The Workshop Progress Thread (2016)

[John PParticipant @johnp77052]

Hello Neil

Have already written part of this dovetail cutter up as a short
article along with two other unrelated short articles of general
interest,will send them to you when done.

John

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

That's the one Nick, as an idea of size the flywheel is 9"

Though I think this is a better video, well at least the background music is more fitting

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Completed my Meek carriage handwheel dial today.

I am very impressed with the design. According to this set up with my giant dial gauge, 1 revolution of the dial, which is one inch, was 25.38 mm.

Also impressed with my Metalblak kit from Blackgates, which I had not used before:

Cheers,

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 12/02/2016 17:15:35

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

That look very nice Rod, best part of the lathe.

Ian S C

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Ian,

Thanks. The rest of the lathe does look a bit grubby but I try not to be too precious about it. That's six holes I've drilled in it now – which should please Sir John

Cheers,

Rod

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Very nice work Rod, that will be a handy thing to have. JD

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

If there are no dings in the paint work, and a bit of oil splashed around, and some swafe, the lathe is no use , because it's not being used. What's a few holes, it's your lathe.

Ian S C

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Good to see you back on the metal work Rod, is this in preparation for another model build?

I had a bit of a boring weekend.

Penultimate cut on the Allman engine's cylinder, aiming for 1.25" final bore x 5.25" long, 28mm between ctrs boring bar with HSS bit.

Finished cylinder and "cylinder head" which is more of an end cover as the valves and plug go into the sides if the cylinder.

What you can't see are all the ports and passages for the exhaust gasses and cooling water like this 4.5" long 1/4" dia one down the wall of teh cylinder which luckily did not wander, blue mark on drill is how deep the hole is.

J

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Hi Jason,

I seem to have acquired several options of late (though not as many as some people we know). Not quite sure yet what to start on – possibly something with tapered columns? Certainly nothing that needs a long drill – phew!

Cheers,

Rod

[colin hawesParticipant @colinhawes85982]

Now and then I do a bit more on the 1.5" scale Burrell I started years ago. I do bits of this in between other projects. No castings used on this model.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

That's nice. Not much left to do by the look of it.

Rod

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

More work on The Allman engine over the weekend

4 piston rings made

The casting for the inlet valve block was missing when I got the engine so I carved one out of a bit of 50mm iron bar

I then machined the flywheel, as I don't have any substantial left hand tools I mounted a 16mm indexable boring bar upside down and ran the lathe backwards to do the face which worked well at 0.025" depth of cut

Then did all the bits for the exhaust and silencer, ends are 1.75" dia

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Nice work Jason. What's the theory behind the slot pattern in the silencer? Haven't seen one just like that before.

The 1/4" deep hole in cylinder must have been a nail biter. JD

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

To be honest Jeff I don't really know why it is done like that, to my mind the gas will just go out through the two large slots as its the path of least resistance so don't know what point the small 1/32" slot serves. I've not been able to find any referance photos/etchings that show the silencer so don't now if its artistic licence on the part of the designer or an original feature.

I suppose I will just have to wait until its hopefully running to see what things sounds like. It is similar to the Gade I made last year in that there is a hole in the side of the cylinder that lets most of the exhaust out at BDC with the actual valve only opening to let out what the piston displaces as it moves towards TDC

Yes the 1/4" hole was a bit of a crossed finger job.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Played with the taper turning attachment today, making some short 0MT centres for the Flexispeed

I trimmed this parallel shank rolling centre from arceurotrade. Turned easily, no different to annealed silver steel.

 

 

I need to make a cover for the TTA, all its little nooks and crannies are filling with swarf

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 22/02/2016 15:54:54

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Rod

Cling film as a temporary expedient ?

Norman

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Good thinking

Ta,

Rod

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

On Monday I received a Kress high speed spindle (6 speeds from 10-29 K RPM.) The intention is to use it for small diameter cutters on my Tormach mill. This morning I drew out the adaptor to fit on the mill spindle nose. I went to Macc Models this afternoon to see if he had any offcuts that I could use to make it from but they were shut until tomorrow. I suppose I can get the G-code prepared so that I can make it as soon as I get the material.

[Anonymous]

Bob: I'd be inclined to make the two 'internal' radii a bit larger and then you can use one (larger) cutter to do both the internal holes and the complete profile.

I'll be interested to see how you get on with the high speed spindle. I have a plan to add a high speed spindle and inverter, as sold by Arc, but I need to have a pressing requirement before spending the money. That need may come with the bevel gears for my traction engine governors. For finishing I need a 1mm, or smaller, cutter. Even at 5000rpm it will take tens of hours. Being in the countryside our electric supply isn't that reliable!

Andrew

PS: I'm looking foward to your article in the next issue of MEW

Edited By Andrew Johnston on 23/02/2016 15:49:07

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Hi Andrew,

It is my intention to use the same size cutter for both internal and external Radii just on my drawing I haven't put a fillet on the point where the two straight bits join the circular parts.

Tormach sell Kress spindles complete with an adaptor but the cost of importing would be almost double the price of buying one here in the UK and making your own adaptor. I paid something like £160 for mine. It comes with an 8mm Collet but others are available. I might have a go at making some collets if I can be bothered rather than pay for yet more stuff.

Like you my reasons for buying the spindle are to produce bevel gears using very small cutters. I will keep you posted with progress.

[D.A.GodleyParticipant @d-a-godley]

Having eventually found a source of annealed Spring steel suitable for the job, I have spent the last couple of days cutting and dressing the leaf springs for my current build, the 7 1/4" Singapore saddle tank engine.

The springs now have to be formed and then heat-treated to 46 – 50 Rockwell . I hope finding a business to do the H/T will be easier than finding the material.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Started converting a cheap old 50x330mm telescope into a usable 150 x180mm finder scope.

So far the main actions have been swapping in a new objective lens, shortening the barrel and making sprung mounting rings, so some machining involved, especially the sprung plungers (metal cylinders at the bottom).

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I got the main bearings and crankshaft for the Allman engine complete yesterday

The governor bracket and weights were also done so could not resist slipping a few bits together.

Today I have done the various parts that make up the conrod.

J

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

On Friday I poped over to a Friends to use their press to push my keyway broach through the flywheel and governor yoke. I also picked up some silversteel from them and made the 3 bits for the engine that I needed that for. I have also done several bits for the governor and exhaust linkages

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Managed to get al the studs, nuts and bolts made for the Allman during the week and despite the bad (workshop) weather we have had this weekend got the oil pots and sight glass lubricator made.

[Author]

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