What did you do today? (2013)

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

Tried cutting some EN3B with HSS endmills and a flycutter today, I got about 20mm into the cut, only about 0.2mm depth and the cutter started to burnish rather than remove metal. I then switched to a solid carbide end mill and I'm pleasantly surpised with the finish. I've ordered a brazed carbide tipped left hand turning tool to use in the fly cutter as the carbide endmill is only 6mm diameter and will take forever to machine a few surfaces.

[AndyfParticipant @andyf]

Posted by Ian S C on 26/04/2013 12:51:28:

….the Chinese bike tiers are normally $NZ12 or more….,

I was a bit baffled by "tiers", Ian, but out of curiousity only (I don't critcise anyone's spelling; mine's bad enough) do you mean tyres (UK English; tires in the US), as in the black rubber things you force on to the wheel rim, often puncturing the inner tube in the process?

Andy

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Went to metal supermarket yesterday. Major shortange of EN1A short ends! Loads of aluminium, but all thicker than I ideally wanted. Bit of a debate about what's best for rail wheels. They said a chap (probably from a commericial 10 1/2" railway from their description) always uses EN8.

Might go back for som EN3 or EN8 for my driving trolley, but I thought I mention it here…

They had lots of EN19T, but all slices from where round bar has been squared up. Even a shortend of 1 1/2" titatnium bar – looking very bright and scary!

Today, finally geared the camshaft and crankshaft together. Bit of a tight spot every other revolution, so I think the cam gear is a few thou eccentric. Wore it in for a minute in the pillar drill and m,uch better, but I think a little tweak still needed.

Tried the valves, which resolutely refused to lift – then discovered the tappets are too short by about 2mm and don't poke out the top of their guides! I had expected to make the cams a bit bigger, until i realised they would foul the crankshaft.

Neil

"Lose this world and all it's fears, and you'll find yourself in a world of tiers".

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, well yesterday I came accross my late farthers test indicater which is called "The Unique", it was a bit rusty so I decided to spend a half hour cleaning it up and put a little protective polish on.

This was the only type of test indicater he ever had, in fact he had two of them. It reads from 0 – 15 thou and it still works OK.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 28/04/2013 08:49:19

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I like that, Nick,

Neil

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Nick,

I also have a "Unique" which my Grandfather used but mine doesnt have the slot or graduations on the rear, I've never actually used it but do keep it with my TDI's.

Martin P

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Amazing coincidence, I just got done cleaning and freeing up my late father's old Mercer .0001" dial indicator. Not quite as unique to look at as yours but also a nice bit of kit.

Also today, bought a clapped out air compressor for a couple of dollars at a garage sale just so I could use the 10-inch pulley to slow down the countershaft on my old Drummond M lathe. Now I am looking for ideas for what I can make out of the air tank so I am not tripping over it and don't have to pay $5 to take it to the tip!

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Thanks Andy, the spelling didn't look right, I usually check the Dictionary if I'm not sure.

Tried out the bike computer on one of my hot air engines, with the circ setting at 1667 mm, its ok up to about 940 rpm, then it goes to zero. I found another setting, if youy set up for 167 mm, the reading is X10, therefore the 940 becomes 9400, that works up to 1460 rpm. On my home brew mechanical tacho the motor running without a load will run at speeds between 1800, and 2200 rpm, so I'm still going to get a non contact type digital tacho, although this system is ideal for this motor when its working under a load, its best power is about 700 rpm. Ian S C

[AndyfParticipant @andyf]

Those I've tried (and one is in use on my milling machine) don't cater for 167mm circumf, Ian. Perhaps not surprising, as 50mm dia. wheels would be a bit small on a pushbike .

Andy

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Perhaps it could be used on your skate board, now that could be interesting. Ian S C

[Chris HeapyParticipant @chrisheapy71135]

Just pottered about in the workshop mostly. I replaced the rubber slideway cover on the mill with one made from a rubber car mat.

The mat was being used as a cover for my surface plate, so I had to make a timber one to replace it:

…and finished off my modified depth stop on the mill too, it's hollow with an extendable rod that can hold a DTI, whilst the actual depth stop now has a thumbscrew with roller bearing so it clamps up tightly. Oh, and I had to make a replacement drawbar for the mill because the thread had stripped.

Edited By Chris Heapy on 28/04/2013 21:07:20

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I made a connecting rod for the Suffolk 4-stroke. Enormous amount of fettling to get it to clear the crankcase. I used 10BA studs in the end. Still some cosmetic shaping required, not least to get it reasonably symmetrical. It's 0.153" thick and only 1.2" between centres, which makes up a little for the relatively narrow shape.

At least now I know the darn thing is feasible, fitting the small end in a 3/4" piston should be a breeze now!

One little problem, the big end cap is now so small, tehre's no way to fit an oil flinger on the end, I'll have to go for a Seal-style oil tray.

Neil

[Anonymous]

Well this weekend I was going to (redacted due to activity being off topic) but, since the weather was so awful, instead I made 560 aluminium spacers with an M3 tapped hole through the middle. All they need now is a quick wash to get rid of any remaining swarf and coolant before bagging up and handing over. Now I've got them finished I can get on and start cutting the spur and bevel gears for a fellow modeller who is building the same traction engine as me.

Andrew

[NJHParticipant @njh]

My "other" ( and vastly time consuming) hobby is photography. In conversation with a club member at an adjacent camera club ( about 15 miles away!) I mentioned my interest in ME. You may guess the rest – ( " Oh you've got a workshop – could you do a little job for me ?" )

Today he turned up with the job which, in fairness, was a little job. He wanted me to make an adapter so that he could mount his camera on his old enlarger stand and use it to take some macro shots. ( Think fly's eyes etc )

Hmmmm……… now I've got an enlarger that probably won't see a darkroom again – should I convert this in the same way ? .. then all I need is a nice macro lens and I'm away…………………………

Norman

 

Edited By NJH on 29/04/2013 20:56:35

[Chris HeapyParticipant @chrisheapy71135]

Started on making a couple of ball turning tools for the lathe, only got as far as machining the dovetail slides.

Oh, I also fitted a couple of roller thrust bearings to the S7B cross-slide, still got 3 thou backlash – better than 10 though. Will adjust again after the bearings have bedded in a bit.

 

Edited By Chris Heapy on 01/05/2013 16:20:33

[Chris HeapyParticipant @chrisheapy71135]

Some progress on the ball turning attachment(s), I took the day off yesterday to go ride my motorcycle as it was such a nice day Today is not so nice so back in the workshop. Still not decided whether to make it a worm-driven thing (which is a bit slow in action), or gear and pinion driven, or just use the long handle option.

Made from mild steel section but with a gib-strip so any wear in the dovetail can be compensated for. This is one of those jobs where I rarely measure or plan anything, it's all in my head and I just cut away anything that doesn't look like a ball-turning attachment.

Edited By Chris Heapy on 03/05/2013 19:03:36

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Made up a quick truing attachment on lieu of setting up a DTI all the time; used the reclaimed bandsaw bearing that I put away couple of weeks ago..knew it would come in handy for something! tried it out on a piece of thin toolpost spacer ..worked a treat.. spot on. Seen different versions on this & other forums so thanks & credit to the originators for the idea.

The bearing was press fitted to an old 8mm bolt from the odds 'n' sods box with the head machined to get nearer to the chuck for smaller items, just reverse it in the QCTP for face on truing

George.

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

The am was spent windsurfing in Portland Harbour. In the afternoon I made a start cleaning up my SABINE fuel tank which I silver soldered up on Friday evening.

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

Drove to Macclesfield to watch Fylde get beat by 1 point

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Cleared loads of pebbles, rocks, what used to be the top course of bricks around the edge and two plastic baskets bound up with zillions of water lilly roots from the ex-pond which my wife wants as a veg patch.

I spent the rest of the day making a cylinder liner and piston for the 4-stroke. Finished by lapping the piston into the bore and surprised myself how it went. Made 1mm-square ring grooves, but not sure if I will fit any.

Neil

[mark mcParticipant @markmc72333]

Went to the biggest steam rally in ireland today at shanes castle. lovely spot. some really nice engines. You name it ,it was there. Old tractors cars, stationary engines. small steam engines and bloody huge ones. was a great day and just to finish things off a bit better i picked up a lathe test bar mt3, looks brand new for a tenner.Ill put some pics in my albums for it.

Edited By mark mc on 05/05/2013 14:24:19

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Finished cleaning up my fuel tank.

[OH CHUFF!Participant @ohchuff]

added some more insulation and lining boards in my garage, just some awkward bits to do now, then i can add some more lights and sockets. next job floor covering.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

First time making piston rings. Used a blank the same size as the piston, bored it out so the rings would be 30 thou thick and parted off a few widths up to 40 thou and made a pile of about 8 or 9 rings.

Used sheet metal cutters to cut the rings, which worked really well. It takes a short while to use emery to provide a gap, and fitting the rings seems to open them enough.

Then… more battling with the ex-pond.

Then… made the exhaust, including silver soldering an oval expansion box about 1 1/2" by 3/4" – discovered that glavanised steel does NOT like silver solder.

Finally, cut the fins on a new cylinder head (the first one was clearl;y not going to let me achieve a high enough compression ratio)

Neil

[Chris HeapyParticipant @chrisheapy71135]

Continuing with my pair of ball turning attachments, making it up as I go along

Made the female 'nut' thread from drawn PB rod, not my favourite material, but it will wear well and it would be replaceable (can't imagine it ever needing to be though).

[Author]

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