Possible new ideas for Model Engineers’ Workshop

[Michael CheckleyParticipant @michaelcheckley34085]

I would second Stephen`s suggestion for a silver soldering and brazing article but written as a tutorial including example practice joints/applications of increasing complexity as the articles progress. Each tutorial could include what to look for when it goes wrong and how to improve.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by StephenS on 07/09/2016 02:59:26:

My suggestion, would not be a short article but a series if someone could write it, would be a series on silver soldering, brazing, etc, covering it in some detail. I, for one, would be very interested in seeing this covered. We get occasional posts from CuP Alloys on here, could they be persuaded to look at this as they seem to have some real expertise in this field. Or maybe someone else who could contribute this. Maybe could cover equipment needed, looking at lower costs than oxy-acetylene, preparation, and the actual processes of silver soldering and brazing.

StephenS.

CuP have promised such an article, I will remind them!

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Harding on 07/09/2016 02:24:32:

Articles on tools such as the Dremel reviewing especial what each model has in way of chucks collets, arbors. followed by the range of accessories and their range of use.

Angle grinders would make a useful article.

We have reviewed Dremel kit in the past. Its a challenge to do a full comparison of a range and past artcles that line ups of loads of similar products can be boring.

That said we are soon run a comparison cheap, M&W and Mitutoyu digital calipers.

Neil

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

I receive a clock magazine which ran a monthly article where they asked the well known names / contributors/ self proclaimed deities to submit a list of their 5 favourite tools with a paragraph about each with the why and wherefore. It appealed to all level of skills and often gave food for thought.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 06/09/2016 18:22:57:

How about 'Surface Finishing Metals' ?

Draw filing, sand (and alternatives) blasting, burnishing, rotary mop polishing, satin finish, lapping, grinding, blueing, colouring, etching, etc …

Regards, Tim

Could that also include – painting tips

George.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

I liked the article where a sherline was reviewed, being an owner of one i thought they were all but forgotten til then, I enjoyed that.

So i''d recommend continuing to review out of the ordinary machines, so as to cover a huge range of the market for a potential buyer. For e.g, i always see the david ceriani machines advertised, they look good but maybe ii'd like to see an MEW article covering it?

I'd second mechmans painting tiips too, bit of an odd ball topic, my own clarke has some rather interesting black and white checkered livery on the bed! It was a real fiddle to do it. 

 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 07/09/2016 11:28:13

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

An article on the choice and use of insert (carbide) tooling. I find the huge choice available quite confusing and judging by the number of threads here that ask for advice, so do others. Something simple aimed at the novice which explains the number coding system. The choice of coated or uncoated, positive or negative rake, polished or otherwise simply explained would be useful. Guidance as to speeds and feeds for a selection of materials likewise would be good. Preferably with the whole lot in a table format that could be pinned to the workshop wall.

John

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Alan Wood 4 on 07/09/2016 09:09:03:

I receive a clock magazine which ran a monthly article where they asked the well known names / contributors/ self proclaimed deities to submit a list of their 5 favourite tools with a paragraph about each with the why and wherefore. It appealed to all level of skills and often gave food for thought.

Interesting idea, that's worth looking into.

i once saw (by mistake) a Golf magazine that included profiled of some of their forum members in ecah issue. i wonder if that would fly

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Hopper on 05/09/2016 02:38:56:

Neil, how many words and pics do you want per article?

Hi Hopper,

The shortest articles are about 600 words + three photos, but I would class anything up to 1500 words plus ten – twelve photos as 'short' (three pages).

Diagrams can eat up a lot of page space.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Shepherd on 05/09/2016 10:20:18:

Neil

A vote for 3D projects as long as they are directly related to engineering projects and do not stray into general 3D printing. If you are considering this, you may wish to think about how the 3D printer files might be shared?

Don't mind articles on repairs as long as they are about innovative techniques and not specific to a product few of us own. JS posts on how he carries out repairs are a good example of the former, mending frying pans is not IMO. (apologies to Des Bromilow).

Other ideas:

Producing a model from a full-size item when no drawings exist. I marvel at the work done by the likes of Cherry Hill but wouldn't know where to start.

Finishing projects. There have been articles on painting etc., but getting a good surface finish and how to best use paint and other coatings eludes many of us judging by requests for help on this forum from time to time.

Hope that helps.

Yes I'm keen for more on 3D – I am thinking of buying a kit and documenting the build/use of it in the assumption that by the end I will have some practical uses for it (I do have one or two things in mind).

The 'frypan' was a bit of a one off, I thought the description of how to produce the catch was valid and might have escaped comment if it was keeping a bag clipped to a motorcycle, for example! It's not the first 'domestic' repair covered though.

A couple of folk have suggested surface finished – this is something I would like to see too! Especially how to get excellent finishes at home.

Model from scratch may be drifting into ME territory but something not too specific (i.e. not a model build) might be OK. the three model builds I've written for ME all include hefty chunks of 'filling in the gaps' from incomplete information.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Bill Wood 2 on 05/09/2016 10:22:33:

You may have already done some or all of these suggestions in the past, am a relatively new subscriber and may not have seen them.

How about a mugs guide to plastics ie HDPE, LDPE, PTFE, different types of Delrin, Acetal, Pactene, Teflon, transparent acrylic sheets and rods and tubes, (some of these might be the same stuff under a different name I wouldn't know)

links to pages like the mallet made from recycled milk bottles, the thermoformed cross slide nut, diy see through stirling engines

Optics ? There have been past articles on Mill centre finders worth doing some more ? How to make your own telescope ? A summary of what we can learn from all the astronomy chaps who make fancy things to guide their telescopes. A look at people who have made their own microscopes.

Stories about laser cutting and water jet cutting

What are some snazzy things we can make ourselves with laser beams , neodynium magnets and plastic.

Have a (monthly ? annual ? quarterly ?) mystery box event (not a competition) – give 1 guest person ( or several different people) a box with some metal, plastic, magnets, laser, bearings, and tell them to make something interesting in less than 20 hours (variations hand tools only, lathe only, mill only, cnc only, 10 hours, 20 hours, 1 hour, 100 hours – define what you want them to make ? ie laser guided pantograph)

Bill

Lots of ideas there Bill, the last one would make a TV series

A scope build would probably belong in ME (they have had them in the past) although a generic description of mirror making would fit the MEW philosophy., or some of the problem solving in making bits.

Uses of modern materials etc. are definitely worth seeing

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by naughtyboy on 05/09/2016 12:45:14:

dunno if of interest but making load of adaptors at club for my clarke.

the main one will be adaptor to use my southbend chucks on it including the 3c collets.

also adaptor for using my ml 7 collets on it.

and fitting a different motor with speed control to it.

its slow going as only get hour or so a week at it.

but hoping to get new place with garage after xmas.

Yes, that would be of interest, whether it's a CL300M mini-lathe or the larger model.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by David Colwill on 05/09/2016 10:50:17:

How about a series of very short articles (they need only be 1 or 2 paragraphs) on processes used in industry. Ideally written to inform rather than teach how to. There are many amazing techniques, ideas and machines out there and most of us don't mind having our minds broadened as long as it doesn't take more than half a page. A link or two at the end can satisfy the more curious.

Another thing in the same vein would be odd or clever patents. Again no need to write pages and pages. Just what is it and what's clever about it.

Regards.

David.

Yes, I would suggest a whole page would be ideal, then we can have some pictures. This is one where we need to track down a willing contributor. Volunteers?

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Haine on 05/09/2016 13:49:49:

I hesitate to suggest this, but short items on "neat ways to use CNC method to make…". Aimed at avoiding the obvious but demonstrating how CNC can make things almost impossible or very hard without CNC.

Yes, a bit like the one last year showing practical uses of 3D printing?

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by daveb on 05/09/2016 14:00:48:

Neil, I recently completed a refurb on a vintage horizontal mill. It was originally powered by a line shaft so no existing drive arrangements. I made a frame, mounted on the machine to support the motor and countershaft , fitted an inverter, made an adaptor to fit a Bridgeport M head to the round overarm, replaced the table feed screw and nut and fitted an Align table feed. I don't have any pictures of work in progress but I can do a brief description and photo's/ sketches if you are interested.

Dave

Dave, that would make an excellent article – people enjoy reading about machine refurbs especially if tehy have some 'problem solving' in them.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 06/09/2016 18:22:57:

How about 'Surface Finishing Metals' ?

Draw filing, sand (and alternatives) blasting, burnishing, rotary mop polishing, satin finish, lapping, grinding, blueing, colouring, etching, etc …

Regards, Tim

That's a second vote (plus mine=3) any volunteers? Form an orderly queue…

Neil

[frank brownParticipant @frankbrown22225]

Another vote for! I admire the glossy glass like finish some chaps and manufacturers have on their machinery. Totally beyond me at present. Perhaps I need more patience, but starting with the best (correct) materials could help.

Frank

[NJHParticipant @njh]

"Change the name of the magazine to Home Shop Machinist…

(Or basically take the "model" out of the title)."

Why does this old chestnut crop up from time to time? Do some folk feel that belittled to be thought of as modellers?

For those that do one definition of "model" is exemplary So how about Exemplary Engineers Workshop – but somehow that doesn't quite have the same ring to it …

We all know what MEW is and that it has links to ME … just read and enjoy.

As my old Father -in – Law used to say :-

" I don't care what you call me – so long as it's not late for my supper"

Norman

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

How about a review – one per issue – of the advertisers and their products, highlighting any specialities etc?

Cheers, Tim

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 11/09/2016 09:34:25:

How about a review – one per issue – of the advertisers and their products, highlighting any specialities etc?

Cheers, Tim

That's pretty much what 'On the Wire' tries to do, sometimes general news from the trade etc. sometimes an in-depth review.

Neil

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Posted by NJH on 09/09/2016 13:11:53:

"Change the name of the magazine to Home Shop Machinist…

(Or basically take the "model" out of the title)."

 

Why does this old chestnut crop up from time to time? Do some folk feel that belittled to be thought of as modellers?

For those that do one definition of "model" is exemplary So how about Exemplary Engineers Workshop – but somehow that doesn't quite have the same ring to it …

We all know what MEW is and that it has links to ME … just read and enjoy.

As my old Father -in – Law used to say :-

" I don't care what you call me – so long as it's not late for my supper"

Norman

I couldn't agree more Norman!

Besides that Home shop machinist is already taken !

Neil,

What about going back through the ME archives and re printing some of the the plans and projects that were published long before MEW existed ? 

One thing that seems to be a constant occurance on the forum is the newbie asking what lathe / mill to buy or should l buy new or used ,which manufacturer or which country of origin .

Maybe over a fair few issues of MEW there could be some comparisons made betweens various makers , models pros and cons etc .

The main thing i would like to see is the things that the owners find out about that certain machine that sort of bugs them or if there is something they feel would make that machine a little better to use  and how they either fix that issue or work around it .

Ian.

 

 

Edited By XD 351 on 12/09/2016 05:53:57

[Matthew ReedParticipant @matthewreed92137]

How about a series of single page reference or fact sheets to keep on the wall of the workshop. Basic formulae for example, different steels, sine bars, indexable tips, tapping drill sizes… There are some good reference books out there that cover these things, but I rarely use more than one or two pages, and only a few knew of those. Each sheet could be designed to be photocopied, and have an accompanying article explaining the detail, logic and why you need to know.

Top of my list for those, or a normal article, would be the mysterious world of glues adhesives and the dreaded Loctite number. When I did my basic machining stuff at school we were taught that glue belonged to wood-working and other 'craft' ( said as an insult). Coming back to serious metal work now I find adhesives have changed beyond recognition, and Loctite numbers are thrown about like Hogwarts spells. It just scares me, with the impression that a slight slip will turn my master machine into a pointless ornament.

Matthew (owner of a mini lathe that I am comfortable with, and a new mill that still needs housetraining).

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by XD 351 on 12/09/2016 05:07:51:

What about going back through the ME archives and re printing some of the the plans and projects that were published long before MEW existed ?

One thing that seems to be a constant occurance on the forum is the newbie asking what lathe / mill to buy or should l buy new or used ,which manufacturer or which country of origin .

Maybe over a fair few issues of MEW there could be some comparisons made betweens various makers , models pros and cons etc .

A short reprint of an article on making springs using a woodscrew as a jig was well received. I don't want to use too many reprints though – better is people build an old tool using new techniques.

The 'Setting Up A Workshop' special tries to provide some of that guidance. It's very difficult to get into comparisons though, you need to have all the machines side by side. I've been able to do that for digital verniers and it has produced interesting results, but not practical to do it for, say, milling machines.

The alternative of just comparing basic specs tends to be a bit boring, only repeats what is on the web and opens many cans of worms. For example, different sellers rate the power of their machines differently and one American mini-lathe seller give a between centres figure that has an extra inch achieved by hanging the back of the tailstock off the bed (it's in the small print).

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Please see my response to John Stevenson, on this thread: **LINK**

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=120519&p=2

'One-Box' CNC

MichaelG.

[Michael Green 2Participant @michaelgreen2]

The problem with reviews and comparisons is that they depend greatly on the subjectivity of the person writing the article – what one person thinks is a major flaw may be regarded as perfectly acceptable by others. It may even leave the magazine or the writer open to defamation claims too.

As an example, recently on another forum there was a discussion on offsetting the compound to cut threads and a particular model of lathe was condemned as being a poor design because the holes in the T slot were placed in such a way as to make this difficult. This was agreed with by several respondents until someone pointed out that if an alternative technique was used (plunge cutting) it was not an issue. The hub-bub subsided…

My biggest concern with model engineering is actually CNC – so much can be done with a CNC lathe or mill (or even 3D printer) that a lot of the jigs, fixtures and special tools that used to be made for doing 'interesting work' are discontinued or have been forgotten. A Volstro milling head for example or manual helical milling – another technique that is vanishing. I'm told that hands on gear cutting is now not included in some mechanical trades courses – it is done using an instructional video. There were a plethora of special cutter holders for lathes (especially for threading) that are now curiosities because of carbide inserts and canned cycles.

I would like to see some short articles talking about techniques and equipment that were used before CNC or are a non-CNC alternative that may have application in a home workshop. For one off work some of these techniques are still valid. I think even knowing what that odd looking thing at a car boot sale is and how it is used is worth knowing, as it may provide inspiration to get around a problem in the future.

 

Michael

 

Edited By Michael Green 2 on 15/09/2016 13:03:48

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