Vacuum components always stick out like sore thumb
COOL...
Ha ha, you wouldn't think it so cool, if you were the one having to drill eight 8.5mm holes through 12mm thick stainless steel. With a hand electric drill, since the thing is too big to fit in my drill press. Currently doing just the small pilot holes. Arrgh.
In this pic the square bar of plain steel is an alignment jig, since the holes have to be accurately perpendicular to the surface.
So far I didn't break the small pilot bit (5/32") but I expect I will, possibly multiple times. Just got back from buying a 10-pack as a precaution. Getting it to bite takes both hands AND pressing down on the drill with my chest. For those who've never drilled stainless, the trick is: low drill speed, but apply lots of pressure or none at all. No in between, since allowing the drill bit to rotate on the work metal without cutting, almost instantly work hardens the stainless. Which then almost instantly blunts the drill.
Fine control is difficult when you are straining hard.
Edit to add: Btw, if anyone needs big O-rings in Viton (a fluoroelastomer, very inert and withstands high temps), I found that Aliexpress has them for a reasonable price. For eg:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-170mm-x-160mm-x-5mm-Green-Viton-O-Rings-FKM-Hole-Sealings-Gasket-Washer-5pcs/32453184696.html