What did you do today? (2014)

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Needed to punch holes in some shim stock so I thought I'd have a go at making a punch. I based it loosely on commercial designs and used a piece of semi-circular acrylic I had lying around (which accounts for the odd shape). First time I've machined acrylic so it could probably be better. It was already flat and parallel so I only cut it in half and cut the holes. Only made one of the punches so far but it seemed to work. The holes are 7BA to 1 BA clearance.

Gary

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

That seems to work very well, Gary

I wouldn't have thought to use acrylic

… It will be interesting to see how long it lasts before the die loses its edge.

Definitely worth remembering !

MichaelG.

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Thanks, Michael. As I said, it is based on commercial designs so I can't take any credit for using acrylic. The advantage is that you can see the item you're trying to punch a hole through. A steel base might be better long term. It was just easier to cut the piece in half and try it. The punch is untreated silver steel. Probably should be hardened and tempered.

Gary

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

After doing a search about my friends 1972 TR6 crankshaft common half thrust washer problems I came across this link **LINK**

It seems a fairly easy modification but wondered what type of bronze or other material to use for the thrust washer any suggestions welcome as the original half thrust washer material has only a short life.

Paul

Edited By Windy on 08/07/2014 00:14:24

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I went to a meeting in Wolverhampton and saw a 1/2 scale bowtop vardo on a trailer!

Neil

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Martin Cottrell on 06/07/2014 21:29:33:

I spent a most enjoyable day in the sun at the MSRVS rally at Tewkesbury. A nice gathering of about 40 traction engines and steam lorries in various scales all in steam with some static "work in progress" exhibits too. The club seems blessed with extremely friendly and enthusiastic members who are happy to chat and offer advice, all gratefully received as I am just starting my build of a 4" Little Samson engine. In fact, I was so impressed with the friendly atmosphere that I joined the club!!

Martin.

Photos for anyone interested http://www.blackcountrysteam.co.uk/msrvs_14.htm

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 08/07/2014 21:18:48:

I went to a meeting in Wolverhampton and saw a 1/2 scale bowtop vardo on a trailer!

Neil

Nice little wagon thanks Neil for the pic. Wonder where it was off too?

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Clive – Just been soaking up the late rays by the lavender patch and a little bee has been very busy doing his stuff. He's very small, brown in the middle but yellow all around the outside and very "buzzy" (loud). What would he bee?

Rik

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Hi Rik, from your description it sounds like a tawny mining bee. These are very common and they make a burrow in the ground in dry sandy soil. There are several bees very similar in colour and size and habitat. Would need it in hand to positively identify. Nice to see you are observant and the Lavender is always a good place to bee watch as it attracts all the bees. For everybody else, the bees will not bother you so dont be afraid to have a look and study them at work on the flowers.

Clive

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Tuesday; did a tailstock alignment check & test after a year, used a coaxial centering indicator which showed a run out of 4 divisions with the quill extended approx’ 30mm & locked plus the shortest leg on the indicator. The tailstock was adjusted to within 1 ½ division on the indicator & adjusters locked. I left it within that range as the initial check started out with a run out check at the chuck with a 16mm chromed shaft from a printer protruding 15mm & set at zero, swung 180* which indicated a run out of 1 ½ thou’.

Did a couple of test cuts with set up as shown in pics, only had to tweak tail stock again twice & manage to achieve final figures as shown, so if my maths is still compos mentis I have a difference of .00045” … which is less than ½ thou’ … .001mm, over a 6” /150mm, length… I think I can call that ‘aligned’ for my intents & purposes. The measurements were taken with a Mitutoyo 0 – 1” digi mic which is capable of reading to .00005” / .001mm, as can be seen in pic 5.

Chuck run out check….0015"

Machining …

Tailstock reading…

Headstock reading…

Reading differential… .00045" – less than 1/2 thou' over 6", I reckon I can call that a good alignment !

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Just for fun, this is an Ashy Mining Bee having a look round before leaving its hole (I thinks…) Believe it or not this is the back of its head.

Neil

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Bright sunny morning here in N Scotland, there are so many bees out on white clover it's difficult to walk.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

While I was out in the garden today, it was warm enough for the Bumble Bees to be out and about.

Ian S C

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well as this does seem to be the bee keepers thread there may just be a slight interest amoung the members in this two parter that I saw mention of last night.

Hive Alive

J

[John BaguleyParticipant @johnbaguley78655]

Plenty of bees in my garden on the privet and the buddleias etc. which are in full flower but where have all the butterflies gone? There were quite a few earlier in the year but I've only seen a couple recently Usually the buddleias are covered in them.

John

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

This was where I got to yesterday evening with my latest 'mini project'. It's only 2' by 4' and I'm not 100% sure it's model engineering, though I plan to add a few engineered 'features'. Note the bin full of swarf in the last picture

Neil

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Got the paper drawings for my 2-6-2 loco scanned to PDF so I can view them in the workshop on a laptop without the need shuffle paper about.

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

Just finished Stu Hart's mill engine. Made a nice diversion from machining cast wheels.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Nice layout Neil. Most MEs have some interest in the smaller scales even if not actively modelling. Our ME club attends a Model Railway exhibition each year and gets a lot of interest 'in reverse' as it were, plus the occasional recruit.

I spent an hour or so this morning scooping pony and cow poo off some open moorland. Not quite HSE gone crazy or a job creation scheme but preparation for our village fete tomorrow. I will be recyling some plastic kits from our club auction into the bric-a-brak.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Finished SkyHook Mk.II yesterday.

As can be seen this iteration has the LockingTube angled to clear the Monopod.

The first one I made had the tube //le with the Monopod and that turned out not too convenient in use.

The angle (of the dangle) is greater than I planned, due to welding screw-up.

Now busy with the swivelling TV/LCD wall bracket to hold the MacBook/iPad.

Geoff – One day my stick welding MAY possibly improve.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Ouballie what is it for ?

Brian

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Today I took my good lady out for a nice steak dinner in a bit of an upmarket restaurant.

That will have me a shedload of brownie points. The only downside was a parking ticket in the centre of Manchester for SIX minutes over the time – and twenty minutes from the free parking time. Bloody A***H**** they are. I didn't let it spoil the evening though and just put it down to the act of a petty, small minded vandal being egged on by an "employer" setting impossible targets.

graham.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Graham,

you'll have to cut the romantic chit chat next time,

then you will be finished quicker. Either that or go to MacDonalds.

Just to update you re- the CNC mill: I have finally got round to

running the demo programme and all seems to be fine. On Tormachs

advice once you have checked out the controller works and the demo

programme works, fit the auto tool changer and other accessories such

as the fourth axis, I managed to get the auto changer fitted last time

home but have still got to align it then reconfigure the controller

before doing the same with the fourth axis. I hope to get back onshore

on Wednesday and hopefully will get the rest of the set up done before

going back offshore again. I am picking up our new motor home when I

get back and the second weekend home I have a holiday planned for us

to try it out. Give me a call or drop me an email and we can arrange

to meet perhaps if you want.

Bob

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Neil, that layout look very impressive, As posted by Bazyle it's interesting to see a different aspect of model making. The weathering on that little workshop in the last photo looks realistic, it wouldn't be sir John's domain by any chance?

Nigel

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

What have I been doing ,not so much today but over the last couple of weeks while waiting for the flywheel of the Saunderson and Mills tractor to be cast in iron. The photo shows the results of my efforts ( if it's not on here look at the album). It is a 15cc OHV air cooled engine designed for the beginner or school student. It does not use any castings and all the materials can obtained from local suppliers . A commercial carby is being used for tests but will later be replaced. The tube which acts as a sump for the crankshaft is also used to keep both vertical plates in the correct position when being assembled. The gears are module 1 and are 20/40 teeth. The ignition is by coil and points (ex lawn mower) and the engine has a single cam that operates in exhaust valve ,the inlet being automatic. Tomorrow I will finalise the drawings and fire it up for the first time.

George.

Edited By JasonB on 13/07/2014 10:21:37

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