Proper Beginners Question

[fran drewParticipant @frandrew61019]

In the East Midlands area?  I want to be able to produce parts for motorbikes -wheel spacers, caliper brackets and yokes if possible.  But courses seem a bit thin on the ground to be honest…

 

Or, would a group be the place to start?

 

Any help would be good.

 

[fran drewParticipant @frandrew61019]

Any Lathe / Milling machine courses

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Sadly Fran, programmes like “American Chopper” have a lot to answer for. Some of the shapes and “Engineering” behind their creations is downright DANGEROUS, one of which being the wet finger approach of the “Spoked wheel” design on the drag bike.

 

  Not only do you need to understand what machining operations are required to achieve the final shapes, but also material strengths etc. cos if you’re thinking of doing this on a commercial basis guarantees come into the picture and even making bits for your own projects involves the insurance companies for “Modified” constructions, just read the posts regarding Toy steam boilers.

 

  As the one time saviours of the muddle ingineering fraternity has been all but dissolved (Night Schools with “Big” industrial type machines) “Courses” are few and far between,  a local M/E society may be the way to go.

 

   Regards  Ian

[fran drewParticipant @frandrew61019]

Yep understand the material side of things…but CAD can do that bit.

 

I’m on here for the machining process understanding!

[mgjParticipant @mgj]

You have your own machines?

 

You can get an awful lot from books if you are on your own. 

 

The Myford Manual by Bradley covers a huge range of processes . It is Myford specific, but most lathes have much the same levers. Its the principles one needs to get onto.Once you know how to do it on one machine, you can do it on another.

 

Workholding in the Lathe is good one. Ivan law on milling and gear cutting. Martin Cleeve Screwcutting.

 

Perhaps some others can suggest a few useful titles as well.

[fran drewParticipant @frandrew61019]

OK thanks I’ll take a look at those.

 

I don’t have machines…I’m leaning towards a new small lathe, and maybe an old british milling machine, then at a later date see if I can convert the milling machine to CNC.

[ChrisParticipant @chris16039]

Hi Fran, I used to do quite a bit of the stuff you are talking about. Forward control sets, spacers, tank and seat mounts etc, I also made quite a few sets of leading link forks for outfits.Take care, getting the money in proved a huge problem. You will need some serious insurance and for me the final straw was the need to destruction test the forks. The fact that I had used a set on my outfit for 12 years and 92,000 miles carried no weight with the authorities.

Chris

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