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CNC drilled pilot holes

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sundaypilot

Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 4

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

Hi all! I am new to this list so this may be a dumb question that has already been answered many times:



I saw a comment on the ZODIAC web site (under pricing) that says:



NEW FOR 2007: The standard kit now includes many precision CNC pre-cut and pre-drilled skins and components.



I am wondering if anybody has an idea or feeling as to how much time this will save? Do CNC pre-drilled holes still have to be deburred?



Any comment welcome.



I will start my project with a rudder -workshop in Cloverdale/CA in May.



Thanks, 



  Sundaypilot

Tim Juhl

Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: CNC drilled pilot holes

What you'll get are pre-cut skins with the pilot holes and inspection holes, etc. already done.  I guess now they even trim the wingtips and wing roots which can be a lengthy process (especially the tips.)  



The more they do the more time you will save and the less likely you are to put a hole in the wrong place.  That said, we have many fine builders on this list that are building from scratch with great results.  You have to decide how much time you are willing to devote to the project.



I bought the standard kit (not the quick build) and appreciate having the pilot holes and etc.  I know it saved me time and to me it was worth the extra cost over just buying the raw materials.



Pilot holes are sized for a #40 drill.  What they do is help you line up your skins with the underlying support members which you will then drill into and cleco.  You will then have to drill the holes out to size (#30 or #21), disassemble, deburr, prime, reassemble and rivet.  No doubt there will be some trimming with snips and files.



Don't let anybody kid you... there is a lot of work to putting one of these together.  That said, I think Zenith offers kits that are the equal of or superior of what is available.



Tim



do not archive

_________________
______________
CFII
Champ L16A flying
Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A
Almost done! It'll fly in spring!

sundaypilot

Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 4

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: CNC drilled pilot holes

Thanks Tim!

Terry Phillips

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 346
Location: Corvallis, MT

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

1st of all, the CNC predrilled holes are pilot holes as you said in your 

subject. I.e., they are 3/32" holes. they must be drilled out to #30 for A4 

rivets or #20 for A5 rivets, and the finished holes must be deburred before 

riveting.



Regarding the time saving, I've made just a few pieces from scratch, but 

enough to appreciate how much time it saves me to have a kit made of 

precut, pre-pilot drilled parts. Admittedly, I am a slow builder, even with 

the Zenith parts. But, when I look at the effort that would have been 

required for a kit without the predrilled holes it looks overwhelming. For 

me, I'd guess that the predrilled pilot holes save me ~10-15% of the time 

to assemble. A significant part of that time is saved because it is a lot 

easier for me to drill a hole in the correct spot when I'm guided by a 

pilot hole rather than an X on the metal. A more skilled workman would 

probably be a lot faster with undrilled parts.



Terry



At 09:05 PM 3/22/2008 -0700, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Hi all! I am new to this list so this may be a dumb question that has 

already been answered many times:



I saw a comment on the ZODIAC web site (under pricing) that says:



NEW FOR 2007: The standard kit now includes many precision CNC pre-cut and 

pre-drilled skins and components.



I am wondering if anybody has an idea or feeling as to how much time this 

will save? Do CNC pre-drilled holes still have to be deburred?



Any comment welcome.



I will start my project with a rudder -workshop in Cloverdale/CA in May.



Thanks,



   Sundaypilot


	




Terry Phillips

ttp44~at~rkymtn.net

Corvallis MT

601XL/Jab 3300 s .. l .. o .. o .. w build kit - Tail, flaps, & ailerons 

are done; working on the wings

http://www.mykitlog.com/N47TP/

_________________
Terry Phillips
Corvallis, MT
ttp44<at>rkymtn.net
Zenith 601XL/Jab 3300 slow build kit - Tail feathers done; working on the wings.

Larry Hursh

Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 125
Location: Edwardsburg, MI (near Elkhart, IN)

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:07 am Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

The CNC holes are just pilot holes.  They are your "guide" as to where to drill.  The only time it saves is the time you would have spent measuring and marking these holes is all.  Yes, you do have to deburr the skins and components after you drill them.  You will understand it all and how it works when you start in on your rudder kit.  I'm sure you will have a lot more questions so feel free to jump in here anytime and ask.  That's what we are all here for - to help each other and learn.

   

  Hope you enjoy building your airplane and welcome to the group!

   

  Regards,

  Larry H



sundaypilot <sundaypilot(at)cybermesa.com> wrote:

   	  Quote: 	
		  --> Zenith-List message posted by: "sundaypilot" 



Hi all! I am new to this list so  this may be a dumb question that has already been answered many times:



I saw a comment on the ZODIAC web site (under pricing) that says:



NEW FOR 2007: The standard kit now includes many precision CNC pre-cut and pre-drilled skins and components.



I am wondering if anybody has an idea or feeling as to how much time this will save? Do CNC pre-drilled holes still have to be deburred?



Any comment welcome.



I will start my project with a rudder -workshop in Cloverdale/CA in May.



Thanks, 



Sundaypilot

	


     [quote][b]

_________________
Larry Hursh (N650LM Reserved)

"One rivet at a time......one day at a time.."

CH650 (Converted from CH601XL)
1/2 done with fuselage
will be Corvair Powered

Jaybannist(at)cs.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:38 am Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

"Sunday", whoever you are,



The predrilled pilot holes do save a lot of time, except in the case where they are mis-drilled.  I imagine that with all the feedback ZAC has gotten on this subject, they have it down pretty good by now.  



Pilot holes are just that.  They are drilled to accept a 3/32" cleco.  You will have to drill out each one to fit an A4 or A5 rivet, so after drilling, you will have to de-burr each one.



Jay in Dallas CH 601XL N2630J "Lil Bruiser"

"sundaypilot" <sundaypilot(at)cybermesa.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Hi all! I am new to this list so this may be a dumb question that has already been answered many times:



I saw a comment on the ZODIAC web site (under pricing) that says:



NEW FOR 2007: The standard kit now includes many precision CNC pre-cut and pre-drilled skins and components.



I am wondering if anybody has an idea or feeling as to how much time this will save? Do CNC pre-drilled holes still have to be deburred?



Any comment welcome.



I will start my project with a rudder -workshop in Cloverdale/CA in May.



Thanks, 



  Sundaypilot





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=171868#171868

JohnDRead(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

The CNC holes are pilot holes so they have to be deburred only when they  are opened up to the correct size. The time saved is considerable as one does  not have to lay out the holes initially.

  

 John  Read



Phone: 303-648-3261

Fax: 303-648-3262

Cell: 719-494-4567   

  In a message dated 3/22/2008 10:10:10 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time,  sundaypilot(at)cybermesa.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  -->    Zenith-List message posted by: "sundaypilot"    <sundaypilot(at)cybermesa.com>



Hi all! I am new to this list so this    may be a dumb question that has already been answered many times:



I saw    a comment on the ZODIAC web site (under pricing) that says:



NEW FOR    2007: The standard kit now includes many precision CNC pre-cut and pre-drilled    skins and components.



I am wondering if anybody has an idea or feeling    as to how much time this will save? Do CNC pre-drilled holes still have to be    deburred?



Any comment welcome.



I will start my project with a    rudder -workshop in Cloverdale/CA in May.



Thanks, 



     Sundaypilot





Read this topic online    here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=171868#171868

	






Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home.

  [quote][b]

sundaypilot

Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 4

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: CNC drilled pilot holes

Thanks everybody for your replies!



There seems to be a lot of collective Zodiac knowledge/experience gathered here. I will come back every day now to see what's new. 

And I haven't even started building yet ...



Thanks again everybody!



Thomas (Tom) Spickermann

Hernandez, New Mexico

sundaypilot(at)cybermesa.com

Terry Phillips

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 346
Location: Corvallis, MT

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

Tom



Glad to hear that there is going to be a 601 down in NNM. I retired out of 

LANL in 2004 and moved to MT in 2005. I feel so lucky to have missed the 

turmoil of the past few years. In fact, I got out just before Nanos' 

shutdown. That was a great summer to be out of the lab.



Do you plan to fly out of Espanola or LAM? I've been to the Espanola 

airport, but only for some RC stuff. I do hope to fly to LAM after I finish 

my 601.



Good luck with yours.



Terry

ESA-EPE, retired

At 08:53 PM 3/23/2008 -0700, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Thanks everybody for your replies!



There seems to be a lot of collective Zodiac knowledge/experience gathered 

here. I will come back every day now to see what's new.

And I haven't even started building yet ...



Thanks again everybody!



Thomas (Tom) Spickermann

Hernandez, New Mexico

sundaypilot(at)cybermesa.com


	




Terry Phillips

ttp44~at~rkymtn.net

Corvallis MT

601XL/Jab 3300 s .. l .. o .. o .. w build kit - Tail, flaps, & ailerons 

are done; working on the wings

http://www.mykitlog.com/N47TP/

_________________
Terry Phillips
Corvallis, MT
ttp44<at>rkymtn.net
Zenith 601XL/Jab 3300 slow build kit - Tail feathers done; working on the wings.

Terry Phillips

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 346
Location: Corvallis, MT

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject: CNC drilled pilot holes

Whoops!



'Sorry, I had intended my previous note to be off the list.



Terry



do not archive!



At 11:25 PM 3/23/2008 -0600, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  Tom


	




Terry Phillips

ttp44~at~rkymtn.net

Corvallis MT

601XL/Jab 3300 s .. l .. o .. o .. w build kit - Tail, flaps, & ailerons 

are done; working on the wings

http://www.mykitlog.com/N47TP/

_________________
Terry Phillips
Corvallis, MT
ttp44<at>rkymtn.net
Zenith 601XL/Jab 3300 slow build kit - Tail feathers done; working on the wings.

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