What did you do today? (2014)

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

George>>

I very much like your version of soft jaws. I've a mind to copy your idea if you don't mind. What's the AF dimension of that hex ally?>>

I am on jaws today but of a different sort. Just finished boring the scallops in the partially machined upper and lower jaws of my calliper knurling tool based on the Graham Meek version. Grahams excellent article on this tool was published in the November edition of Engineering in Miniature – thanks G.>>

As I already had a couple of "QUICK" knurling wheels complete with hardened and ground mounting flanges I am first going to try mounting them on the side of the jaws rather than inboard as Graham has done. If this does not give the desired results then it will be a simple job to modify the jaw tips so as to bring the knurl wheels nearer to the centre line of the tool. We shall see! >>

Rik>>

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Allan, I have moved your question to a new thread see here

J

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Finished off a 3 times full sized copy of a Lego Man – as requested by my 7 year old grandson. I don't think Lego bosses will chase me as they are not for sale.

BobH

[Anonymous]

The new toy arrived by courier today:

It could do with a thorough clean, but first impressions are good. The spindle turns smoothly without shake and the slides are also smooth operating. Next thing is to sort out a motor and drive system, and then start collecting collets, chucks and so on. Although pictured in the hall, the lathe will eventually reside in the kitchen (sorry, assembly room) which is a darn sight cosier than the workshop.

It was necessary to buy the lathe to even things up; it's now three lathes and three mills.

Regards,

Andrew

[Michael HornerParticipant @michaelhorner54327]

Built myself a tap wrench driver because my tailstock one I bought didn't cover all the sizes of my taps. I bought the tap wrench for £3.60 so wasn't going to make that.

Cheers Michael

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 29/01/2014 21:57:43:

It was necessary to buy the lathe to even things up; it's now three lathes and three mills.

Regards,

Andrew

Damn, No one told me you had to do that.

Need another 4 lathes then.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Or get rid of 3 mills

[JoParticipant @jo]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 29/01/2014 21:57:43:

It was necessary to buy the lathe to even things up; it's now three lathes and three mills.

Regards,

Andrew

Just a beginner then, give it time

Jo

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by JasonB on 02/02/2014 13:11:49:

Or get rid of 3 mills

How can i exist with only 9 mills then, give over man.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Sorry 10, forgot one out on loan.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Do 4 CNC routers count as mills ? if so make that 14

[Barnaby WildeParticipant @barnabywilde70941]

Today was my 2nd lucky escape from a BIG one using my lathe.

Turning a section of rectangular bar down using a 3jaw chuck when I *KNOW* I should've mounted up the 4jaw.

It flew past my cheek at ballistic speed & knocked a hole in the asbestos sheet roof.

 

When I finally stopped shaking & mounted the 4jaw, this is what it should look like

Edited By Mick Charity on 02/02/2014 15:57:19

Edited By Mick Charity on 02/02/2014 16:00:37

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Yesterday I completed the Bearings for the Monitor, had to fiddle with the widths a bit to make sure the crank could turn within the undersize casting but turned out OK, you can see the recess cut into the caps to allow a decent flange width to the bearings.

Today I finished off the last couple of items on the Galloway and then there was no excuse not to try it out. I have a few Minimag LT coils with different windings to try out, spent about 1/2hr cranking it over with a low amp one with not much sign of life then changed to a higher ampage and it soon kicked into life. Still needs some tweaking but its going in the right direction.

J

PS its not the number of toys that count, its what you do with the ones you have got

Edited By JasonB on 02/02/2014 16:13:15

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Jason, your Galloway is looking and sounding good.

Extreme slender turning today as I made my 3" Allchin regulator reach rod in one piece.

Material En57T

Nigel

[JoParticipant @jo]

Posted by JasonB on 02/02/2014 16:01:00:

PS its not the number of toys that count, its what you do with the ones you have got

True, yesterday whilst the Colchester was on a slow power cross feed, the Harrison was busy using its power feed to do a spot of facing, I was setting up/doing the next jobs on another couple of my lathes .

Jo

[Anonymous]

Posted by Jo on 02/02/2014 13:19:10:

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 29/01/2014 21:57:43:

It was necessary to buy the lathe to even things up; it's now three lathes and three mills.

Regards,

Andrew

Just a beginner then, give it time

Jo

I freely admit that I'm a beginner; there are always new things to learn. But I have been diverted from buying machine tools over the years, and consequently find myself the owner of several sailplanes.

Still, at least JohnS hasn't rubbished the Pultra yet, unlike some of my other machines.

Regards,

Andrew

[ian cableParticipant @iancable23486]

fun all round then including attepted suicide ha ha ha good way to pass sundays.

[Anonymous]

This morning I went to a seminar at the local gliding club on the new EU pilot licence regulations. A complete nightmare as you might expect, but with some glaring anomalies. The big thing was that I thought I needed to get it all sorted out by April 2014, but I've actually got until April 2015. It's just the power stuff I've got to sort out by April 2014. I also talked to my syndicate partners, who were busy working on the Nimbus 3DT, but who declined my offer of help, other than to repair the tail dolly. So I came home, had lunch, and disappeared into the workshop.

This afternoon I cut keyways in the parts in this picture:

Why is the bevel gear the odd one out? Because I'm making an extra set of bevel gears and a differential centre for a friend, who is building the same basic engine. I cut the keyways in my bevel gears some months ago. I also finished hand fitting the crankshaft gears. Here is a close up of the gears in situ:

The 'rust' spots on the pinion gears are a trick of the light. The 'rust' spots on the gear bottom left are …. rust.

Right, nearly time to go and watch the Super Bowl, although I doubt I'll last until 3am.

Regards,

Andrew

[TSHParticipant @tsh73987]

Andrew,

This EASA stuff is truly a pain – and of course we'll all be safer as a result…won't we?

However, I think there has been some misinformation doing the rounds (not helped by what seems to be an incorrect statement in the CAA's 'Clued Up' magazine—a bit of a misnomer I'd say). AFAIK conversion of PPLs to EASA Part-FCL licences can be done up to April 2015. What changes in April 2014 are the privileges of old PPLs. After April 2014 up to April 2015 these privileges change to LAPL privileges; i.e. no more than 3 passengers, aircraft with MTOW less than 2000 kg, day only etc.

Having said that, I have applied for my EASA licence (two or three weeks ago) but haven't had a reply yet. I hear tell that the Glider Towing rating was causing some problems in the CAA, so I hope that isn't going to mean a rejection.

Apologies to all those who thought this is a ME forum and to whom this flying stuff is of no interest.

Regards,

Trevor

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 02/02/2014 20:22:09:

Still, at least JohnS hasn't rubbished the Pultra yet

.

Andrew,

I think it's safe to say that a decent Pultra is "above" criticism.

Assuming that it's not been abused; it should be a joy.

MichaelG.

.

I was going to add: "They don't make 'em like that any-more" … But on second thoughts, have a look at the Levin and the Derbyshire.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

Picked up a petrol engine leaf blower from my friend it had not run for 10 years and had little use.

Gave it a blow off with the airline etc. a drop of petrol and away it went.

Just waiting for the manufacturer to tell me the capacity and air speed of it as only a parts list is available on the net it does seems very powerful.

Next to arrange a cradle on my hydro bench for it to blow into the generator burners venturi.

Hope it will give me clues to the behaviour of the burners and engine at speed as the bottom burner seems suspect it not being in the air stream on last years boat.

It will take a few months to set up as a new hull, generator, cylinder head have to be finished.

There are no major changes to the dimensions only to the weight if I get it wrong it could become a flying boat or high speed submarine on it's first competitive run of 2014 in June

Paul

[Clive FarrarParticipant @clivefarrar90441]

Well my first day of retirement has produced a 2 cavity lead head sea fishing lure mould, approx 2.5 oz

A bit rough in comparison to what i have seen above but I am pleased with it.

Tomorrow I will make a 1.5 oz then i just need to cast some ready for the good weather.

Regards Clive

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

Congratulations Clive on your retirement.

I'm busy with my five year plan being almost half way though it getting all of my toys up together for a productive retirement. It's not that I'm wishing my life away but I believe you need to plan ahead and have a reason for getting out of bed after all those year of work! So keep up the good work and enjoy yourself!

Regards John

[RJWParticipant @rjw]

Sorry to hear about your loss John, and I'm with you as regards enjoying what you have Now, not at some point that may never arrive, life can throw some very unexpected 'googlies' at you!

3 years ago I had a minor 'op' to remove some bone from my right foot, what was a 15 minute procedure under general anaesthetic became a fraught exercise getting me out of respiratory arrest and well over a year recuperating from the aftermath!
My wife later remarked 'what on earth would I have done with all your stuff', she had a very valid point and have since been whittling away at all the clutter I'll doubtless never use!

My wife in that time has also developed serious health issues and I'm Very aware I could lose her in literally a heartbeat (or lack of), she's also lost a significant degree of sight, so it's making what I'm doing with my stuff even more crucial in case I pop off before she does (I have 'issues' too and I've not reached retirement yet!), And to ensure we spend more time doing what we like doing together instead of in separate parts of the house!

You only appreciate what you have now when you've lost it or come very close!

Good luck with your retirement and hope you enjoy many happy trouble free years of it!

John

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

I wish I could afford to retire. But then I would be bored stupid. I might even have to talk to the wife!!!

I am busy setting up a decent workshop to do professional model making in the smaller scales, gauge O, possibly gauge 1 and 16mm narrow gauge. This will be a mix of one offs and batch production. I might also venture into steam engine kits from castings.

I hope this combined with writing books and articles will help me to survive for a long while.

The workshop has a Warco WM180 lathe, a Myford ML10 and a Taylor Hobson Engraver so far.

I also have all I need to do resin cast rolling stock including a vacuum pump to debubble (is that the correct term) the resin.

Next will be a small mill when I can afford it.

I think the secret of surviving is doing several projects at the same time to give several streams of income, as many as possible on autopilot, just fulfil the orders as they come in.

regards David

Edited By David Clark 1 on 04/02/2014 10:55:41

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