What did you do Today 2018

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Made a tapered ball cage and cup for my crayford focuser.

Just can't get it to behave remotely right.

Need to rethink, so I'm retreating to bed with a pint of Wychwood Giant Goblin and a good book!

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Anybody guess what this is? I have mentioned it before or you can crib the answer from twitter.

[Jim Butler 1Participant @jimbutler1]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/02/2018 12:16:00:

Anybody guess what this is? I have mentioned it before or you can crib the answer from twitter.

Looks like the insides of a slow motion drive, as often used in radio and electronic equipment for tuning dials etc.

JimB

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Absolutely bugger all so far this year what with no heating and now two bouts of waterworks infection in as many weeks, being prescribed antibiotics each time, and they do tend to 'pull-me-down' so have no inclination or interest in doing much.

I haven't given up on powering the BH600G's Feed Rod independently of the Gearbox, BUT my 'incident' when I bent the Gear Shaft when under power feed, and replacing it, may/has bent something else within the Apron as all motors including Steppers that I've tried either grind to a halt or are slowed down for a short period at the same spot the Saddle Handwheel reaches during every revolution.

I have one monster stepper motor to try once I feel better, having sorted the wiring out and tested it, but if that doesn't work then last ditch will be to to strip the Apron once again to find the culprit, but only under duress!

Geoff – What a pleasure having central heating once again.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Jim Butler 1 on 26/02/2018 01:05:39:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/02/2018 12:16:00:

Anybody guess what this is? I have mentioned it before or you can crib the answer from twitter.

Looks like the insides of a slow motion drive, as often used in radio and electronic equipment for tuning dials etc.

JimB

Yes, for a telescope focuser – surprise update, after three tries I got the outer race right and it works!

Neil

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I've just drilled a hole (almost) right through my tailstock barrel with a 3/8" carbide slot drill followed by a 10.55 HSSCo drill. Not quite all the way, otherwise I'd hit the key slot. It's hardened steel but I was relieved to find that it's just surface hardened, so once through the skin, it's nice going. Finally, I hand tapped both sides M12 from one side. With that tapping drill it should be pretty close to a full thread, although consequently it was pretty tight and a bit of a bum clencher, not least the blind hole.

But why?? The Bantam tailstock barrel has a bit of a weakness – by the time they'd machined a bore through the middle to clear the leadscrew, it didn't leave much for the Morse taper tang to engage with – about 1.5mm or so. It didn't take many students / apprenti / blacksmiths to knacker that, with the result that tanged drills and tools are prone to spinning, which in turn can't be doing the actual taper any favours. Last week I bored out the remnants of the tang drive (long overhang!), leaving a reasonably clear surface to work with but obviously now I need some alternative means of driving tang tools.

So now I "just" need to fit a couple of short grub screws (one in each side) to screw in and grab the tang. Can anybody recommend a supplier where I could get my hands on some decent quality grub screws? Ideally they would be flat nosed and even better they would be hardened.

Murray

PS – anyone used Accugroup in Huddersfield? They seem to keep a wide range and reasonable-ish prices.

Edited By Muzzer on 26/02/2018 18:37:28

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Umm. The tang has nothing to do with driving a Morse taper tool. It's there for ejection only. If the tool slips, one or both of the tapers is contaminated/buggered or the tool wasn't in tightly enough…

Bah! Humbug!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

If the tang locks the drill to the barrel what stops the barrel turning? Not familiar with the Bantam but on some lathes that part is just a smallish screw or key. Perhaps instead of grubs brass would do which could be filed flush and not risk scoring the body.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Muzzer on 26/02/2018 18:15:17:

So now I "just" need to fit a couple of short grub screws (one in each side) to screw in and grab the tang. Can anybody recommend a supplier where I could get my hands on some decent quality grub screws? Ideally they would be flat nosed and even better they would be hardened.

.

Westfield Fastners do these: **LINK** and other varieties.

https://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/A2_ScrewBolt_GrubDog_M12.html

… They also offer small quantity packs.

MichaelG.

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

Posted by Muzzer on 26/02/2018 18:15:17:

PS – anyone used Accugroup in Huddersfield? They seem to keep a wide range and reasonable-ish prices.

Strangely I came across them just the other day. Within a few clicks I got the distinct impression they were possibly nothing more than a virtual company, selling items that are drop shipped from a range of sources. For instance the gearing range looked a lot like that of HPC

Companies House filing history however appears to show something relatively 'substantial'

**LINK**

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Have used AccuScrew they have only relatively recently become AccuGroup many times. Easy website, no minimum order, not too bad pricewise, shipping costs reasonable. Seem to specialise in stainless. Will make to order for specials.

John

Edit. Add link 

Edited By Journeyman on 26/02/2018 20:00:29

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Mark – well spotted, thanks for pointing that out! My desire for the tang location was mainly to provide a means of consistently orientating my die head each time it's mounted – and I'd thought it would also act to augment the taper. Having said that, I'd probably be best to ensure the load torque is taken directly to the barrel (via a pinch clamp on the outside of the barrel perhaps), rather than rely on the taper, as there will be no self-tightening on a sliding tool.

Bazyle – the barrel has a keyway in the barrel and a longish key in the body to transfer the torque to the body. The grubs are in the barrel to correctly align the tang with the ejection slot in the body.

I can't be bothered to order up any grubs, so will chop up a SS bolt. Especially if I won't be subjecting it to any significant loads….

Murray

[RobinParticipant @robin]

I felt a sudden, irresistible urge to shop. I think I just paid 30 quid for a pointed stick that might be useful for scraping gunge off stuff

*LINK*

Possibly foolish but I couldn't help myself. It is the most exquisitely fashioned, pointed, scrapy thing I have ever seen in my life

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

Posted by Robin on 27/02/2018 09:45:00:

I felt a sudden, irresistible urge to shop. I think I just paid 30 quid for a pointed stick that might be useful for scraping gunge off stuff

*LINK*

Possibly foolish but I couldn't help myself. It is the most exquisitely fashioned, pointed, scrapy thing I have ever seen in my life

Lets face it we all need a pointy scrapey thing! Are you going to keep it for special pointy scrapey jobs or will it be used for all? I have to admit to being slightly envious and am eagerly awaiting updates on this.

Regards David.

Ps I think this merits its own thread!

[RobinParticipant @robin]

I shall be sure to report back. The post from Osaka will presumably be quite nippy

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

I await your report in eager anticipation Robin.

I'm a sucker for such implements/tools 😤

New boiler installed just in time, there being 1.1/2" of snow on the ground when I woke up.

Geoff – Hospital appointment at the Emergency X-Ray department later.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Posted by Robin on 27/02/2018 10:18:47:

I shall be sure to report back. The post from Osaka will presumably be quite nippy

Haha in Canada I got a few dirty looks for talking about "Japs". There was no disrespect intended but it seems that over there it's not considered a polite term. Funny old world!

Murray

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

Made the decision not to order a new Myford lathe.

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Posted by Billy Bean on 27/02/2018 12:52:15:

Made the decision not to order a new Myford lathe.

Very sensible. There are millions of lathes in the world and most of them are not Myford!

John

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Finally got some ice and snow out here on the edge of the Irish Sea. Having cynically trained the dogs to view ice cubes as exotic treats, they are outside in the garden feasting on the endless banquet provided by The Beast From The East. It's going to be ages before they want to come in. Some suggestion that ice is bad for dogs but it's not been a problem so far….

Murray

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Half inch of fluffy snow this morning so must have put people off going to work. M25 a dream even better than a Friday with no queue at the M40 interchange and speed restrictions only because the fat controllers assumed it was a normal day. Commute reduced to 1 hour . Yesterday at work when it started snowing lots of our Indian contractors ran outside in excitement as they had never seen snow before.

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Over the last several months, including today, along with other jobs I have also been working on the full size engines at work.

One task was to cut out and replace the worn out thread in the top of the firebox crown that takes the fusible plug. I had to do this job on this Burrell Showmans and the Burrell Roller engines. I used my excellent Chinese made 200 amp Tig welding set, which, as on other occasions, ran for hours on end without trouble.

……….I first machined up a couple of flanged threaded steel plugs, then used a Lenox hole saw to cut out the worn out section around the original threaded hole in the top of the firebox.……….The beveled hole is notched either side to allow the new flanged plug to be popped through into the boiler and to drop flat and seat on its flange. The V weld prep and gap wil hopefully give a strong reliable weld.………..The finished job, it wasn't pleasant working in the cramped confined space, particularly as all the work was overhead.…………Another job was to bore out the rear axle bearing castings on the Burrell Showmans for the fitting of new bushes. I did this job on our large old Churchill Redmond flat bed lathe.…………The rather slim long boring bar has been reinforced along its length, it then cut cleanly without any chatter.………..I also did a trial fitting of the steering drum worm I made. The steering chains wrapped around it ok and the steering worked fine, I was a little worried it might not work too well, so it is a relief it seems to be ok after all that work to make it.

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Lathejack, it's nice to see some large scale model engineering.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by daveb on 01/03/2018 10:36:42:

Lathejack, it's nice to see some large scale model engineering.

+1

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Got another hour or so exercise in today …shovelling sh… snow, clearing the drive, as did yesterday, probably same tomorrow…

George.

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