. We hope to soon plug the hole in the bucket. Does anyone have a couple of MS 20470AD10-10 rivets (they are big holes) and lend us a gun and bucking bar large enough to handle these rivets 😉.
We are working to replenish our inventories of needed tools to a manageable level. That way you won’t see the “Out of Stock” on items in our online store, as you might find today.
In early January we announced a new production run of the SAS-CanadaDrill Bushing Block. We thought we would let you know; we just received the entire run back from the heat treating shop where they underwent the Liquid Nitriding process.
As you may know this process “case hardens” the tool and results in a shiny black color providing an improved resistance to surface corrosion and scratching.
9536721-300 Drill Block Newly Designed
Added New Design Features
We have incorporated some subtle new features to the design .
Stainless Steel Set Screws
A stainless steel set screw has been place in each end of the Drill Block to provide a positive hold on the slip fit drill bushing. These set screws prevent the drill bushing from falling out during handling. It also is an effective anti-rotation stop during use even if the drill is clogged when the drill is withdrawn from the Drill Bushing.
The second new feature is a “V” Groove machined into the bottom surface of the Drill Block.
Firstly the “V” groove lightens the tool
Secondly, this tool can now be used to drill a perpendicular and centered hole in a cylindrical component by placing the “V” Groove against the cylindrical circumference of the component.
A good example where this feature would be really helpful… to drill the rod end fastener holes in a flight control push rod.
The use of a Drill Square is a simple yet common sense approach to improving the quality and accuracy of fastener holes
Have you ever experienced a time when you wished you had a more precisely drilled a fastener hole?
It may not be that critical if you are just drilling rivet holes to fasten two pieces of thinner sheet metal (eg. 0.020″ up to 0.032″ thick sheets). If the stack-up is thin, the angle of the fastener (rivet) hole is not precisely at 90° to the surface of the sheet you say “What’s the dig deal?” The result only slightly adversely affects the installation of the rivet or the strength of the joint. As a result, forming this inferior joint, the slight misalignment might seem acceptable, but certainly not the outcome you wanted.
“Holemaking” at Precisely 90° and Precisely the Correct Location.
Two examples of fastener hole that require a more precise fastener fit are:
a fastener hole to accept a “Hilock” or other high strength fastener; or
a fastener hole drilled through thicker or multiple layers of metal
As a result, these fastener holes must be drill at precisely 90° to the surface of the sheets. It is especially relevant to note the holemaking process must be precise. It is to be accomplished without compromise.
Even experienced craftsmen, from time to time probably need a bit of help. Therefore, even experienced personnel can benefit while hand drilling from drilling aids. Technician work constantly to ensure fastener holes are at 90° to the surface of the sheet. Drill blocks, Drill Egg Cups and other devices are extensively employed as drilling aids by many.
If adequate access is a problem, or a quick and simple solution is needed, a Drill Square is a good ; some might even say a smart choice.
Drill Square with drill bit ready to drill a precise 90 degree hole
At first glance the Drill Square seems to simple, even somewhat “silly”. However, once you have experience the subtle improvement in the precision of your work, its not silly anymore.
In conclusion, whether you are new to the trade, or are an experienced sheet metal/structures technician, the tools offered on this website can help you to be a better and more precise craftsman.
