Member postings for Alan Jackson

Hi Erik,

Welcome, I am also happy with my old Chipmaster. I have happy memories of working in Esbjerg for offshore platforms.

Alan

The problem with stainless steel is that carbon carbide and chromium like each other too much and at high temperatures form austenite which is a solid solution of one mix. The affinity is so strong that it does not come out of solution very easily. This is the very fact that makes stainless steel stainless, Its the dissimilar mix of ferrite and iron that make carbon steel go rusty.

Alan

I like the advice for shares I once saw, it said

"Buy low and sell high, but if they don't go up, don' t buy them."

Well it worked for me.

Alan

Looks like you are doing an outside broadcast for alien model makers

I do not like the reason for doing things in a slap dash manner, excuses like " Quick and dirty" etc. If its worth doing do it well.

Alan

I thought the video was most illuminating, the quality you get for the price you pay was very obvious. The whole machine is just a set of poorly made parts to a set price, even the screws just about fit the threads. By the way how do you pronounce gib? with a hard G or soft?

Alan

America used to say they would change to the metric system if there was a buck in it. Sounds good sense.

Alan

I can apply more than enough force at the lathe centre with only relatively light single handed force at the rack handles with either my smaller handle Stepperhead rack or my longer levered Chipmaster rack. Much better generally than a screw feed, and much better for drilling and removing the drill for chip clearance. Look in my albums.

Alan

Edited By Alan Jackson on 07/02/2020 15:27:16

Apologies for double posting this on the wrong thread but I have been very happy with the operation of my old Dell Inspiron laptop driving my Stepperhead lathe via DOS and TurboCNC. It operarates on WIN 98 converted to DOS and can perform many operations, threading, profiling, dividing, etc. I do not see why it this system is not used further on converted lathes. It is simple and an inexpensive conversion method for a more electronic operated lathe.

Alan

I have been very happy with the operation of my old Dell Inspiron laptop driving my Stepperhead lathe via DOS and TurboCNC. It operarates on WIN 98 converted to DOS and can perform many operations, threading, profiling, dividing, etc. I do not see why it this system is not used further on converted lathes. It is simple and an inexpensive conversion method for a more electronic operated lathe.

Alan

Wonderful workmanship

Alan

Happy Christmas to all

I think its made from cast iron so you would probably snap it if you try to bend it.

Alan

I am happy with a ex business Dell T1700. It came with Win 10 professional and I have added a 500 gb ssd. Check out them on ebay lots to choose

Alan

I had an Ajax mill like yours and rebuilt it. The existing pulley had lumps broken from it by the previous owner so I machined the pulley down for polyvee belts. I also repositioned the vertical feed shaft so that it could be fitted with a handwheel.

Edited By Alan Jackson on 01/11/2019 16:29:37

It is part of a dial indicator mounting. The dial extended bar fits in the knurled clamp so that it reverses the movement for say centering bores on a lathe.

Alan

It would be interesting to know what fundamentals have changed that create the concerns and comments in this thread. Say twenty years ago these shows were well worth a visit, the exhibits from models makers prevailed and there was plenty of entries for the competitions etc. There was plenty of variety to interest all ages. Now it seems that it is just a smattering of model entries and trade exhibits, with model clubs doing there best to make a show. There was also a good follow up provided by the magazines to describe the entries to those who could not attend the exhibition. I know that a lot of this is now shown on the internet, so this must be the main reason for the shows gradual demise, sad really.

Alan

Hi Ian,

I have tried to understand your problem, but I still do not know why you are blaming the bearing press fits for your inaccurate and not rigidly mounted collets. It seems to me that the collets are mounted via a couple of interface points, the Morse taper and the spindle Morse taper mounting resulting in a collet positioned too far from the front bearing. This cantilever will magnify any errors present and reduce rigidity, making the bearing fits easier does not seem to be, in my mind, the solution. Simply put the collet should be mounted as close to the front bearing as possible for maximum concentricity and rigidity. If I have failed to understand the problem I apologise and I am sure it will be pointed out by others, but good luck anyway.

Alan

I agree with Thaiguzzi's comments on the MLA Toolpost. Here is my version with the cutting tool within the envelope of the Topslide and Cross slide for maximum rigidity.

Alan

For years I persisted with a 1942 Keighly Lifts 4.5" lathe. Rebuilt and modified it but it was noisy and slow and would terrify me if I tried to part anything off. Next I got hold of an old Colchester Chipmaster and fixed it up to suit. It is still a fantastic machine, accurate and now quiet with a polyvee belt replacing the original toothed belt. I built a Dore Westbury a long time ago on which I did more than it was designed for but was never very rigid etc. Now the head resides on a Tom Senior M1 Mill which is also quite super. I also have my Stepperhead lathe which is also good for many unusual tasks.

Edited By Alan Jackson on 23/07/2019 22:11:21