Need some unusal parts/materials

[patentman]

Hey all, not sure where this should be posted, but as it relates to an idea for an invention I have I would appreciate your assistance. Some of this stuff is pretty off the wall. And for the record, I'm not looking to do any peeping, so no comments re: the camera. Also, I did google for this stuff and can't quite find what I need.

Ok, here is what I am looking for:

1. A small (.5"X.5" or smaller) "coring" drill with an attached driving motor. The drill/motor needs to be strong enough to bore through wood 2x4's. I've seen boring drill bits of the size I am talking about, but they are all used in conjunction with a hand held power drill. I need something substantially smaller and powered by a much smaller motor.

2. A wire that is stiffer along its long axis then it's circumferance, and which may be flex via remote or tension means to flex in various directions. I'm thinking something along the lines of the camera/cable that SWAT teams use to peer under doors or around walls, only much longer. Another way of describing it would be something similar to the guidewires used to implant stents or some of the components of an artheroscope, only much stiffer and stronger, and probably longer (sheesh that sounds wrong, but only way I can describe it).

3. A miniature (.5" or smaller) black and white video camera with or without a built in light source (i.e., an LED). If no light source, I'm looking for an LED light source suitable for such a camera.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PottedMeat]

No! I will not assist in your perverted adventures!

1. What do you mean 1/2" x 1/2"? Like you want to 'drill' a square that big in 2x4s? Or you want a drilling system like a 1/2" diameter drill bit with motor all in a 1/2" diameter package? Thats really asking a lot of work from a tiny motor when going through a couple 2x4s. Like you said - I've seen those bits on This Old House ( I think ) where a bit is attached to a flexible ~10' extension for drilling though cross braces you cant see in the wall in conjunction with a power drill.

2. Like fishtape thats guided or something?

3. You check those online surplus places like bgmicro or allelectronics? Maybe one of those private investigator/spy shops?

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
No! I will not assist in your perverted adventures!

1. What do you mean 1/2" x 1/2"? Like you want to 'drill' a square that big in 2x4s? Or you want a drilling system like a 1/2" diameter drill bit with motor all in a 1/2" diameter package? Thats really asking a lot of work from a tiny motor when going through a couple 2x4s. Like you said - I've seen those bits on This Old House ( I think ) where a bit is attached to a flexible ~10' extension for drilling though cross braces you cant see in the wall in conjunction with a power drill.

2. Like fishtape thats guided or something?

3. You check those online surplus places like bgmicro or allelectronics? Maybe one of those private investigator/spy shops?

I want a drilling system that is smaller then 1/2X1/2 but which has a bit that has a larger profile then the body of the motor. Imagine a cylindrical bit having a circumferance A, powered by a motor having a circumferance of .8A or less.

My idea is something similar to the bit extension you mentioned, but for really complex wire routing through walls. The drill would enable you to go through the studs. the camera/light source allows you to see what you are doing, and the flexible tubing allows you to control the direction of the drill. Ideally this would enable 1 hole to be punched in a wall at the entry point for the cable to be routed, and 1 hole at the exit point. You avoid the need to punch holes every 12-24 inches (and associated patching), and can wire things in ways that could only previously be done easily at the construction phase of the home.

Obviously it would be too expensive for an average homeowner to purchase, but these systems could be sold to high end home stereo/theater installers.

Your analogy to guided fishtape is a pretty good idea of what I want to try and do. Problem is that I need something that is stiff enough to put pressure on the drill when it needs to bore through something, yet flexible enough to make a 90 degree turn when needed.

 

[RayH]

Sounds like you're trying to build a miniature version of what high tech oil drilling rigs have. They can bore shafts in practically any direction. If you make the shaft long enough there's no limitation on the motor size since it wont have to enter the hole. For the flexible drive axle, you can use a tightly coiled wire similar to the plumbing snakes used to unclog drains. You would then encase the flexible axle in a flexible tube that would not rotate. The complicated part will be rigging up a wire tension system to make the tip direction controllable and because of the freespace in walls you won't be able to support the drilling shaft as well as when drilling in ground.

 

[jagec]

I agree with rayh, using an external motor with a long, flexible shaft is your best bet. You could run a set of five strong, flexible wires, each in their own tubes and lashed together in a plus configuration. At one end, the outer wires will hook into a solid metal piece that provides the backplate, connects to the housing of each wire, and provides a bearing for the center wire (your power shaft). The drill bit attaches to this center shaft. At the other end, by pushing and pulling on opposite outer wires, you can get the whole assembly to twist in that direction, while supplying power to the center for drilling. Instead of a built-in camera, use two fiber optics: One for illumination, and one to bring the image back to the camera, also external.

Basically you want to make an endoscope.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: patentman... Problem is that I need something that is stiff enough to put pressure on the drill when it needs to bore through something, yet flexible enough to make a 90 degree turn when needed.

A modified type of auger drill bit with a self feed lead screw tip would reduce if not eliminate the need for substantial force for 'biting' into the stud. Partially setting the lead screw tip would additionally provide the flex (pun intended) to better align the auger assembly perpendicular to the stud before drilling. It would take a delicate touch which could only be gained through 'trial and error' but once you gain a feel for the operation is certainly doable.


edit: *&*&%! italics tag . . . :0