Trent wheel & pinion mill

This topic has 13 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 23 January 2026 at 07:40 by Dell.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

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20 January 2026 at 18:05 #833315
Dell
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@dell
Has anyone any experience with a Trent pinion mill as I have just acquired one that was built by a famous camera maker that died in 2024, it had had all the ways scrapped & looks to have been very well built, the person I purchased it off had taken it apart to clean but not put it back together, it wasn’t rusty it was just covered in dried grease.

Dell
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20 January 2026 at 18:25 #833318
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
No personal experience, Dell … but I think you should probably start here:

MichaelG.
20 January 2026 at 18:51 #833320
Dell
Participant
@dell
Thanks Michael

the videos only go to 4 episodes 8 years ago but never finished extract from my video I want to find out if it is a broken pin.
20 January 2026 at 20:42 #833329
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Sorry about that, Dell … I hadn’t realised that the series was incomplete

MichaelG.
20 January 2026 at 21:44 #833338
Dave S
Participant
@daves59043
IIRC Max never finished it. I think life got in the way.

I have an as yet unbuilt one, so can look on the plans if that helps – can you pinpoint what you need to know better?

Dave
20 January 2026 at 21:51 #833339
Dave S
Participant
@daves59043
Original build thread here:

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum/general/74414-building-the-trent-pinion-mill

Not much extra tho

Dave
20 January 2026 at 22:00 #833340
Dell
Participant
@dell
Dave S

i will take a picture of the part that looks as though it has a broken pin in what looks like a short leadscrew but i couldn’t see it on the plans I have but it’s possible I missed it in my old age.

thanks
20 January 2026 at 22:46 #833342
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Lifted from an old thread … This might be a useful reference:

http://www.jamesriser.com/Machinery/ChronosPinionMill.pdf

MichaelG.

.

Ref. https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/topic/chronos-wheel-engine/
21 January 2026 at 09:06 #833375
Dell
Participant
@dell
Here are some better pictures as can be seen it looks like a broken pin.
21 January 2026 at 09:43 #833381
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
is it poss that the lead screw was made from material of the right dia and the collar was fitted with a retaining pin?
21 January 2026 at 10:27 #833394
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
I would expect a wheel was secured with a flat ended(dog tooth) grub screw. The relief would be there to avoid distortion of the shaft. It may appear that a grub screw has already been tightened against the shaft, leaving raised marks – which may well make separation of wheel and shaft somewhat difficult if the parts are to close tolerance.
21 January 2026 at 12:27 #833423
Dave S
Participant
@daves59043
The main feedscrew has its bearing added and locktite or pinned, but it’s 7” long.

I can’t find a threaded piece at all that fits the pictures – where did it come from on the machine?

Dave
21 January 2026 at 19:18 #833516
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
If the threaded piece isn’t a modified vertical feed screw it might just be one of the myriad of ‘extra bits’ that every model engineer accumulates. Anyone making a pinion mill would have first made a lot of other things – it just can’t be on anyone’s list of first metalworking projects.
23 January 2026 at 07:40 #833760
Dell
Participant
@dell
It looks to be the adjustable knee stop & according to Hemingway plans it’s supplied as just a threaded bar so as Bazyle has said it’s a modified vertical screw, see picture.
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