First lathe project completed!

[James NewberryParticipant @jamesnewberry]

Hi Folks,

I am feeling pretty pleased with myself at the moment. I had been looking for a lathe for a little while and faffed about trying to decide whether to buy a new or used lathe. Eventually a Myford ML7 came available and I took the plunge. Since getting it home I have spent many happy hours making swarf in the garage and I have built the engine shown in the pictures as my first project.

It is a single cylinder, double acting oscillator of 12mm bore and 18mm stroke. To say that I built it to my own design is a bit misleading since it is very similar to thousands of other engines of this arrangement, however I did build it from bar stock to my own plan so I suppose I can take some credit for that! I am particularly pleased with the in-built oil reservoir. If you look closely at the top of the frame you can see a CS 8BA screw. This has a 1mm hole drilled in it, into which a tiny tube is soldered to act as an integral dipstick and allow air in. A long hole is then drilled right through to the base with oil ways leading into the bearings.

The engine runs smoothly on either compressed air or steam and, for no particular reason, I have called it Cobweb. The next plan is to build the Double Cobweb.

Hope you like it!

Jim.

[James NewberryParticipant @jamesnewberry]

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi Jim

Your own design and it runs! a Great start….
It is a priceless feeling when something you have made from inanimate raw material springs into life.

Regards
John

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

That looks like a nice tidy job. You should be pleased with yourself. Keep looking on e-bay and the like for low cost good tooling. Steer clear of really cheap new stuff, sometimes the older used stuff is better quality.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Great job Jim, well done! JD

[Anonymous]

Wow, the engine looks great; although for a true cobweb you'll need to design and build a radial engine.

Andrew

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Jim,

You have followed the well trod path of starting with an oscillating engine, as I did in the early '70s.

Seeing that engine perform was akin to the feeling I got the first time I cracked the regulator on my Simplex, which then proceeded to pull me and three passengers with ease.

Something I'll never forget.

Enjoy and welcome.

Geoff – Time to sort out SHMBO rear light – Car that is

[James NewberryParticipant @jamesnewberry]

Thanks all. Andrew… Radial you say…? Hmmm.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

I had an oscillator but I cheated and bought mine.

The thing was a total disaster but then I sold the Ford and bought a decent truck

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Hi Jim

it looks very nice. I think the wobbler is the mandatory first project. I remember how satisfied I was when mine ran. What's project number 2 going to be?

[James NewberryParticipant @jamesnewberry]

Thanks Bob. I am thinning of making a twin cylinder version for project number 2. Alternatively, maybe a diesel aero engine, not sure.

Jim.

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Hi Jim,

Very nice little engine with a few unusual touches. Just curious, but why have you recessed the crank into the frame/stand?

Gary

[James NewberryParticipant @jamesnewberry]

Thanks Gary, no reason at all other than I just felt like it and thought it would look good and a little different.

Jim.

[James NewberryParticipant @jamesnewberry]

Just spotted a mistake in my original post – it's a 4BA screw, not 8 as described!

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Lovely little piece of work. And outstanding for a first job. I still have my first oscillator, and it's nowhere near as tidy as that!

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Well done you.

(btw you are now afflicted with an incurable urge to make stuff…)

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