Cutting circlip groove

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

I need to cut a groove for a circlip. It's external to suit a 10mm bar. I've bought a mixed box of clips. Are there any tips on selecting the correct size? And is it possible to grind a hss tool thin enough and have it survive the cutting operation?

Thanks

Colin

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

[Anonymous]

Posted by colin hamilton on 11/04/2023 07:47:46:

…is it possible to grind a hss tool thin enough and have it survive…

The answer is yes, that's exactly what I did when I needed to cut circlip grooves on 10mm rod.

Andrew

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

It is possible to grind a hss tool, suggest you start with a smallish blank, say 5 – 6 mm square. Alternatively, I have a parting / grooving tool made from a broken section of "all-hard" hss hacksaw blade in a home-made holder. Works very well

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 11/04/2023 08:26:12

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

There are carbide tips and holders (similar to parting off tools) That are specifically designed for cutting grooves. But very expensive for a one off job.

The above suggestions from Clive and Andrew are better for a one off.

Andrew.

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Posted by colin hamilton on 11/04/2023 07:47:46:

Are there any tips on selecting the correct size?

https://roymech.org/Useful_Tables/Circlips/Circlips_External.html

Grooving tips are also available to suit standard laydown threading tools (the ones, for example, that take ER11 and ER16 inserts).

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

I'll second what the Andrews and Clive have said. When I needed to make a groove for a circlip, I thinned an ordinary hss parting blade down to 0.8mm and used that. Going carefully, of course, because I didn't know any better, I achieved the desired result.

For the dimensions, I referred to the table below:

John

Edit DC32k types faster than me – or didn't have to do the ironing before replying!

Edited By John Hinkley on 11/04/2023 10:19:38

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Posted by John Hinkley on 11/04/2023 10:17:17:

Edit DC32k types faster than me – or didn't have to do the ironing before replying!

Edited By John Hinkley on 11/04/2023 10:19:38

And more accurately, it appears. Sorry, that should read DC31k

John

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

For a one off, I would favour Clive's hacksaw blade method. Have as little as possible of the blade overhanging.

Be sure to look closely at the circlip before fitting, commercial versions have one sharp square side and one somewhat rounded. You want the sharp side in the direction of thrust.

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

In George Thomas's book The Model Engineers Workshop Manual he shows a small holder for narrow parting tools ground from 1/4" round HSS and details of sharpening the toolbit. These work amazingly well and can be made very narrow I've used one .017" wide for small E clips and i'm sure narrower would be possible with care.

The book is a mine of usefull information, but has sidetracked me many times over the years making tooling, all of which has proved worthwhile. Mind you might have to make a hacksaw parting tool now…….

Dave

Edited By Dave Wootton on 11/04/2023 14:40:04 spelling again!

Edited By Dave Wootton on 11/04/2023 14:41:44

[David SeniorParticipant @davidsenior29320]

Don't forget that for many applications there is no need to have a groove the same width as the circlip – considerably wider will be fine as long as the groove edge that is taking the thrust is in the correct position.

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

As always, thank you for the speedy and detailed responses. I'll see how I get on tomorrow

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

A further factor, when fitting such clips. look closely at the edges of a new circlip, which fit into the groove, and (almost always) there will be a sharp edge and a slightly rounded one. It is better to fit the clip so the sharp edge is resisting and load. If you are fussy, you are likely to do the same thing with washers, too. But mainly for appearance rather than safety.

Cheers, Tim

Edited By Tim Stevens on 12/04/2023 17:43:45

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