AUS

NGN110R-12

Group 4

MCE Lab ReportThreading a Steel Plate & CNC Demo

Abdulwahab H. Sahyoun(47562)

Hakam AbdulQader(49431)

Jad Abdulsamad(47719)

Moath Abu Qaoud(48225)

Hassan Bassem Saleh(48302)

Instructors: Mr. Sayem & Mr. Rami

Date: 3/10/12

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Abstract

In mechanical engineering labs students practice how to use certain types of equipment to lay

out and produce certain objects that are used in our daily life. For instance, steel is an

essential element used in those kind of labs, where we had to construct tools from that

interesting element using basic illustrations and techniques. We started off by five simple

procedures (Measuring, Marking, Punching, Drilling and Threading) which resulted in a

remarkably helpful tool using nothing but basic equipment and our bare hands. We had minor

troubles with the measurements and markings due to the lack of experience using such tools.

Towards the end of this lab we got accepted results that soothed us after all the work we have

done not knowing if we were on the right track. We concluded this lab by getting a

presentation on the CNC machine and a general view on how to work the CNC program.

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Table of Contents

Abstract ...................................................................................... 2

Introduction ................................................................................ 4

Procedure ................................................................................... 5-6

Results ........................................................................................ 7

Conclusion .................................................................................. 8

References ................................................................................... 9

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Introduction

Steel is probably found everywhere and its main uses differ from one place to another as it

has various properties. When we say steel, many think it's a type of metal, steel is actually a

combination of different elements, such as iron and carbon. There are, however, different

types of steel which include: carbon steel, stainless steel, high speed steel, cobalt steel, and

many more. Carbon steel and stainless steel are the most common types which are mostly

used to make woodworking tools and flatware.(1) In order to make such materials, steel should

go through several processes first. some of these process involve cutting, drilling, and

threading. The processes we used in this experiment were: Measuring, marking, punching,

drilling, and finally threading. The measuring process involves taking height and length

measurements, after that the intersection of the middle points of each measurement is marked

and punched. Drilling is the process in which the metal is pierced using a drilling machine.

Then comes the threading which is basically using a tap along with tap handle to make screw

threads within the object. The purpose of this experiment was mainly to introduce some of

the steps involved in making tools out of steel using simple methods and calculations and

teach us how to use other tools such as the CNC. The CNC which stands for Computer

Numerical Control, is a machine that allows drilling, cutting, and many other process to be

done through a computer software. The program is first given the model along with the axes

and commands, the program then verifies the output and executes the commands. The

methods involved in the experiment were easy to comprehend and the results were obvious.

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Procedure

1) Measurement:

Using a precise and an accurate tool

to measure the length and width of

the steel plate is important, that’s

why we used the Vernier Caliper.

Basically we placed the steel plate

on a flat surface, and then using the

outside measuring faces on the bottom of the scale, we measured the length. Using the

same method we measured the width. However since we needed to be accurate, we

measured to three signifigant figures. To read the scale we first looked at the guide

bar and marked down the measurement in cm. Then we took a look at the ten marks

on the the vernier scale, that’s attached to the moveable jaw, and the graduated

millimeter marks on the guide bar, to find two lines on the scale that is nearly lined

up. That will be the measurment.

2) Marking:

To find the center on the steel plate we divided the

length and width in half and marked that center with a

height gauge. To use the height gauge properly,we set it

on a flat surface, then by turning the height gauge all

the way down, we made sure it was set on zero. We

turned the height gauge to the desired height and then

locked it. With the steel plate safely place on its side

we slowly moved the scriber towards the steel plate and

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Height Gauge

Vernier Caliper (2)

scratched a light line across the steel plate. We repteated this process for the width of

the steel plate marking the exact center of the steel plate.

3) Punching:

To prepare the steel plate to get drilled in the correct location, we marked the center

on the plate with a nail and hammer to slightly punch the steel plate.

4) Drilling:

Using a 8.5 mm drilling bit we drilled the center using a drill

press workstation. We safely placed the steel plate between a

clamp and underneath the steel plate we place a wooden

piece to catch the drill bit when it goes through. We adjusted

the position of the clamp so that the head of the drilling bit

comes into the punch we made on the plate.

5) Threading:

Finally to insert a screw safely through the drilled hole we

had to thread. To thread, we fit a tap that is perpendicular to the hole. To begin the

threading we installed the tap onto a tap wrench, with firm pressure we turned the

wrench clockwise and turned the wrench all the way until the tap threads all the way

to the bottom of the hole. Finally, we took out the tap by turning the wrench anti-

clockwise and inserted the screw into the hole.

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Drilling workstation

Results

Measurements Value Value2Length of steel plate 99.4 mm 49.7 mm

Width of steel plate 60.1 mm 30.1 mmHole Diameter 8.5 mm

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Final Product

Conclusion

Steel, as we came to know previously in this report, is a combination of different elements

such as iron and carbon. Various types of steel are abundant and a few examples of them

would be carbon steel, stainless steel and cobalt steel. In this experiment, the objective was to

show us how to make tools out of steel using simple illustrations and procedures. In our

experiment we used five simple processes that are, measuring, marking, punching, drilling,

and threading. We started by taking measures of the plate to mark and punch an accurate

position to the center of this plate and then drill it, making it eligible for threading to

eventually make a whole where a screw can fit in perfectly. We experienced minor errors

using the Vernier Caliper the first trial because we held it with our hands instead of placing it

on a straight surface, but later on we fixed the errors by taking new measurements that are

more accurate and precise by placing the Vernier Caliper on the table and deleting the

previous results. During this lab session, we were introduced to CNC, which when certain

computer codes are executed, can do various procedures (such as drilling and typing on

objects such as steel and wood) automatically. This lab session was extremely helpful in

demonstrating ways to make tools out of raw materials and eventually made us better

oriented about the tools and machines used in the mechanical engineering lab.

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References

(1) Fuller, Warren. W.L. Fuller Inc.."Steel Types", 2005. Web.29 Sept. 2012

<http://www.wlfuller.com/html/steel_types.html>

(2) N.d. Photograph. 1 Measurement of Length. Web. 28 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.hasorc.com/hasoha/physic1/VernierCaliper.jpg>

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