If the tube is a little smaller diameter than the ball, and the end is cut = nice and square it should be possible to generate enough vacuum to keep the= ball on the end of the tube as it is withdrawn. I'm thinking you probably = need to generate a continuous vacuum such as from a Weller desoldering tool= , as there will probably be enough air leakage past the ball as it will not= be a great seal, even with great care taken in facing the end of the tube. -----Original Message----- From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu On Behalf Of David = VanHorn Sent: 14 July 2018 22:40 To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Subject: Re: [EE] Removal of steel ball bearing in iron casting using magne= ts? Probably difficult since the casting is magnetic and the bearing may be stainless steel which is mostly non magnetic. Can you get a tube in there? You might be able to suck the bearing onto the end and get it out th= at way. On Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 3:33 PM Jason White wrote: > Hello All, > > A 1/8" steel ball bearing has fallen to the bottom of a 2.5" deep 5/64" > hole in a large iron casting. > > It is feasible to use magnetics to remove the bearing? > > I suspect not but perhaps it is a failure of my imagination. > > > The hole is the oil passage to the spindle bearing of a small lathe.=20 > The ball is blocking oil from entering the spindle bearing and must be re= moved. > > The ball bearing is loose in the passage. If I could flip the lathe=20 > upside down it would probably fall out of the hole. > > Currently it seems I will have to tear the lathe apart to get the ball ou= t. > > Thanks, > Jason White > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive=20 > View/change your membership options at=20 > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > -- http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/chang= e your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclis= t --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .