What Did you do Today 2022

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Spent a couple of hours in the workshop today doing little jobs on my latest project, the copy attachment for my lathe. I had to do those little remaining parts, because yesterday I spent a couple of hours dropping of the slide at the spark eroders. Yes, you've guessed – I snapped a tap off in the last of nineteen tapped holes in the workpiece. There was no way I was going to scrap it and start again, so after a quick Google, found a company that was prepared to do the job for cash. Hopefully I'll get it back Monday or Tuesday. I didn't 'arf curse, I can tell you!

I should learn from that, but I don't expect I will. Just took my eye of the quill DRO for a split second and bang! there goes another tap (Yes! ANOTHER tap.) Luckily I wasn't filming it at the time, but I'll own up in the final edit, I expect.

I hope to have the attachment finally finished by the end of next week and all the design faults sorted out – or "refined" as I prefer to call the procedure.

John

[Gerhard NovakParticipant @gerhardnovak66893]

And again a day of work on the workshop. Now the other side. All the major work is done, some small things like cover worktop edges where I had to cut out are waiting for tomorrow. Lathe is in place and bolted on, cupboard bolted against the wall, so good to go.

And the wooden table is my wife's, thanks god she has a hobby as well, which helps me in occupying the garage.

 

Edited By Gerhard Novak on 22/01/2022 18:20:20

[NR67Participant @nr67]

Finished boring the CI cylinder liner for the Wyvern. Note to self: buy drills above 3/4”. Boring out to 1.25” took ages but its now ready for lapping/honing. BTW Although I know the difference I dont know which is appropriate for this job. I need to read the various construction notes and threads here. Brake cylinder tools which arent too costly seem well thought of.
In the endless attempt to change speeds, feeds and spring passes to eliminate chatter the set up shown here worked as well as any. The bore has a tiny chatter mark but hey ho I dont make parts for Rolls Royce. Long live the G clamp.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Brake cylinder hone should be enough to remove any slight tool marks, use with paraffin so the stones don't clog.

[NR67Participant @nr67]

Thank you Jason. Over to Amazon then for me.

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

What did I do today and last weekend? Tried to move Alibre Atom3D to a new computer, that's what.

Long story short – have gone to FreeCAD.

Short story long – we are Linux/MacOS/IOS here at home. Rough count, 15 computers/mobile devices set up, and one dual-booted Linux and Windows 10. It was an old one, and had a hardware issue that caused it to freeze/reboot at inopportune times. I only booted the Windows partition maybe about two sessions per year; it would take time "updating" then I could continue with the beginners Alibre3D Tutorials.

A bit of a waste of $$ so I let the Alibre3D yearly maintenance expire, after all, the web site says "

Pay Once, Own It

No subscription nonsense – own your tools and use them offline."

Decided to get more serious about Alibre 3D. Made a new Windows 10 dedicated computer last weekend. Installed Alibre3D. Tried the license. Nope! License manager replied that it was in use (of course – the old computer).

Tried releasing the license on Alibre's site, and it comes back with something like "this license is not under yearly maintenance". So I could not release it, I guess. It's tied to an old, dead computer. I'd rather put the yearly $50.00 US towards a couple of bottles of wine for the Mrs.; the ROI is better than Alibre, as the wine allows smooth workshop purchases no matter what the cost.

So, FreeCAD runs on my new Mac M1, an older Mac mini, my Linux Desktops (including the 3 tied to CNC machines in the workshop).

AND it appears that FreeCAD now has 3D CAM built in! Something to try when idling away waiting for one of my CNC machines to finish.

(BTW, QCAD has been my "go-to" for years; works very well for following the plans I use. I'm not 3D agnostic; ran a 3D Viewer open-source project that, for instance, was distributed by Apple pre-app-store, was active in Web3D Consortium, W3D HTML5 development, focused on 3D graphics for a bit, SIGGRAPH, writing shader and compute code running on graphics cards; all of which was paid for by employers/clients) (and, my Shared VR 3D equipment is now in Canada's Science Museum, gathering dust, which is the best thing for it to do)(edit – the 3D project was the largest and longest running open source project managed by the Canadian Government; still probably holds that title, even though I left 5+ years ago)

Edited By John Alexander Stewart on 24/01/2022 17:30:41

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Done most of the buffer beam this week until I realised that I needed a milling cutter to complete them. So Monday ordered from Tracey tools they arrived this morning post office must have pulled up their socks at last even my ME copy arrived two days early.

On to yesterday I thought I would start another part while waiting for the cutter(always something can be made). That so far is great being able to do something until today. found one of the pieces of metal but the second must have been taken by the workshop gremlins.

So to help a little I had a little clean up not that it was that untidy as I do try to keep things clean and put away unless they are being worked on. still no sign of the part, Coffee time and onto the computer and ordered some castings for the rob Roy as well as a pile of steel also for the loco.

Back into the workshop and spotted an angle plate which had the smallest amount of rust trying to creep on to it I may as well get on top of that before it takes hold over to the vice and yes you guessed it there sitting in the vice was the missing piece of steel it is now with the other piece in a safe place until I forget where I put them.

Oh well another exciting week so far what will I loose next

[Chris MateParticipant @chrismate31303]

Received the stainless drip tray to fit over vice on mill, it cover the table and bit more to the rear. Cut a hole in it from centre to fit over vice, added 4x plastic round feet below tray in each corner. It just slides over vice and sit on the table so the cooling liquid will flow down near the vice to the table leaving the chips behind. The mill is tilted somewhat so the table flow to its one corner from where it goes to a filter to the tank to a section that will separate the oil etc from above from the coolant and keep it floating above coolant.

Waiting for back stainless plate of a certain height 150mm that will cover lower to vice jaws operations, it will probably good for most reflecting coolant and chips back in tray. I also use a small piece of thick leather behind cutter to cover area near cutter and fold as head/quil may go up or down near vice fixed jaw.

I discarded the perspex safety plate fittings that came with the mill on a swing arm, but re-use it in the tray on rear side of vice, it just stands there and keep chips and coolant from splashing towards me if it happens, I can see clearly through it and can easily just remove it or re-insert it.

All this is just removeable pieces just for ease of use with the vice. If I work on the table clamping another stainless plan comes into play which the lower part will probably stay on permanently…Must still get there.

The trade off to this is I must extend my handle for adjusting the mill headstock up & down to the far left, which I dont mind doing, thinking of how to do it still.

[Anthony KendallParticipant @anthonykendall53479]

Posted by Derek Lane on 19/01/2022 16:06:33:

I am pretty pleased with the outcome so far considering this is my first time using a milling machine.

The quick and simple labels made things a lot easier

Like it!

[Nick HughesParticipant @nickhughes97026]

Tried releasing the license on Alibre's site, and it comes back with something like "this license is not under yearly maintenance". So I could not release it, I guess. It's tied to an old, dead computer. I'd rather put the yearly $50.00 US towards a couple of bottles of wine for the Mrs.; the ROI is better than Alibre, as the wine allows smooth workshop purchases no matter what the cost.

Email Alibre support and they will release the licence for you. The online licence release only works (as you have found) if you have current maintenance.

Edited By Nick Hughes on 27/01/2022 12:03:14

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Some new toys have come.

A jeweller's screw plate and matching taps – at less than a pound a tap, I don't have unrealistic expectations, but it could get me out of a bind.

A 10mm corner rounding cutter – I hadn't realised it has a 25mm shank (!) to use it, I will have to get an ER32 collet chuck for my mill… unless the shank is soft enough to machine with carbide.

And finally (I can't believe it took me this long) a set of Stevenson blocks.

Neil

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I like the idea of the arrows on the milling machine handle but only need one – an arrow on the block going away from the operator ie clockwise but tilted at an angle to the left 'inwards'. Some people get a bit confused about which is clockwise too.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Posted by Bazyle on 27/01/2022 22:27:28:

I like the idea of the arrows on the milling machine handle but only need one – an arrow on the block going away from the operator ie clockwise but tilted at an angle to the left 'inwards'. Some people get a bit confused about which is clockwise too.

I just marked them for me to understand as I will be the only one using this machine hopefully after a while they will become redundant as I get to understand the machine operating systems, and then they can be pealed off if needed as they are only from a Brother printing machine mainly designed for garden tags.

I have had some which have been in the garden for three years and none have faded they are as clear now as when I originally printer them well impressed

I will also use it to mark some of my plastic draws with sizes and what is in each one

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Derek Lane on 27/01/2022 22:55:59:

Posted by Bazyle on 27/01/2022 22:27:28:

I like the idea of the arrows on the milling machine handle but only need one – an arrow on the block going away from the operator ie clockwise but tilted at an angle to the left 'inwards'. Some people get a bit confused about which is clockwise too.

I just marked them for me to understand …

Good idea. I did this a lot as a beginner and marked all my machines with arrows. A few years practice almost cured me but I still do it occasionally.

Must be a brain thing because I also confuse righty-tighty lefty-loosey when working upside down under a sink, and sometimes make parts perfect except they're a mirror image of what's needed.

I'm starting a club: MEWCLAR (Model Engineers Who Confuse Left And Right). Sympathisers should send cash to our President for Life, who happens to be me. This silly old duffer can be trusted to spend your money unwisely…

Dave

[gerry maddenParticipant @gerrymadden53711]

Dave I would like to join the club. I have a history of blunders but most recently I cut a beautiful righthand thread instead of a left hand one on a large lump of brass. 'Okay' I thought to myself, its only a significant amount of time and money. On the second attempt, determined not to make the same mistake I reversed everything and followed the guidance, measure twice, cut once, only to discover I'd only gone and produced yet another immaculate right handed one. It seemed to be a case of two wrongs making a right. I took a day off before the third attempt.

G.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 28/01/2022 09:58:23:

Must be a brain thing because I also confuse righty-tighty lefty-loosey when working upside down under a sink, and sometimes make parts perfect except they're a mirror image of what's needed.

Dave

The amount of times I have done that working under a digger trying to replace a hydraulic hose in the most tight space there is

[Pete WhiteParticipant @petewhite15172]

I havn't done anything in the Workshop today, but after seeing that nice tidy workshop posted by Gerhard I think I know what I need to do this afternoon.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Mitering coving was my problem but now I seem to have it cracked, my first job involved a chimney breast which requires three pieces with the correct ends and the correct length, that was probably the peak of my learning curve and scrap production.

Mike

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Posted by Derek Lane on 28/01/2022 13:24:44:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 28/01/2022 09:58:23:

Must be a brain thing because I also confuse righty-tighty lefty-loosey when working upside down under a sink, and sometimes make parts perfect except they're a mirror image of what's needed.

Dave

The amount of times I have done that working under a digger trying to replace a hydraulic hose in the most tight space there is

Hi, I've had many jobs like those in my working days, including having to get into spaces where you couldn't even get a cat, let alone swing one, but then have to weld something one could hardly reach, while looking into a mirror because you don't have direct sight of where the weld has to be and trying to keep your hood in the right place. Don't miss those jobs one bit.

Regards Nick.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Posted by Derek Lane on 19/01/2022 16:06:33:

The quick and simple labels made things a lot easier

Not as posh as yours Derek! I sometimes have left/right confusion, when I first put the DRO on my mill I did this and its still there!

Edited By Henry Brown on 28/01/2022 15:40:17

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

A friend had to climb into a tight corner to do some gas welding, he posted his mate to stand by and turn the bottles off if anything went wrong, I can’t remember what happened but the hoses finished up on fire and the mate panicked and legged it. Don had to extricate himself and turn the bottles off, he was not happy with the mate.

Mike

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Brings new meaning to the word mate!

[Gerhard NovakParticipant @gerhardnovak66893]

Well thanks for the flowers Pete, it is not that clean any more. First of all it is crammed with stuff as we had some garden furniture disaster. Claimed some chairs because of damage and they didn't pick up the damaged lot. Cannot bin them until case settled… also I am working to convert old drawers into a material storage…

Anything produced in the new workshop? Well I am working on a Lady Steph, made a lower column and the bloomin flutes are not in the middle. Ordered an edge finder.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Mike

Similar situation to your friends welding experience, must be nearly 40 years ago and soon after the BAE Hawk came into RAF service, there were problems with the trailing edges of compressor blades in the engines, this necessitated an NDT eddy current check at I think every 20 flying hours. This check was carried out with the engine in situ, this meant access was via the aircraft air intakes, if you look at a Hawk aircraft the intakes are very small, and quite long, it fell to the thinnest NDT team members to be fed up the intakes, rather like a pipe cleaner, and was best achieved with two people lifting and feeding the designated technician up the intake. Quite often we were required to carry out the checks not long after the aircraft had landed, jet engines get quite hot when operating and take a while to cool down so ok during the winter but not nice on a hot summers day. Once inside the intake you were laying half on your back and working with your arms fully outstretched over your head and feeding the eddy current probe through to the trailing edge of the second stage blades, and yes every blade on that disc had to be examined, all this in pitch darkness. Not a job for those who suffer from claustrophobia. You have to have complete faith on those who fed you into the intake because getting out was the reverse process and you couldn’t get out without assistance from those outside. My stature has changed greatly during the intervening years, my weight having gone from less than 10 stone to 15 stone so no chance of ever doing that procedure or any like it ever again, thankfully. Dave W

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Nothing done on the Rob Roy but parts and metal arrived so I can proceed as well as fixings which I thought I would get into a small draw unit to they are all in one place this will save time hunting for where I put them.

I used the good old label machine I mentioned in earlier post.

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