Most of the mechanical work, wiring and software for the Shaper, now reborn as an NC shaper, is done. Z axis stepper wiring still to complete, and then software tests start. All the software functions have been tested 'on the bench' and the next step is to get the actual axes moving ( auto-feed) so that stepper accelerations with the associated inertial mass of the axis table and slide can be calibrated.

The broken vertical axis dovetail has been replaced, new dovetails cut, and thank goodness that worked out very well indeed. The vertical slide itself was undamaged, but I opened up the dovetail from 55deg to 60deg, as that was the cutter I could obtain..The mating dovetail was then made from a disc of PhBronze and a 16mm ballscrew fitted in place of the old, very damaged and worn acme leadscrew..

Hope to make chips in a week or so!

Most of the work leading to this stage has been covered in a number of my posts, so here goes maybe one last one..

Opening the 'tails to 60degrees.

Machining the Male Dovetails in the bronze add-on. The cutter is 65mm OD..

test fit of the two halves

Drilling and tapping the fixings for the ball nut

Ball nut and screww fitted

Holes to bolt two parts together all drilled – counterboring for Capscrew heads next:

Locating pin in Mill T slot base to locate holes for counter boring:

Test bolting:

Thrust Bearing block for Leadscrew Bearings and Drive pulleys.

Start of assembly of complete vertical slide:

Joe…

Rainbows..?? – Well, I suppose it would, rather than the Gib, but then PhBronze has been used in many a bearing surface, and these seem to last many years – The slide does not move that much – its not as active as a lathe top-slide for example. And if the bronze does wear a little, just screw the Gib screws in..

David, thanks for the kind words, and to everyone who has commented kindly, given advice and support and provided many a neat idea or solution during my trials and tribulations with the Shaper's resurrection , thank you very much. I am not quite done, but the end is close and it has been a most enjoyable journey! Thanks to all who endured my verbose postings and helped me on my way!

Need to get done – Have to go and fit some Lions with tracking collars in two weeks time!

Regards

Joe

Thank you Michael.

It is such a pity that this sort of equipment just is not made any more! I really do like the British made stuff of the earlier times. There was a variety, a style, and a pride in the product and workmanship. A wheel handle could just be a straight bar with a shaped handle on it, but they were all shaped well, counterbalanced, lots of Balls, and looked beautiful…So did the machines – they had curves, and style – and were sturdy and worked well at the intended task. I know the Americans also made stuff, but somehow nowhere near as prolific in variety and type, and just lacked in style…

The traditionalists, those adhering to the 'Swindon Works' dominion, do sometimes date a little, maybe sometimes irritatingly so, but from their ilk came many a wonderful creation. Saddens me to think this is all done and gone, and the void filled with mostly useless cheap junk. I had, long ago when I was 11 or 12, a Boxford CUD ( I think a CUD) – it was a 4-1/2 inch lathe, with a screwcutting Norton style gearbox. That was my first introduction to British machines and I really enjoyed that Lathe. Also refurbished it, and had many many pleasant hours on it. In my twenties I purchased a larger Eastern lathe, the best I could find,D3 Camlock, also Norton box, etc. Sold it within 3 months – just had no quality, no feel, worked the way it looked..

Why did you lot stop doing what you were so damn good at?? Or was it –

If it wasn't for the nips Being so good at building ships The yards would still be open on the Clyde  – Pink Floyd…

Excuse my Lyrical Waxing…

Joe

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 21/08/2017 07:59:59

Hi Murray,

Yes, the picture of the Boxford that is just below the one with the white shirted fellow operating a Boxford is exactly the one I had! Brings back memories that does..

Ady1 – I get all that stuff

In the case of smaller items like machine tools we were too good at it, an item could last a lifetime so no repeat business, plus the world wasn't very rich back then and getting enough overseas sales was a big problem

But I never manage to comprehend how it could be done then, with less automation, less people, less factories, No CNC aids and gadgets, No CAD, etc, and we cannot do it economically now…Late last year when I was in the market for a new lathe, I was very interested in the Shaublin 102N-VM-CF lathe – a very nice, accurate lathe, with DRO's, electronic threading, etc. With a set of accessories that made it a useful machine I was quoted 103,000.00 Euro..!!!!!! I was trying to buy a lathe, not Switzerland!!

How, if the world was not very rich then, could the people afford the machines that were being made? And if the world is very rich now, why are there not people making that type of machine or tool or whatever to sell to the rich world…I think the machinery and tooling , other than the unaffordable stuff, that is foisted upon us today is generally disgraceful.

Anyway..

Clive, as you may by now have gathered, I seem to enjoy building, making and refurbishing machines and tooling most, so yes, there is a project in the wings – for some years now. I wish to make a small CNC lathe – 250mm between centers, 100mm swing, fully CNC, max spindle RPM of 10,000RPM, full auto-tool changer, etc…I never started because the bed was a stumbling block for me on the small Mills I have. Then the shaper happened, and it will do the bed ever so nicely, as well as the carriage and many other parts. But who knows, other Ideas are brewing too…

Thanks again to everyone for the support and very kind words!

When the Shaper is doing some work I will try make a video – I am really bad at that and never manage a nice smooth video, without the tummy doing a few turns..

Regards

Joe