Suggestions for future articles

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

Not a system error.

I just assumed someone would approve the post quickly.

I now have permission to approve posts.

regards David

Edited By David Clark 1 on 12/02/2013 10:22:28

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Steve,

Welcome aboard, nice to have a new contact.

It seems to me that your question has been largely submerged in the confusion over moderation, [ I don't understand the order of service either] and only Springbok has made any attempt so far to address it. The reception over the Kennet T&C grinder could just be typical of an Editor's response to a rewrite—- 'It's been done before' Few authors will be tempted to submit material, however up to date, when they know that is the likely outcome, and previous authors might feel their stuff is just being copied and rehashed..

I suggest you trawl the Digital archives and Workshop series books for ideas that you can adapt to your machinery; it will be a good learning exercise anyway and give you the satisfaction that your version of the gizmo does it s well as the author's.

Machine specific devices will add a new layer to the challege as your knowledge and skills grow. Read a few well written books as well, it all helps. One thing will soon become apparent is that the bulk of it has been done before, a perfect example is in the motor restoration article in MEW 200 with inboard disc brakes dating to 1935..

Use the grey matter and forge your own track!

Brian

 

 

 

Edited By Brian Wood on 14/02/2013 12:07:12

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Maybe I am getting to old but do not want to get embroiled in petty (as I regard) them quarlels life is to short. but what I do want to do is help our new member and to this means as librarian of the BSMEE that is of 104 years standing I have access to Vol1 onwards of ME. now there is a fantastic member who built a database who may also be able to help us. Come on everyone forget your squabbles and let's help this young man… OK I am a great grandfather and feel I can talk this way.

Bob

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Well said, Bob

MichaelG.

[SteveIParticipant @stevei]

Hi,
Well I am a little taken aback by the consequences of my first post…. I had thought it would only register if at all as a tiny blip on proceedings. Springbok / Brian Wood – many thanks for the advice and encouragement. Note that I had searched on an internet based ME and MEW search site. I could not find a kennet build article or series. Please educate me if it has been covered. I did find many interesting modifications and ideas for the kennet though. These are now printed out.

My progress so far has been to focus on three areas. The first is to read up on things. I have bought many of the workshop practice series books and scoured the internet and am reading them and re-reading them. Secondly I decided to buy second hand machine tools due to price and also for some of the tools to provide me with a refurbishment job as a first project. The idea being to learn about the new tool. I am sure with hindsight I might have spent differently but I have and am continuing to thoroughly enjoy the refurbishment work, and I know a lot more about the tools than I did before. Thirdly I have been converting a room in the house into a new workshop. This has included putting the neceesary electrics in and building a work bench which is now all done. So to the machine tools:

lathe – boxford is11.30 . with a fair few of the accessories. I'll need to source and be able to sharpen tool bits.

pillar drill

rapidor power hacksaw – refurb soon to start. It works but the auto stop after the cut completes is missing/not working (if it was ever there) and I plan to re-wire it up so that if power is interupted it will not restart.

elliot 10m shaper – reasonable condition – no tool bits, I'll need to make these – I plan to rewire it so it auto cuts off and also to fix the light and tidy up the wiring. Not sure about the shaper at the moment (I have no mill) but I have space for it and I'll enjoy to restore it. It is quiet satisfying to watch it run.

I have a selection of HSS jobber drill bits, taps and dies in metric and ME 40tpi and 32 TPI. I am looking at auction sites for BA, BSF and BSW bargains.

My aspiration is to start to build model locomotives & specifically model break down cranes. I am progressing well into a model of the GWR no 2 crane in 5" gauge. Up until now it has been mostly research, drawing work in autocad, sheet metal bench work and drilling and riveting. Ahead of me is all the challenging parts such as the gears, boiler, cylinders etc etc. However my plan is to tackle these in a few years time so that I can build up the knowlege and tooling needed to complete it via undertaking smaller projects.

That brings me up to where I made my post. Even some of the basic projects seem to pose a bit of a chicken and egg problem. I am trying to make sense of the dependencies. This is perhaps the source of the challenge and the fun. I am located outside Bergen Norway. So don't have regular access to any clubs / societies etc. It seems that any imperial tools will need to be sourced in the UK and imported, which I can do. This is why I will try and substitute metric alternatives where I can. On the plus side 3 phase electric to the home is standard in Norway. Hence all the machine tools being 3 phase ex school/college.

I am quite keen on building the kennet so that I can make and keep lathe and shaper tools and drill bits sharp. The base casting will be milled at a friends. A mill is financially a few years away. The rest I hope to do in the lathe.

Thanks,

Steve

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Sreve

I guess you posted at a slightly unfortunate time in that david has just relinquished his position as editor of ME and his "other job" as general "fixer" on this forum. I think any changeover problems have now been fixed!

As far as the Kennet goes I guess that is one of the less common T&C grinders so less info. is available. Have you come across this site though. There is some interestng build information there.

I am impressed that you have 3-phase as standard and even more impressed that you have been able to dedicate a room in your house as a workshop. Far more convenient than trudging up the garden path I'm sure!

Regards

Norman

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Hi Steve

You don't mention a grinder in your machine list. I would suggest that a grinder would let you get started with HSS tooling in the lathe and shaper before building a T&C machine, that would solve the chicken and egg at a low cost!. A lot of people have built Harold's grinder rest as partway to a T&C grinder. Gadgetbuilder's website is well worth looking at too.

I have the same shaper, it's a great machine. Sounds like you are starting off on a very rewarding journey!

Billy

[SteveIParticipant @stevei]

Hi,

Norman – yes I have seen that site with the kennet build, its all printed out. one of the reasons for suggesting the kennet build article (apart from the fact I have failed to find the article if it has been covered before) is that A room in the house was necessary; it gets pretty cold in winter here.

Billy – yes i didn't mention a basic bench grinder I don't have one yet. I hope to purchase one soon. Am looking for something cheap. Is there a model that you could recommend that would work nicely with Harold Hall's grinder rest?

Thanks,

Steve

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi Steve,

Sounds an ambitious first project, but you seem to be taking a well thought out approach. I wouldn't bother with BSF/BSW taps and dies as these are the ones most easily substituted for metric sizes. 3mm is agood substitute for 5BA, M5 for 2BA., M6 for 0BA.

Neil

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Think that the rest will work with any decent grinder. You might consider putting a diamond wheel at one end for fine finishing and hard materials, they are around £10-£20 for a small cup or dish wheel.

There is a new thread running about using a cross vice and grinder for tool sharpening, looks interesting.

Billy.

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

I have not stopped being a moderator, just trying not to interfere.

regards David

[Anonymous]

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 17/02/2013 19:45:13:

I wouldn't bother with BSF/BSW taps and dies as these are the ones most easily substituted for metric sizes.

Personally I'd disagree with that, especially for BSF. The traction engines I am building have a lot of BSF threads and at the beginning I substituted metric threads. But it just doesn't quite work, metric threads are too coarse to replace BSF.

Regards,

Andrew

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 17/02/2013 21:47:18:

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 17/02/2013 19:45:13:

I wouldn't bother with BSF/BSW taps and dies as these are the ones most easily substituted for metric sizes.

Personally I'd disagree with that, especially for BSF. The traction engines I am building have a lot of BSF threads and at the beginning I substituted metric threads. But it just doesn't quite work, metric threads are too coarse to replace BSF.

Regards,

Andrew

Andrew is right, standard metric bolts are have much coaser pitches than BSF and whilst there are versions of metric fine they are less common (so more expensive) and harder to source.

If you use Whit and BSF you will mostly have to purchase fixings from ME suppliers as they are very much obsolete nowadays in industry. I would suggest using UNF and UNC instead of BSF and Whitworth as you will have a much bigger choice of suppliers (and bolt size/material)

Ian

[John BaguleyParticipant @johnbaguley78655]

Posted by Steve Isherwood on 17/02/2013 19:27:12:

Hi,

Norman – yes I have seen that site with the kennet build, its all printed out. one of the reasons for suggesting the kennet build article (apart from the fact I have failed to find the article if it has been covered before) is that A room in the house was necessary; it gets pretty cold in winter here.

Hi Steve,

Hope you find the construction details of interest. If you do go ahead with the build of the Kennet please feel free to contact me if you need any more information. I was a bit like you and working in the dark with it so made it up as I went along .

I'm not really into tool making but found the Kennet to be an enjoyable and not too difficult project.

I believe that MES now only supply the castings and not the other materials needed, although the rest is just standard stock.

John

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Steve,

I am impressed with the selection of gear you have already, I think you will want to add a mill at some stage too; both vertical/horizontal have a place in the shop. I hope your floor load rating is up to the job.

10M shaper. Tool bits are just fairly hefty lathe tools with 1/2 or 5/8 inch square shanks, often with cranked heads which you can pick up as you need. A tip to remember if you want to remove the tool carrier from the ram; invert it first so that you can wriggle it out of the socket in the end of the ram. It is otherwise a real puzzle!

Test the table for forward lean with a DTI off the toolholder running onto a ground flat laid on it in tine with the ram axis. For accurate work you can pack the job up accordingly. Cross alignment is easy, the box is bolted onto the indexing frame and swivels on a stud. Lean can be corrected if needed by using the machine itself to resurface the table, but I would look hard for causes first. Don't forget to use the table prop, it helps reduce chatter, usually caused by over ambitious cuts or by too wide a cutting face on the tool. Slotting is fun, better done with the slot mounted above the tool to give you a good hold in the vice below.

My interest is in machines and tooling, not models as such. I make a lot of my own gear as a result, not all of it successful I have to say!

Enjoy an absorbing and interesting hobby.

Brian

[mickypeeParticipant @mickypee]

Interesting title, the magazine is of course "Model Engineer's Workshop". What about articles that affect/concern us all, that is our workshops. Why not have constructional articles on building our little havens perhaps in brick, wood etc. Damp proofing and insulating, electrics and wiring up, 3ph and 1ph protocol. What about subjects such as types of cabinets, benches, perhaps vices, grinders, drilling machines. Thats before we get on to all the machine tools that we all cherish. An earlier post suggests articles on Bridgeports, great idea as many folk own such a machine, perhaps mods and maintainance of the beast.

Then coming more up to date, installing cap5 cabling for internet, routers for our computers and all the vast programs that are available for our hobby. Even the modest Iphone/Ipad had an enormous amount of Apps that we can all benefit from but perhaps an article on them as they become available. For sure the interest we have has been transformed with modern technology and it is available for all to enjoy.

There are so many exciting articles that can be written that we would all enjoy, not the same old ones that keep appearing.

I'll compose something to get us all started.

Mike

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