What are you building?

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What are you building?

This topic has 42 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 26 September 2010 at 11:34 by John Stevenson 1.

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18 September 2010 at 15:25 #55851
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
If you are like me, you probably have about 20 projects on the go and finish them at a rate of about 1 a year!

Just out of curiosity, what sort of projects do folk have on the go?

Neil
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18 September 2010 at 15:25 #21728
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
Just out of interest…
18 September 2010 at 15:40 #55852
dcosta
Participant
@dcosta
Hello.

I am making a shaper machine more or less following David Gingery’s book.

Right now I am looking for a DC motor (with brushes or brushless) and controller to start making the moving train.

I’d like to have a small powerful motor (about 1000W) with speed control instead of a set of pulleys. So I am in a kind of waiting state.

You can see some pictures in the following URL:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=8270

P.S.: I will be thankful if someone knows where I can buy a motor with those caracteristics will let me know.

Dias Costa

Edited By Dias Costa on 18/09/2010 15:42:54

Edited By Dias Costa on 18/09/2010 15:43:59

Edited By Dias Costa on 18/09/2010 15:44:31
18 September 2010 at 20:14 #55866
Axel Bentell
Participant
@axelbentell
http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/shumaker/default.htm

Have a look at that page Costas, mabe that´ll do?

I really like the shaper you are making!
18 September 2010 at 20:49 #55872
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I’m about 90% done on a 2″ Fowler A7 to the MJ Eng design, you can see pics Here

The other little project is a 1/5th scale IHC Famous screen cooled vertical hit & Miss engine, I’m detailing the build on HMEM forum but its early days with that engine.

Jason
18 September 2010 at 21:49 #55876
Stewart Hart
Participant
@stewarthart90345
3 1/2″ Loco build her

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=547.0

this is the boiler build

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=2998.0

And a batch build of some twin cylinder double acting woblers.

her

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=3429.0 

Stew
18 September 2010 at 22:27 #55879
Ramon Wilson
Participant
@ramonwilson3
Hi Neil, Now did that Nova get a foot hold in those projects I wonder?

Having had a good break from machining over the summer I’ve managed to get some workshop ‘improvements’ done in the time ‘off’ and have created a bit more floor and bench space ready for the off on a new project.

A new scaled up engine is on the cards – drawings (pencil) were drawn and (and I never would have believed this not three months ago) but also have managed, with the help of friends John and Phil, to finally have got to grips with Autocad to produce a set using that too. The crankcase is a bit involved so I’ll wait until it’s done before saying any more

First though I’m going to have a couple of weeks doing a bit more to the Waller engine I’ve been building for far too long but even that has to wait for a holiday away next week first

Regards – Ramon
18 September 2010 at 23:31 #55884
Martin Cottrell
Participant
@martincottrell21329
Hi Neil,

I currently have several projects on the go. Most are nearing completion and have been ongoing for the last 4-5 years! These include a Worden tool & cutter grinder, GHT’s Universal Pillar Tool (currently working on the sensitive drilling attachment),a Junior I.C engine & a vertical boiler for a horizontal mill engine recently completed after an 8 year build!!

My available workshop time is sparse and unpredictable due to work and family commitments and I find having several projects on the go at once seems to keep my interest alive more than just one project dragging on forever would. Incidentaly, I have several casting sets maturing nicely under the work bench. These are waiting patiently for a start date some time in the future and in a couple of cases waiting for the purchase of a larger capacity lathe. These include castings for a Redwing hit & miss IC engine, a Ryder Ericsson hot air engine & Len Masons’ Mastiff 4 cylinder IC engine.

So, plenty to keep me out of mischeif for years to come at my current production rate!

Regards, Martin.
19 September 2010 at 01:29 #55887
dcosta
Participant
@dcosta
Hello Axel.

Thank You for Your kind words about my shapper and for the information about brushless motors. I knew something about them but never thought they could be used for this purpose.

I’ll look for more information about that kind of motor. If it can move a bicycle it can move my shapper. And those motors have a very interesting price for the power!

At these moment I’m kind of stuck with moving train. I’m really in need of a motor to proceed.

Once again thank You Axel

Dias Costa
19 September 2010 at 07:41 #55890
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Dias Costa, most of the bike motors are 200 to 800 watt, but the motor used for tread mills is usually 1100watt or even a little more at 220 V DC, these are brush type motors about 100mm dia, and about 200mm long.

At the moment I am modifying one of my hot air engines, taking out the displacer and replacing it with a moving regenerator (A steel wool cleaning pad). I’v put some photos in an album, the ones so far are from the web cam, some may be replaced with a bit better ones later. Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 19/09/2010 07:43:32
19 September 2010 at 07:56 #55892
John Olsen
Participant
@johnolsen79199
I have a few projects on the go, the list is unfortunately too long to fit into this margin….

The most important one is my 30 foot steam launch.

regards

John

Edited By John Olsen on 19/09/2010 07:56:56
19 September 2010 at 09:16 #55894
ady
Participant
@ady
I will put a vote in for those of us at more early stages.

I like to make small bits of tooling, like adaptors and centres.

I would like to be able to make them habitually and efficiently to a couple of hundredths of a milimeter…still working on that one though.

Currently making a collet chuck for some ward 2D collets to see if I can use them on my myford sized lathe.

No, I’m Not expecting much stiffness but if they can hold stock accurately I will be a very happy bunny.

Very constrained by time, so small things only at the moment, until I get efficient.

Edited By ady on 19/09/2010 09:21:11
19 September 2010 at 10:59 #55898
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
What am I building? I’m still trying to build a proper workshop. Like Ady, the time constraints are still considerable, and the logistics are slightly interesting too.
19 September 2010 at 12:04 #55905
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
Converting an X1 mill to CNC; a tool touch sensor for lathe / mill; a flute grinder; a steam launch engine (Leak Compound). Should all be finished by about 2020 at the present rate!
19 September 2010 at 15:13 #55914
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi, at the moment I’m kinda rebuilding. I’ve been rebuilding my car trailer which I first made in 1986, I know! its not model engineering, but in the past it has fetched a Boxford lathe away from Glasgow, a Warco lathe away from London, flypresses away from Birmingham, a nodding donkey power saw and flypress away from Colchester way and one or two other bits and bobs, so it has its connection, maybe. I’ve also made another start on refurbishing a Hobbymat lathe that I bought on ebay about seven years ago.

Regards Nick.
19 September 2010 at 17:43 #55918
AndyB
Participant
@andyb47186
Mostly tooling up to now, nothing special, just all the little bits that I think would be useful; threaded arbour to fit a chuck to a 1MT rotary table, drive plate, faceplate, that sort of thing.

Always playing with my collection of old Drummonds, refurbishing, making parts etc.

Benson Vertical Engine as a proper modelling excercise.

Want to build a Rider Ericsson hot air engine next (for the wife) and will be moving onto a 3 or 4 inch traction engine.

Martin; whose castings are you using for your Rider Ericsson? I tried chasing Myers in Ohio, USA, but they have closed down.

I found someone here in the UK who makes a set but reading Bogstandard’s comments on MadModders about castings I am tempted to fabricate.

Brief synopsis, just playing as time is limited. Big plans, little production.

Andy

Edited By Andy Belcher on 19/09/2010 17:45:44
19 September 2010 at 17:48 #55919
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
If I told you what I was working on I’d have to kill you

John s.
19 September 2010 at 17:59 #55921
dcosta
Participant
@dcosta
Hello Ian!

Thank You for Your help.

Here in Portugal is not a common thing to find spare motors used in tread mills. Used or new. At least I couldn’t find any one. That kind of motor is very adequate for my shaping machine, because it’s small and it’s rpm are controllable.

In a previous project (see, please, http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=7538) I used a motor which originally had attache a water pump. It is nice and small but I cant control its speed.

So, I think, after gaining some more information about brushless motor, I will try to use one of them in my shaper project.

Bak in 1982 I made a very small hot air engine. Since my joining to this forum I’ve been lurking and reading the messages about hot air engines. I hope some day I’l start making one and I would like to read plans for something around 600rpm and some useful power (around 500W will be good). May be I am just dreaming…

By the way I am a happy owner of a bicycle (BIRIA) with a brushless motor in the hub feed by a lot of LiIon cells.

Dias Costa

Edited By Dias Costa on 19/09/2010 18:01:38
19 September 2010 at 18:19 #55922
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
Working on isn’t an option right now, but pending a new workshop: 3 1/2″ 4F, 26 note organ, wind generator, overhaul the old Randa, a second Baroque clarinette, various work on the Royal Enfield, putting huge wheels on the shopping wheely, (small bike wheels from the recycle) sundry 4mm railway models, a 24″ printing press and I’ve just started work on drawings for a 5″ model of Col. Stephens 2-2-2 Gazelle, which by the look of it, should need no castings. When a suitable building arrives, I feel the need to build another boat.

Other than that, whatever I’m instructed to do by the foreman, and my writing, printmaking and painting. Oh yea, and repairs to the farm hedge masher.

Generally quiet then.

Ian
19 September 2010 at 19:35 #55925
Jim Nolan
Participant
@jimnolan76764
Is it Ok to admit to building more than one model at the one time? I would say my greatest energy’s are spent building 7.25 loco. But I do put a little bit of time into a fowler traction engine.

I generally assume if you have a list as long as your arm your not going to finish anything and end up like the tossers that usually accost me at steam shows telling me what rivets I have in the wrong place but when asked “well what did you do” have never actually finished anything!

Jim
19 September 2010 at 20:30 #55928
Chris B
Participant
@chrisb73862
I have plans for a couple of loco’s in 7 1/4″ I bought plans for Wren from Ken Swan a lot of years ago but never really go my teeth into it as for a beginner it is a very detailed loco.

Since I joined the Lincoln MES I have had some assistance and chipped away at it, but with my son being eager to get something on the track, I got a set of “Dougal ” plans from Reeves and have got stuck into scaling it up to 7 1/4″. Through the club I found we have a very good and helpful foundry locally so with Dougal not being too detailed I have made patterns and got castings for enough to have a rolling chassis soon and just the cyl patterns left to make.

C.B…..
19 September 2010 at 21:17 #55931
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
A fair bit of variety so far. I’m inspired by Dias’ idea to build a shaper – I’ve often thought it would be nice to find a little old adept!

I have too many things on the go, but I hope I’m nopt a rivet-tosser!

Practically, I’m trying to get the patterns for a steam engine up to scratch, in the hope the castings could be saleable. Three stationary engines on the go, one little semi-freelance colliery engin that will be about 4″ tall, a Lady Stephanie half-built, and the other is an A-frame house built engine (I’ve done the frame and the bricks.) Also a Reeve’s oscillator that my daughter is very slowly making!

An upright boiler awaiting fittings, patterns for a tiny 2″ by 8″ lathe, an inherited box of bits for a Seal. Away from model engineering, I’ve got two boats – Miss Great Britain IV and a British Power Boats ASRL awaiting engines, and the bare fuselage of an Avro Vulcan intended for electric power.

The lifetime build project is a 1/4-scale Fordson Model F tractor, so far just the gearbox, but one day…

I have lots of plans and bits awaiting action – Nova Sparrey 1cc. Worse still the ‘in my head’ plans for a ‘deisel’ (electric) shunter (the one outside a pub near Ufton in Warwickshire), or some really ugly steam, loco like a Duke/Bulldog or Kruger (In my dreams/nightmares!)

Still I have finished a couple of things this year, the crane and the Suffolk Colt engine restoration.

Neil
19 September 2010 at 21:38 #55933
John Olsen
Participant
@johnolsen79199
John Haine, if you are buiding the Leak engine from the articles that were in the Model Engineer about 1983, you should look carefully for mistakes in the drawings. I found a few when I built mine. One in particular was the length shown for the pins in the valve gear, which are too short. It does build up to a nice grunty engine. Camden were selling castings for it, but being a bit far away I made my own patterns and had them cast locally. I changed the LP valve to be a piston valve.

regards

john
20 September 2010 at 13:35 #55949
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Dias, for fairly good power output hot air engines look at the ones built or designed by Andy Ross, the one I builtearlyer this year is 35mm bore X 20mm stroke(pistons) 12.5mm stroke crankshaft, no regenerator, fired by gas, and delivers about 5 watts. In James G. Rizzos’ “The Stirling Engine Manual” there is a photo on page 78 of a 90cc Rider motor on a bicycle (Andy Ross motor). I have notes on some of his engines, The 35cc motor 44W, the 65cc motor 81W. I think I read someware of a120cc motor, I think these motors were unpressurised, so with a bit of work the biggest one could be getting toward 200W. Nice To dream. Ian S C
20 September 2010 at 14:39 #55951
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

Model Engineer 4387, out on Friday I think, has a hot air engine by James Rizzo in it.

regards david
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