It's good that you were able to have the anvil custom made. That is the main thing that prevents me from trying out this technique.
Maybe could ask Stewart (Zebra50) if he can help you out?
The other is that PEM fasteners don't seem to have a supplier in the UK. Perhaps I'll also try and get a few samples...
There is, here is one of them
http://www.zygology.com/ProductCart/pc/WEB_page.asp?ID=1One question - I see of course why you used the anvil, but why the other metal tube ( I think it is what you call the press)? Surely if you padded your vice appropriately, the press would not be necessary. Or have I misunderstood?
The anvil and press is made of a steel bar of 12mm, and i think having both is good for making the insert beeing well fitted in there, if you check their industrial machines you'll see that it's the same principle, i made the Anvil a little rounded, to make less contact with the material, and the other is as flat as possible, both apply a nice pressure on the insert.
And when i had the inserts in hands, wich is pretty small, the side that gets into the material is very thin, maybe 0.5mm, and so i think having the other press hard and flat enough is better.
Now if working only with aluminium sheet, maybe don't even need the anvil and press made of steel, but aluminium could do.
But if going in steel and thicker ones than forget it, after some time the presse will get the insert mark and will not be efficient no more...
http://www.pemnet.com/presses/4_spec.htmlAnd sorry again for the stoopid question, but I don't understand why blind standoffs would be more tricky. You just drill the hole for the blind standoff in the same way as the hole for a normal standoff don't you?
I said blinded hole as on an fpd, since you don't have to drill using a simple V shaped bit, but need a milling bit, to get your hole
as flat as possible, and also need to make sure that the depth of the drill to not get thru it.
Possible, but a little more tricky, than just drilling a hole, put the insert, press and voila....
Next think i'm going to try is insert in PCB's....
Hope this helps?