Lance Abernethy's working miniature drill. Photo / Supplied
Lance Abernethy's working miniature drill. Photo / Supplied
A Kiwi has used 3D printing to create what could be the world's smallest drill.
Lance Abernethy built the tiny drill using a 3D printer for the body and hand-soldered the electronics, 3DPrint.com reported.
At 13mm long and 7.5mm wide, and with a bit just half a millimetrewide, the tiny drill is barely big enough to hold.
Mr Abernethy, from Auckland, works as a maintenance engineer, and told 3DPrint.com he'd been making small things since he was a child.
He used an Ultimaker 2 3D printer, and drew up the plans using a computer-aided design software package called Onshape 3D. It took 25 minutes to print the body, in two halves, and chuck, but about three hours to perfect the internal wiring.
It's powered by a hearing aid battery and miniature motor.
"I have seen claims of the world's smallest cordless drill and I know mine is smaller but it's not a confirmed claim," Mr Abernethy told 3DPrint.com.
He now plans to make an even smaller drill, using a smaller battery he's found.The micro drill is causing a stir across the internet, with the story being shared on several websites.
