Warrington Model Engineering Developments

[colin wilkinsonParticipant @colinwilkinson75381]

[colin wilkinsonParticipant @colinwilkinson75381]

A repost from the VMCC forum, perhaps someone on here may be able to answer

Has anybody ever heard of Warrington Model Engineering Developments? I'm curious because a web search turned up only one reference to them, and that was just a request for more information. The reason for asking is that the previous owner of my Myford ML7 fitted a WMED "Easychange" unit, designed to allow switching between thread cutting and fine feed modes without having to alter the leadscrew gearing each time. Useful facility, but the downside of this increased functionality is less flexibility in the changewheel combinations that can be accommodated. Imperial threads are not an issue, but metric is less straightforward as became apparent yesterday when I needed to cut an M10x1.5mm thread. The WMED table calls for a 17 tooth changewheel which I don't have, and other potentially suitable combinations couldn't be made to fit. No Myford spares suppliers seem to list a 17 tooth part. I can complete the current job (sidestand pivot bolt for my K100RS) using a die, but it niggles that I couldn't use the lathe. If anyone has experience of this WMED unit then I'd be very interested.

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks, Philip

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Didn't they make a power cross feed attachment [electric motor] for the Myford 7 lathes a long time ago?

Tony

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

WMED ceased trading a long time ago, next time I'm up at the club I'll ask if he is still this side of the Styx, provided I can remember of course

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Intriguing. I've got a WMED power cross feed but have never heard of the Easychange. Is it possible to get a picture of the unit from the VMCC poster? Is the 17t gear the standard 20DP 14.5 degree with a 5/8" bore and 1/8" keyway?

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 19/05/2019 13:52:53

[colin wilkinsonParticipant @colinwilkinson75381]

original post

https://forum.vmcc.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3111&p=30282#p30282

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Just did a search using 'Duck Duck Go' … which found this: **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/images/member_albums/71800/495425.jpg

… which includes [historic ?] contact details

MichaelG.

.

Ah but, that's Rod's album

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/05/2019 16:51:41

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/05/2019 16:53:15

[colin wilkinsonParticipant @colinwilkinson75381]

Thanks for that. Duncan, from phone number it must be over twenty years as 01… came in 1995.

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

I have adjustable dials on the feed-screws for my ML7 cross-slide, top-slide and both vertical slides. At least two of those were bought from WMED. The other two were bought from eBay sellers but could have been made by WMED.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

[Philip Cooper 1Participant @philipcooper1]

Thanks all for your responses. I’ve today joined the forum as it’s clearly a great resource. When I’ve figured out how it’s done I’ll post some photos of the WMED unit.

Philip

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Philip Cooper 1 on 20/05/2019 09:20:23:

Thanks all for your responses. I’ve today joined the forum as it’s clearly a great resource. When I’ve figured out how it’s done I’ll post some photos of the WMED unit.

Philip

Welcome to the forum and thanks in advance. I too would be very intersted to see pics of how the fine feed unit works. Sounds like a neat mod. if a guy could make his own version.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Philip, go to the top green line on the page, click on the camera/Albums section, and follow the "dots", you'll find your way OK.

Ian S C

[Philip Cooper 1Participant @philipcooper1]

Please see below a few pictures of the unit:

As can be seen from the above chart, the change wheel combinations differ from the original Myford suggestions. This may be because the increased complexity limits the gear combinations that can be accommodated. 1.25mm pitch can be done using 30:38 + 25:50, but none of the recommendations for 1.5mm (at least, those that I've tried so far) will fit. Finding a 17T gear would be the ideal solution.

Philip

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Wow. That's quite the set-up with its own cast cover and handle and all. Thanks for posting the pics. Much appreciated.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Philip,

I've sent you a personal message (log in and look for a flashing envelope at the top of the screen)

Cheers,

Rod

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

Years ago I fitted a set of adjustable index dials on my ML10 as a direct replacement for the fixed dials, I feel sure they were from WMED.

Mike.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by duncan webster on 19/05/2019 13:14:37:

WMED ceased trading a long time ago, next time I'm up at the club I'll ask if he is still this side of the Styx, provided I can remember of course

The guys name is Harold Pugh, he hasn't been a member of our club for many years, but is still listed in the phone book at Wilson Close, so might be worth a phone call. Just put a 2 in front of the number shown in the previous links/pictures. He must be getting on a bit though.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Philip,

I am curious about the second set of gearing visible behind the change wheels for screwcutting, I assume these are for the fine feed, to be brought into operation only when that option is selected.

It is a neat concept and it has some similarities to the DAG Brown system for metric gearing via a second set of parallel gearing for lathes equipped with the screwcutting gearbox. Perhaps the rather essential 17 T gear was supplied with it as part of the package when it was bought originally since without it, much of the table for metric pitches is not available for use

Are you able to add any more information please?
Regards

Brian

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello again Philip,

I have calculated a combination which is compact, you need two x 30 T gears to mount it up

Try—–30:38 and 30:50 it will give you a pitch of 1.5039 mm. Drivers are both 30 T and I suggest you put the 50 T on the leadscrew.

Regards

Brian

[Philip Cooper 1Participant @philipcooper1]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your comments. You are correct, the second set of gear wheels are bought into use when fine feed is selected.

I unfortunately don’t have any more information on the unit, it was fitted by the previous owner, a friend who was selling due to ill heath. I suspect that he bought it secondhand, as he meticulously documented all aspects of his workshop but I can’t find any reference to WMED. As you suggest, supplying a 17t as part of the kit would have made sense.

Thanks for the 1.5mm pitch calculation. I’ve completed the current job using a Die, but will certainly try your suggestion.

Regards,

Philip

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Philip,

If you get really stuck I could make you a 17 T gear in steel but it might also be possible to calculate a new set of gearing about a 34 T gear which would I think be a better choice. Apart from any other consideration, the tooth loading is much lighter and gears in that size are available from the usual suppliers from time to time

If you would like me to do this and perhaps provide a table of more useful metric pitches than some of those listed as well, please PM me with your email address so that I can send it to you,

For some tedious compatibility reason I can't attach pictures etc. to the forum, I'm not trying to be exclusive, but yours must be a rare example of this attachment anyway

Regards

Brian

PS Do you have a 63 T change wheel in your collection?

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

There does seem to be a bit of a problem here: You can't actually mount a 17 Tooth gear on a standard Myford stud and keyway:

Rod

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Unless it used a non-standard key that did not stand up so far above the stud?

[Philip Cooper 1Participant @philipcooper1]

Hmm, I did wonder if it might be a bit tight, the smallest standard part is 20t.

Rod, many thanks for looking at this, I appreciate you taking the time. I’ll play around with some of the combinations that have been suggested, plus those from the Martin Cleeve book on screw cutting. Most of my metric stuff Is just a few standard pitches, so I should be able to find some workable solutions.

Thanks again to all.

Philip

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Rod,

Thank you for taking the trouble to check that point, I too had wondered about it but dismissed as I assumed the seller of the kit would surely have considered that point, having made the metric table almost completely dependent on having a 17T gear in the chain.

You will perhaps have seen my offer to Philip to recalculate the table using other gearing, so it might become academic anyway.

And in answer to Hopper's thought, the key might in the end be too shallow to sensibly drive the gear without either the key being plucked from the slot or the gear fatiguing at one or both of the keyway corners in the wisp of material left to contain it

I think in the end that mystery will not be solved and other means will be needed to get round it anyway.

Regards

Brian

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