What Did You Do Today (2016)

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

Back to the crash I had an ignition switch for the mags but hadn't pushed it far enough now you have a plug you pull with a cord.

Left my bike clips at home, Damn.

When I was doing my record bike thing you dreamt about sponsorship but in reality it was at a cost.

I was surprised when a phone call at work from the editor of a motorcycle magazine said he had a chap who wanted to give me some money to try to help with a transmission problem.

To receive money from someone you do not know with no conditions was an eye opener.

Unfortunately family health problems came first and speed record attempts lost its importance to me.

To a person who tried to be self sufficient apart from the help local friends used to give it was a revelation that offer of money.

To find genuine people is great when some are only after what they can use you for to make money.

Being back in the full size speed scene the genuine help that is offered gives you faith in human nature.

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

Today (well, yesterday if you want absolute accuracy) I went on a welding course.

I discovered I should have bought a MIG welder. And then I discovered, that when I bought my stick welder I should have bought bigger rods as striking a 2mm rod (which is what I have) is a million times harder than striking a 2.5mm rod.

Seriously, the course was brilliant and I came away confident in welding (though clearly another few years of practice required to be any good at it).

My tutor was Julian Wadsworth in Huddersfield whose real job when not teaching thumb fingered dunderheads like me is blacksmithing quite amazing artworks and architectural items. His website is well worth a look.

Recommended.

Iain

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Spent Saturday at the local A&P show with the Vintage Machinery club, with one of my hot air engines. First I ran it with a generator to power a transistor radio, but I couldn't get the speed/voltage down low enough, I needed 9V, but got 13V(forgot to take extra load). Next I ran it with my mini power hacksaw, this went well with the motor running at 1400rpm under load. Ian S C

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

Posted by John Stevenson on 18/11/2016 22:51:49:

TBH I'm looking forward to it so then I can do what I want and not what customers want.

Should give me more time then to take Ketan thru the small claims court to get my £4 back ?

My mainly race orientated engineering friend got rid of his factory so he can retired early(a joke) now has a large shed with a few CNC machines and concentrates on the things he loves doing.

He spent too much time doing paper, design and consulting work for various projects through out the country now he's back on hands on machining.

I'm in awe when I see what he is involved with in the race and speed record scene.

What a man gas turbines dragsters, absolute World record motorcycles plus other projects that are mind blowing engineering wise.

Lads and Lasses in sheds shows the creativity of human spirit despite the moaner's of our society who just buy things.

Windy

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Got out into the new workshop to check on the machines. The felt and battens are on now, so they aren't reliant on tarps to keep dry. It's a good thing we built the workshop around the machines rather than the other way round, as the large CNC machine would need to be partially dismantled to get through the door. Luckily it seems to be designed for the ram and head to come off easily when the day comes. The brick is for scale. When the power drawbar mechanism is fitted, there is no way it would fit into a normal 8' high room.

Also a good opportunity to see how the machines have survived the transport and building work. The Shizuoka CNC milling machine is a bit grimy but a touch of WD40 and a quick wipe look as if they will bring the paint back to life.

The slates are going on next week once the Veluxes are in place, then the insulation and plasterboard should follow. It'll take weeks to dry out fully but should be a fine workshop once everything is finished. It has full insulation, DPC and cavity walls all around so it can be converted easily to an annexe / office / granny flat. Yes, the floor is reinforced!

Looking forward to emerging from the armchair workshop and getting my hands dirty again, finally. This can be my Xmas present!

Murray

[Anonymous]

Posted by Muzzer on 19/11/2016 14:20:38:

Looking forward to emerging from the armchair workshop and getting my hands dirty again, finally. This can be my Xmas present!

Machine tool envy!

Andrew

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Interestingly, the spindle has only 2 ratios (auto selected by means of air / solenoid) and the spindle motor is a proper variable speed induction motor from Yaskawa, rated for 330-5600 rpm. This gives a controllable range from 10-6000rpm from the 5.5kW Hitachi VFD. At the time it was made (mid 80s), that would have been pretty fancy stuff.

The ball screws are from NSK and the original accuracy reports show deviations of ~2.5um over 300mm. I think I can consider my willy well and truly waved at this juncture.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Haven't posted here fore yonks, so time to rectify.

Not ME related, but using the Workshop and tools.

Domestic duty this morning:

Bog roll holder:

This poor beast has been inactive for months, so took pity on the family and in particular the 5 year old, and decided it was high time to resurrect it.

The threads the shafts screws into where stripped and it looked as if someone had used thread sealing tape to fix it.

Drilled the threads out then Loctited a bit of 10mm scrap bar in and left to cure for a few days.

Finished the surgery this afternoon, so family will have the necessary easy to hand once again.

Geoff – I would hate to be without my Workshop

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

I started to clean a few accessories which came with the Lorch Lathe I purchased today.

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

Hmmm, ?

Will try to post a photo again. Ahh, worked this time.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

"Bog roll holder: "

Admirable effort Geoff – but you can buy a new one for £7 in B&Q !

( I know, I know – much more satisfying to DIY, saves the petrol, and removes the temptation for other "essential" purchases!

I can verify this having gone to B&Q a few weeks ago to buy a new bog roll holder and returned with other essential, useful and "I think that might be just the thing for……." purchases. )

Norman

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

You said it Norman

Plus too lazy to pop into town.

It only took about 15min total, BUT the satisfaction beats all else unless it's FUBAR of course.

Geoff – Girding loins ready to do battle with 5year old later.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

About a year ago I bought a Tormek T3 grinder in Clas Ohlsen at a price that would have been rude not to, I finally decided to have a go at my motley selection of wood chisels, WOW they are now seriously sharp, truly a machine for for the guy who has never made a really decent job of sharpening a chisel, it took a while to get my odd collection of angles under control but now they look like proper chisels.

Mike

[Anonymous]

Yesterday involved bag after bag of leaves going onto the compost, after which I discovered a gravel drive lurking underneath.

Today I've been working on my new high speed spindle for the CNC mill. First I had to replace, and rewire, the connector on the spindle motor and then wire it into the VFD. Then a quick fudge on the mains side allowed me to run the spindle. No bangs or magic smoke escape, so I was able to follow the bearing running in sequence. Basically one runs the spindle for 30 minutes at the stated speed, then let everything cool down to ambient and move onto the next cycle. Speeds started at 6000rpm and finished at the top speed of 24000rpm.Here's the set up, in the hall, as it's brass monkey weather in the workshop:

At 6000rpm the spindle is pretty quiet. At 24000rpm it is obviously noisier but I will be happy running it for prolonged periods. I expect it will be barely audible by the time one is standing outside on the pavement. The spectrum analyser is to get a feel for electrical noise. On a sweep from 1MHz to 25MHz the noise was 10-15dB above the noise floor. It should be better on the mill where grounding will be better, and the spindle will also be grounded.

I've also drilled the panel and fitted most of the parts. I just need to make a small bracket for the on/off switch and make the rest of the crimp contacts, once I get the new crimps from Farnell. The old ones should have been ok based on conductor size, but were loose.

Andrew

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Bit boring really; been drlling 100's of 1/16" holes in brass sheet and angle for the water tank on my Burrell-Boydell engine.

Will post a picture when finished, if only to encourage others!

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Andrew – where did you get the green crab clamps from – I bought 4 some 20+ years ago for woodworking – great tools but I’ve been looking for more and can’t find them

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Posted by Frances IoM on 20/11/2016 20:05:16:
Andrew – where did you get the green crab clamps from – I bought 4 some 20+ years ago for woodworking – great tools but I've been looking for more and can't find them

Some here … http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/tools/machine-clamps/metalworking-clamps/kant-twist-model-396-universal-round-handle-clamp-34

 

Roger

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 20/11/2016 21:31:06

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Roger
importing such from seems USA based thus postage + import duty make them very unattractive especially as those I bought were proudly marked as British Made (it was 20+ years ago tho!)

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

MSC have them an apparently ready for next day delivery in the UK. I suppose a phone call would find out.

Roger

[Anonymous]

Posted by Frances IoM on 20/11/2016 20:05:16:
Andrew – where did you get the green crab clamps from…………………

I can't remember, it must have been nearly 30 years ago. However, it was from a company that advertised in Model Engineer. I can remember that because I had some difficulties with delivery. If I recall correctly I ordered, and paid for, four clamps but only got two. Speaking to the company got nowhere, so I contacted the Model Engineer advertising manager. It took the best part of a year of regular 'phone calls to the advertising manager, but I eventually got the remaining two clamps.

Once people realise that you're not going away it's often easier to sort out the issue rather than keep fobbing you off. It's worked for me since then on other matters.

It's a pity really, as they're very good clamps, made in England.

Andrew

Addendum: I've had a quick look through some MEs of the late '80s and can't see the advert. So the company probably wasn't a regular advertiser, which may have been part of the problem.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

thanks Andrew – I suspect I must have bought them 30 years or so ago – again I think via a special offer probably in a woodworking magazine as the clamps with their softer ends + additional nylon pads seem more suited to carpentry – just wish I’d bought more but never saw them advertised again

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

They look rather like the clamps that are widely available over the pond. John Saunders used this generic design to show how to take a design from sketch to metal using Fusion 360.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

If you could get the sheet parts lasered they would make great school training items as the rest is turning. Also being woodworking tools would have 10 times the potential use in adult life.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

Been at the Hospital for another endoscopy and will have a CT scan in a few weeks.

I'm a bit like my scrapyard sprint specials bits keep falling off but cant fix the body with a spanner or welding torch maybe a Percussive maintenance instrument might knock some sense into me.

Windy

 

Edited By Windy on 21/11/2016 21:52:56

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

fao Francis IoM

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