What Did You Do Today (2017)

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Nige, you are making swarf, and it is all a learning process. Keep it up!

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

And grab yourself one of these **LINK** it will make life much easier.

[Anonymous]

Posted by Nige on 10/08/2017 22:06:56:

I have no idea what sort of steel the donor bolt was and maybe cutting a thread on 1/4" stock 2.5" from the chuck was more flex than there should be………….

That'll be a hiding to nothing then. The depth increment may only be 2 thou but the tool is cutting along the flanks of the thread, so the length of the cutting edge is much greater than 2 thou. Hence considerable deflection.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Another thought, the 1½ thou taper, smaller near the chuck, is most likely caused by work deflection, not misalignment of the headstock.

Andrew

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Nige once you had turned the stock down to 1/4" you should cut it off to length. Then you can hold by the 1/2" dia then you only need enough out of the chuck to thread.

Yes 0.258" is too big, aim for 0.250" and a fraction below won't hurt.

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Did a bit more to my HH advanced rest last night. Finished the two rotating dovetail slides on the RHS of the second photo. Still a fair bit to do but getting there.

Also changed over to imgur to see if it solves the 3rd party hosting picture problem of Photobucket…

Jon

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Coming on nicely Jon.

Russell

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Thanks Russell – it's a fun build and hopefully I'll end up with a useful set-up. I'm planning to make the full set of accessories and particularly the end-mill sharpening fixture.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Well done Nige,

If you don't angle the cross-slide, move the top slide left by a bit less than half as much as the extra cut depth (e.g. infeed 4 thou, side ways 2 thou).

This will keep the tool cutting on only one side, making things a bit easier.

Neil

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

I am not sure if the link came from this forum but i followed a you tube video &made a handle to fit my warco lathe headstock to do threadcutting. At present i am only doing the hand pump for my pyrte traction engine in brass complete with all the compression fittings. I only had one test piece then after that every piece, male or female has worked perfectly because each bit has been cut to fit its mate. I had problems with the warco because the gear wheel assembly was all stuck solid & i needed hub puller to get the cogs off. I needed a reemer to all the gears & a file to the keyways etc ( machine was new to me but this was the first atempt after 18 months)

I have not tried steel yet but have ordered a load of cutters from china which will hopefully be arrived when i get home from sailing( currently in ostend & heading into holland until end of august)

Do not see why it will not work

It does not matter what thread pitch one uses so long as one sticks to the same one & one does not have to worry about dial indicators, over runs etc which is helpful on internal threads in particular. Just wind the handle back & forth & leave in gear but disengage the cutter when winding back

 

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 11/08/2017 15:50:54

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

Tried out that idea by Neil about cutting a grove for an internal circlip.

Does it work ? Sure does ! Not that I have any need for it right now,but still,nice to know !

Great tip Neil,keep it up !

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Finally got a "round tuit" and made a remote control pendant for the lathe having fitted the inverter drive about five years ago!

Now I'd better clean the oily finger marks off the front panel of the inverter.

Russell

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

Just noticed that Fusion 360 now has a Sheet Metal work-space. I was going to cut the grass but…

There's also a preview of PCB functionality that links into the Eagle PCB design software somehow.

Ed.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Yesterday fitted thrust bearings to my telescope mount's DEC axis. An improvement, but still a way to go, there's too much flex in the worm mounting. I think next step is mill its mounting faces flat and insert a shim.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Some time last year I was able to acquire a more powerful (2.2kW) new motor for my Bridgeport clone milling machine from John Stevenson. The original, standard "pancake" motor is only 1.5hp (1.2kW), with 1500rpm base speed. That's a bit underpowered and the top speed is a bit low for some of the modern carbide tools. Besides, when used with a VFD, it's best to have some spare grunt to avoid having to keep change the belts over. Being a Taiwanese clone, I've found that mine is a bit of a swap meet, with metric and imperial threads and various other deviations from the original.

Seems that my motor spindle / drive pulley bore diameter differs from the norm, so when I finally got round to trying to fit it on Friday evening, I discovered that there was some work to do. I'd need to build up the motor spindle from 19mm up to 22mm. It's not sensible for someone like me to attempt to make an adaptor sleeve, as it would only end in tears and massive runout.

So we've all seen how JS routinely builds up motor shafts with MIG wire and turns them back down to size. They don't call me The Sorcerer's Apprentice but that didn't stop me. What could possibly go wrong? I stripped it down to the bare rotor on Friday evening and got it set up, ready to start welding. I managed a quick chat with JS to check I wasn't missing anything and off I went.

Yesterday I was under strict instructions to lift 3 layers of kitchen tiles but managed to keep sneaking off to lay a bead on, with plenty of time between beads to cool down. Then machine it down on the Bantam using my fixed steady for the first time, mill a keyway (manual mode on the CNC milling machine) and reassemble. This morning it went back on. No obvious runout and plays well with the VFD. Job done.

Windows 10 photo orientation issues again. Sorry – forgot to frig them in Paint before uploading.

Murray

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Job's a good 'un!

[Michael HornerParticipant @michaelhorner54327]

Made myself a motor cycle lift to save my aching back. It's not quite finished but not much to do.

Can get all them little jobs done now!

Michael.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Is that a battery drill providing the power lift?

[NigeParticipant @nige81730]

Trying to get to grips with thread cutting on the ML4. The compound slide has no protractor markings so setting angles is problematic. My solution was to use the combination square to measure the angle between the edges of the cross slide and the compound. Unfortunately the design of the combination doesn't allow me to get it against both the relevant edges at the same time.

I was able to fit a pair of parallels against the edges so I set an angle of 29 degrees on the combination square the put the parallels against the edges and clamped them with a tool makers clamp,

this allowed me to set them against the cross slide and compound edges.

The compound is barely to rotate a full 30 degrees and clamping it down is difficult as the hex headed bolt has it s flats right against the casting which accounts for the rounded corners! Changing it for a socket headed cap screw is the next move.

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I've just tried printing some sections of interest to me from the "gunsmith" pdf that was linked to recently. Strangely, trying to print odd (or even) pages results in alternate ones being missed. Thus, asking for odd pages 1 to 11 gets Nos 1, 5, 9. I then have to go back and print the missing ones individually. It isn't helped by the printer software which I was daft enough to "upgrade" over the internet recently. It now continually nags me about failing to use the manufacturers ink cartridges. Cured this by removing all the printer software and reinstalling from the CD that came with the printer. The lying software still insists I'm using colour ink when I'm printing with "black ink only" box ticked. I must admit,I am tempted to put a big hammer through the printer and go and buy a different make. Been on the internet and ordered a resetting device. Have to see if that works. Getting back to my original point, has anyone any ideas regarding the strange behavior of the PDF pages.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Nige,

the method of screwcutting suggested by Neil recently is much easier than messing about setting the compound slide over. Leave the top slide parallel to the bed, then for every 10 thou movement of the cross slide just move the topslide forward 5 thou. This advances the tool at 26.6 degrees, so it leaves a very small scrape on the left hand side, the true half angle for Whit is 27.5 degrees, not 29 as you state. Works every time, was taught to me by a chap who served his time just after WW1 in I think Cammel Lairds.

This topic keeps coming up, perhaps Neil should do an article for MEW

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

What make and model of printer ?

roy

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Anthony Knights on 13/08/2017 21:37:12:

I've just tried printing some sections of interest to me from the "gunsmith" pdf that was linked to recently. Strangely, trying to print odd (or even) pages results in alternate ones being missed. Thus, asking for odd pages 1 to 11 gets Nos 1, 5, 9. I then have to go back and print the missing ones individually. It isn't helped by the printer software which I was daft enough to "upgrade" over the internet recently. It now continually nags me about failing to use the manufacturers ink cartridges. Cured this by removing all the printer software and reinstalling from the CD that came with the printer. The lying software still insists I'm using colour ink when I'm printing with "black ink only" box ticked. I must admit,I am tempted to put a big hammer through the printer and go and buy a different make. Been on the internet and ordered a resetting device. Have to see if that works. Getting back to my original point, has anyone any ideas regarding the strange behavior of the PDF pages.

Hard to give any advice without knowing a lot more about your hardware and software.

I have found 'PDF-Exchange Viewer' (free download) to be one of the most usable programmes for handling and printing PDF files.

Ian P

[Michael HornerParticipant @michaelhorner54327]

Posted by Bazyle on 13/08/2017 19:57:52:

Is that a battery drill providing the power lift?

Hi Bazyle

Yes, seems to work ok. Bike's not very heavy.

The thread is M16 on 2mm pitch, time will tell how well it wears.

Michael.

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

The Forum 'Tea Room' Topic says 'What did you do Today' (Engineering related), so maybe this (slightly) off-topic post gets shoved somewhere else – but if Farting Dogs qualify, then maybe I will as well ( Qualify, that is..)

Well, anyway, I thought it fits in the Tea Room..

Not really what I did 'today' but what gets done here when not doing stuff in the Metalshop..

We ( my Good Wife and I) play around with a lot of other things here as well. I have designed and do manufacture a small Fixed wing UAV, which is used actively by the Ministry here in there anti-poaching efforts. The Aircraft carries a Day/Night Thermal IR camera, with direct video link to the ground from a max of 20km away, is fully automated, takeoff, flight plan, and landing. I did all the design, molds, composite work, CNC Foam cutting for the wings, etc – A lot of work, but actually great fun too!

Then we are also very much involved with The Desert Lion Conservation Project – a project which maps the lives, habitat and nature of the desert adapted Lions of Namibia – all in an effort to try staunch there destruction due to human/wildlife conflict. We have developed some 'smart' RF/GPS based logger collars, with a ground base Data logger/early warning system that detects said collar at up to 2km away, and then sets of a siren in the village, with flood lights that point N/S/E/W and a range display that gives the general direction and range to the Lion. Folk are then trained to set of fireworks and make a noise to chase the poor Lion away from there kraals and cattle..The Logger also sends a message to the Ministry, and to us as well as the Game Rangers, a Short Burst Message, via satellite – alerting all to the problem and location. Here is some info on the Desert Lion Project for those interested..

**LINK**

And then there is a love of the wild, the bush and the desert that drives us to enjoy play with the animals as well..

Hope you all will not lambaste me/my post too much..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collars – 3 year battery life, GPS, RF Tracker, etc

 

A favourite pastime – Me without my Workshop Regalia..

Thanks for indulging me..

Moderators, please move this a suitable location if unsuitable here..

Joe

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 14/08/2017 08:28:17

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 14/08/2017 08:29:19

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