What Did You Do Today (2017)

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Hi Emgee,

Swarf is always a problem! The surround covers help hugely now, and I have a collection of 'made-as-needed' deflectors, for want of a better description, that have hold on magnets and I just place them in the path of the flying swarf to stop them ending on the floor – and my shirt pockets..

For example, this fit onto/around the milling vise and are easily remove to clean, measure, etc. I have shorte ones, taller ones…

The magnets are rescued from dead disc drives..when do magnetic materials I just slip the deflector into a thin Polyethylene bag, and pull the thing out the bag to get rid of the swarf around the magnet.

Joe

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

My solution to a problem which has bugged me for some time…perhaps there is a simpler way…

I needed to turn down some threaded rod to fit a handle, the problem is that the dti needs a flat plate fitting to run over the threads so the rod can be centred in the four jaw chuck; a quick job in the lathe to make a flat plate fitting for the dti … so I thought..!

But there was a problem, the dti has a step at the probe end so I couldn't just make a hole to fit the shank of the dti, after some head scratching I thought of a simple idea, but first see the stepped end of the probe.

I didn't know … and still don't know, if the probe be unscrewed, but I was worried I might destroy it .. I wasn't going to try and force it.

So…. I rummaged about and came across an 8mm brass plumbing compression fitting… it was actually a coupler….would that be of any use? …. see below.

The picture is of an 8mm end stop which would also be suitable for the job.

I turned down some 8mm brass rod and bored it out to fit the diameter of the dti shank …. the part was then cut in two along its length, next I cut a slit in the olive so that the two parts would fit together in the olive, the cut in the olive made sure that when the accessory was assembled it was not going to be a permanent fixture on the dti..!

Next the end of the fitting is faced off, this forms the flat surface to ride over the threads of the rod.

The end part of the compression fitting with the internal thread is now placed over the shank of the dti and the two brass pieces are put over the dti shank with olive slid over them holding them on the shank.

The flat plate end is now screwed in place.

Below…. the two brass parts fitted in the olive.

The fitting in use.

It does slightly limit the travel of the dti probe but a couple of mm is more than adequate.

Hope it might be of use…Bob.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Joseph Noci 1 on 25/04/2017 12:50:59:

Hi Emgee,

Swarf is always a problem! The surround covers help hugely now, and I have a collection of 'made-as-needed' deflectors, for want of a better description, that have hold on magnets and I just place them in the path of the flying swarf to stop them ending on the floor – and my shirt pockets..

For example, this fit onto/around the milling vise and are easily remove to clean, measure, etc. I have shorte ones, taller ones…

The magnets are rescued from dead disc drives..when do magnetic materials I just slip the deflector into a thin Polyethylene bag, and pull the thing out the bag to get rid of the swarf around the magnet.

Joe

You should enter the MEW Reader's Tips Competition, Joe.

Neil

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

How about a poster's Tips Competition.?

regards Martin

[SpurryParticipant @spurry]

Bob Mc

That's an interesting solution to the task you had. If you look for an Elephants Foot, they just screw in place of the standard dti tip. The ones I bought were 10mm diameter x 3mm with m2.5 thread. The tip on your dti looks as if it should unscrew.

Pete

**LINK**

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Bob Mc on 25/04/2017 13:22:22:

My solution to a problem which has bugged me for some time…perhaps there is a simpler way…

I needed to turn down some threaded rod to fit a handle, the problem is that the dti needs a flat plate fitting to run over the threads so the rod can be centred in the four jaw chuck; a quick job in the lathe to make a flat plate fitting for the dti … so I thought..!

But there was a problem, the dti has a step at the probe end so I couldn't just make a hole to fit the shank of the dti, after some head scratching I thought of a simple idea, but first see the stepped end of the probe.

I didn't know … and still don't know, if the probe be unscrewed, but I was worried I might destroy it .. I wasn't going to try and force it.

So…. I rummaged about and came across an 8mm brass plumbing compression fitting… it was actually a coupler….would that be of any use? …. see below.

The picture is of an 8mm end stop which would also be suitable for the job.

I turned down some 8mm brass rod and bored it out to fit the diameter of the dti shank …. the part was then cut in two along its length, next I cut a slit in the olive so that the two parts would fit together in the olive, the cut in the olive made sure that when the accessory was assembled it was not going to be a permanent fixture on the dti..!

Next the end of the fitting is faced off, this forms the flat surface to ride over the threads of the rod.

The end part of the compression fitting with the internal thread is now placed over the shank of the dti and the two brass pieces are put over the dti shank with olive slid over them holding them on the shank.

The flat plate end is now screwed in place.

Below…. the two brass parts fitted in the olive.

The fitting in use.

It does slightly limit the travel of the dti probe but a couple of mm is more than adequate.

Hope it might be of use…Bob.

Bob

I use a slightly simpler method to allow even a pointed tip of a DTI to register accurately on a thread.

I have a few inches of 1/2" wide shimstock (its actually a long feeler gauge) 0.002" thick. It now has a hole at both ends and wrapped over the thread I hook one end of a small tension spring through both holes so its like a sling for a broken arm. Keeping a slight tension on the spring allows the tip of the DTI sitting on the outside surface to faithfully follow the OD of the thread.

Used it only yesterday on a 16x4mm Trapezoidal thread.

Ian P

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Well Clogs and Neil…>>

Clogs, I don't really mop the floors..I am probably a bit anal with keeping the place neat I guess – I clean the place each day's end, machines included, all the swarf, wipe them down, oil them and cover them. I have mentioned there is a lot of silica/sand dust floating around – I live in a desert..and that stuff is not good for the ways – so I clean and cover…>>

But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time….

>>

Anyway, the new lathe arrived yesterday after 3 sea fairing months, Warts and all…So the espresso machine had to move to make place Neil…

4000RPM Max, 7KW motor, S4 Camlock,

650mm centers, 140mm height, 40mm spindle bore,

I like the enclosed carriage leadscrew..

With Lots of Tooling, etc..

ROHM 160mm Set Tru – BISON 180mm 4 Jaw , Bison 5C collet chuck.

5C collets and Chuck – 0.5mm to 22mm in 0.5mm steps

And then the Warts…

Ordered a Dickson QCTP with many holder for the lathe – they sent a Genuine Swiss Mulitifix tool post, but Dickson tool holders, and not all that were orderd.

The ROHM 160mm STE-TUE chuck arrived without its Camlock backplate.

The 5C Collet chuck, also a SET-TRU type, would not fit the lathe – the Camlock studs would not line up with the holes in the spindle – turns out two of the studs are BENT! – More than 3mm each!

So, I have a splendid Lathe, no way to hold cutting tools, no way to fit the 3 Jaw chuck, and a 5C collet chuck that also does not fit….

And this from Genuine Austrian EMCO…

Thats Life…

The CAMLOCK Studs, nicely Bent..

The only Straight Stud..

And I can't even play with it yet!

Joe

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

Rat catching …dog got bitten on his face

The dog.

The rats

The bite..

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Not today but at the weekend went to the Spalding Model Engineering and Hobby Show. Quite an interesting day but a bit of a long drive (180 miles round trip). Took a few photos which are ***HERE*** if anyone would like a look.

John

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time…

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Joseph Noci 1 on 25/04/2017 14:08:43:

The 5C Collet chuck, also a SET-TRU type, would not fit the lathe – the Camlock studs would not line up with the holes in the spindle – turns out two of the studs are BENT! – More than 3mm each!

Thats Life…

The CAMLOCK Studs, nicely Bent..

The only Straight Stud..

And I can't even play with it yet!

Joe

Joe

I suspect that before it got to you, someone dropped that 5c chuck (probably in its packaging) on to a concrete floor .

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/04/2017 17:07:25:

> But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time…

Neil

That's not a workshop, its heaven! I'm moving in whilst Joseph's back is turned…….

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/04/2017 17:07:25:

> But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time…

Working away one day with a little ( loud ) music in the background all of a sudden there was this mighty crash, when I looked round one of the speakers was laying on the ground, I can only assume there was too much bass to the speaker, when I put it back the tweeter was not working and there was a rattle in the cabinet, it appeared that the magnet had become unglued and fell off with the impact, fortunately the voice coil was undamaged and better still was removable so I stripped it down and cleaned everything up, I then turned a spacer out of brass to help with locating the magnet which was then glued back and the tweeter was rebuilt and refitted and everything was good as gold, so now I keep the levels down. FYI the music I was playing was Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue.

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Richard Marks on 25/04/2017 18:48:04:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/04/2017 17:07:25:

> But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time…

Working away one day with a little ( loud ) music in the background all of a sudden there was this mighty crash, when I looked round one of the speakers was laying on the ground, I can only assume there was too much bass to the speaker, when I put it back the tweeter was not working and there was a rattle in the cabinet, it appeared that the magnet had become unglued and fell off with the impact, fortunately the voice coil was undamaged and better still was removable so I stripped it down and cleaned everything up, I then turned a spacer out of brass to help with locating the magnet which was then glued back and the tweeter was rebuilt and refitted and everything was good as gold, so now I keep the levels down. FYI the music I was playing was Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue.

Call me a heathen, but I am going with Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix .

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 25/04/2017 19:10:08:

Posted by Richard Marks on 25/04/2017 18:48:04:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/04/2017 17:07:25:

> But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time…

Working away one day with a little ( loud ) music in the background all of a sudden there was this mighty crash, when I looked round one of the speakers was laying on the ground, I can only assume there was too much bass to the speaker, when I put it back the tweeter was not working and there was a rattle in the cabinet, it appeared that the magnet had become unglued and fell off with the impact, fortunately the voice coil was undamaged and better still was removable so I stripped it down and cleaned everything up, I then turned a spacer out of brass to help with locating the magnet which was then glued back and the tweeter was rebuilt and refitted and everything was good as gold, so now I keep the levels down. FYI the music I was playing was Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue.

Call me a heathen, but I am going with Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix .

Don't get me wrong, ALL THAT is there as well

[Anonymous]

Thanks to those who have wished me luck in the new job. On the somewhat flimsy basis of two days I think I'm going to need it! Possibly time to revisit the numbers regarding full time retirement.

Could be worse though. In one company I worked for, in the mad world of motor racing, the unofficial company mascot was a headless chicken shooting itself in the foot with a sub-machine gun.

Andrew

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 25/04/2017 19:42:59:

Thanks to those who have wished me luck in the new job. On the somewhat flimsy basis of two days I think I'm going to need it! Possibly time to revisit the numbers regarding full time retirement.

.

Just a reminder, Andrew …

Work is a four-letter word.

MichaelG.

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Quote"But the place is clean and although not much food gets made, I do have an espresso machine in there, and 100watts of sound with many CD's – Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Deep Purple, Emerson L&P, Uriah Heep,Wishbone Ash, etc, etc, etc. 100watts of Jimi Hendrix is just about enough to make one machine work at a time…"

Not wishing to upset anyone but I saw Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd LIVE in Nottingham on a tour with other bands. Magic!

Brian

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Mmm , I must be Heathen then – I just listened to some overtures by Mr Walton…Have to admit that if I played that in the background I may wish the speakers fall down…On the other hand, I also enjoy Italian Opera – have MANY LP's – La Traviata ( verdi), etc, but in the shop..DEFINITELY Rock rules!

Jimmy Page, Clapton, Van halen, Townshend, ZAPPA(!), Trower ( Procol Harum), Santana, Gary Moore (AMAZING Guitar – 2nd only to Hendrix!) – so many more – Any of these in the shop and it's easy to zero in on that last 5um finishing cut!

DavidStanding – no need to sneak in – I would love the company of any like minded Machine Head…

Cannot stand todays RapCrap…

Joe

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Brian, That makes me VERY jealous and just a little Acid…

Joe

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

My easter was spent making an indicator slide. I want to be able to position my indicator dead in line vertically with the test bar in the lathe so as to get some before and after measurements after I change the spindle. And anyway I fancied making something with dovetails.

this is the long part of the slide – before

and after

and the bit that goes on it – before

and after

put together (after drilling lots of mounting holes – of which some are in the right place)

and finally mounted on the cross slide

I've not actually measured anything yet, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the accuracy I ended up with. And I do so like machining cast iron. So much nicer than steel and far less nasty splinters.

Iain

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Joe

I grew up with the music from all those bands – I became a music mad teenager in 1967, a wonderful time to be a music fan!

Add to that list Free, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, the Who, the Kinks, the Doors, Yes, Allman Brothers, Jethro Tull, Caravan, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Uriah Heep, Hawkwind – the list goes on!

I still remain a huge music fan today, everything from rock to Motown, with bluegrass, dance, you name it all thrown in!

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Joseph Noci 1 on 25/04/2017 20:55:05:

Mmm , I must be Heathen then – I just listened to some overtures by Mr Walton…Have to admit that if I played that in the background I may wish the speakers fall down…On the other hand, I also enjoy Italian Opera – have MANY LP's – La Traviata ( verdi), etc, but in the shop..DEFINITELY Rock rules!

Jimmy Page, Clapton, Van halen, Townshend, ZAPPA(!), Trower ( Procol Harum), Santana, Gary Moore (AMAZING Guitar – 2nd only to Hendrix!) – so many more – Any of these in the shop and it's easy to zero in on that last 5um finishing cut!

DavidStanding – no need to sneak in – I would love the company of any like minded Machine Head…

Cannot stand todays RapCrap…

Joe

Joe

I saw from another post you said you were on the edge of a desert, and from that and the fact you said your prevailing wind was a south easterly, I guessed you were south of the equator – I went back to your first post – Namibia!

Next time I am passing I will drop by .

You wouldn't want to see my workshop in its current form – actually it is just one half of my double garage with all my engineering stuff crammed in, awaiting building of a large shed to shift all the junk and woodworking machines out to, so I can set the lathes, milling machines etc out properly in the garage and start using them, after a house move.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, earlier this evening I made this split bush to hold the steel blank beside it.

While this is not in itself an outstanding challenge, making a copy of this wheel from the steel blank, may try my patience.

The bush is only to hold the blank for the first stage of my plan, as the diameter of the blank is to small to hold in the outside jaws of the chuck I will be using for the first stage of machining.

Regards Nick.

[Steve Ambler 1Participant @steveambler1]

Cleaned down miller plus general workshop tidy

Steve

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