What Did You Do Today (2016)

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Lovely motor. Nice hefty test stand too.

Neil

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

As we had 123mm of rain last night and the temperature and humidity were high today I decided that not too much physical work would be carried out in the workshop. I have been experimenting with 3D printing. It's a new technology to me but it follows on from the CAD drawing process and lends itself to pattern making and other aspects of model engineering ( spark plug caps, distributor parts etc). It's also interesting to see how the machine (Up plus 2) builds up the object. The engine parts are from a design of flat 6 I did some time ago but actually never made. The con rod is 38 mm between centres and the piston 22 mm dia. The other bits are the inlet manifold in two different scales. More drawing and experiments tomorrow !

George.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Nice Work George. I will get round to starting another I.C. project one day. I like to build them fairly big and with pressurised lubrication systems. Now that I am up and running with CNC equipment making multiple components shouldn't be too much of a daunting task. I have a 360 cc flat six that I started many years ago but ran out of enthusiasm, maybe I should resurrect it.

Unfortunately today is being spent with a paint brush in hand- re decorating the living room.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Yesterday after a three week long battle, finally, big sigh, got the gear hobber back up and running. Saturday to be exact

Most of the delay was waiting for new boards to arrive and getting them setup. This included a complete revamp of the whole hobbing bit. Complete new control box built, only the dividing head is the same but even that has had a new more powerful motor fitted.

Today is catching up with pre machined blanks. Hopefully more later. Did manage to cut some yesterday.

Edited By John Stevenson on 31/01/2016 15:26:35

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I spent the day mainly tidying the workshop after a hectic few days on motorcycle parts for other folk.

Then got round to fitting a strip light on the lathe splash back guard, well shielded in a light box it looks like it will be useful. One day soon I must do some work on my own stuff.

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

I think that this qualifies. It was yesterday in Oz time but today for people in the old dart.

Purchased a 20 MHz dual trace CRO for a few $, the included probes are worth more than I paid.

Perfect for checking servos, PIC's and Arduino's . Tested it today, it works well.

Then at the Sunday market found some nice Wiltshire (Aussie) files in great condition(not even rusty), they even had wooden handles The triangular file should come in handy. The vendor chucked in some 1" hex brass stock as bonus, beaut!

One file intrigues me though, it's a single cut smooth file with two safe edges and it mikes out at 0.25" wide. What would this have been used for? I suspect a keyway or something. It might make into a great scraper.

Best of all, they came with proper handles.

* Danny M *

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

It's a 'Pillar' file Danny, very good for working up to the side of a clean edge. As you say for slots and things. You had a good deal there.

Clive

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

This one's for Jo……

Yesterday the wife went through the cupboards with a vengence, determined to clean out all the clutter and unused stuff that's been accumulating. She came up with 23 bottles of wine that had been forgotten in various corners over the years, but all properly stored horizontally. Today I had the task of sorting them out. Most were from the mid to late 90s but a couple were as new as 2003. I started with the older ones…opened them one at a time to 'inspect' them. Would you believe that not a single one of the 23 were drinkable!! Not one! I had to pour all of them out. Now I have to go buy some more.

Pete

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

Posted by Peter Krogh on 02/02/2016 00:23:06:. Would you believe that not a single one of the 23 were drinkable!! Not one! I had to pour all of them out. Now I have to go buy some more.

Pete

No I definitely would not believe you had to pour them out… more likely you had to pour them IN.

Cheers

Bill

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

Oh no, not at all drinkable. Think paint remover. Total yuck. The surprise was that all were that way. Not a single one could be tolerated. A real waste. Here I was thinking we had a few bottles 'in reserve'. I guess chardoney won't keep for 20 years. Gotta get some fresh stock. Yummm.

Pete

[HowiParticipant @howi]

20 years, in our house, wine won't last longer than 20 days, I can smell unopened bottles from 20 paces.

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Stick to Scotch- some of it will keep for a month.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Gordon W on 02/02/2016 11:34:02:

Stick to Scotch- some of it will keep for a month.

Goodness, how do you get it to last that long?

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Had to buy a new (used) car today. I can no longer keep up with the maintenance on the 27-year-old Toyota so traded it in on 5-year old Toyota.

I could have bought a darn good milling machine and a plasma cutter and a suitcase full of Interapid DTIs for what the changeover cost.

Sometimes we just get our priorities all wrong.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Never have heard of Moonshine being discussed "over there." What is Your name for it?

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Rained all day today so the workshop was a good place to be. The new "toy" (3D printer) was put to good use as I wanted to print a crankcase for a flat six engine – not that it will be used – it was a case of seeing what both the printer and myself were capable of!. The photographs show the results. The more I use this technology the more I begin to see its use in my workshop. Patterns and core boxes for sand casting spring to mind particularly for smaller parts – more experimental work required.

George.

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Looks good!, Out of interest how long did it take to print?

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

I had intended to make an early start (5.30am) but hit a problem after about half an hour when the filiment jumped off the reel and caused the feed to stop and as a result I had to start again. I took the opportunit to modify the 3D drawing so I didn't start to print until about 10.0 am. It didn't finish until about 6.30 pm.. I could have speeded up the process by choosing a "scale or setting" that didn't give such fine detail. I am sure that in a few years time the process will be speedier and machines less expensive ( not that they are overly expensive now consider what they actually do).

George.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

George, about what size is that crankcase. Would it be better, easier to make it in two halves, it certainly would make assembling a complete motor if that became the case.

Ian S C

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Ian the crankcase casting is 105 mm long and was designed to be sand cast as a singe cored block. The three holes on the top of the casting were for the fuel oil mix to lubricate the bottom end ( it is a four stroke engine). The cylinders receive the mix via pipes connected to the manifold and cylinder heads. The crankshaft iwas to be fed in from the rear with the con rods being assembled from each side. This was a "theory " engine and was never made but it's good to see it in 3D – only wish it was in metal!

George.

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Good grief you blokes don't let the grass grow much do you, its only 6th Feb and already 11 pages of chit chat.

Been ages since i even signed in let alone take a look see far to busy dodging humidity, 40C, wind and rain. Got some wood turning projects done to the stage they need a finish applied can't do that till weather settles. Some metal projects done some part done.

A stack of family birthdays in Jan & Feb.

Weekends fully booked between now and late March.

At least this post will keep me updated with some of you and your tinkerings.

[Gordon Brown 1Participant @gordonbrown1]

Went to an antiques fair today and half buried on an outside stall found a Smiths ATH6 tachometer with both metric and imperial surface speed wheels. The meter and all the parts are in immaculate, as new condition, even down to the protective plastic film still being in place. After a touch of haggling, got it for twenty pounds. Even if I never use it I've had nineteen pounds worth of pleasure just looking at it…

Edited By Gordon Brown 1 on 06/02/2016 17:33:35

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Finished in the shop for today so poured a glass and relaxed with t'internet. Stumbleupon.com took me to this chaps website – **LINK** . Richard Bentley is his name. I have not looked at everything but what I have seen looks impressive. How did I miss this one?

Rik

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Thank you Rik for that link………. it makes me think that maybe I should take up knitting ! ☹️

Norman

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Interesting link Rik. The 'laptop' in his operating theatre looks like a Tandy model 100 so about 30 years old.

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