Member postings for TiddlerTad

Hi guys - many thanks for the super fast replies. Your logic is spot-on. I never thought to look at Part 9!

It looks to me like Fig 28 in Tubal Cain's Part 4 is therefore wrong - as it clearly states 'Top face' - in which case the bosses would be closer to the cylinder. But, maybe, I am misinterpreting it.

I'm really glad I sought advice on this and avoided a mini disaster - and I do really appreciate your help.

Cheers

Andrew

Hi

I'm a novice and building my first stationary engine - a Stuart S50. Very enjoyable so far!

I'm following Tubal Cain's Model Workshop series (one of the reasons I chose the S50) and have got to the point where I need to transfer and drill holes from the chest cover, into the chest and through to the cylinder. The bosses on the chest are offset and, from what I can gather from Tubal Cain, they are offset towards the cylinder side. However the assembly diagram that came with the kit seems to suggest that the bosses are offset towards the cover. I think the assembly diagram isn't 100% accurate, or maybe it's just the way it appears in print.

My guess is that the bosses should be offset towards the cylinder, but I need to be 100% sure before I start drilling.

Can anyone confirm which side the bosses are offset towards?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Andrew

Edited By Andrew Whale 1 on 10/07/2018 10:00:46

Edited By Andrew Whale 1 on 10/07/2018 10:20:50

Hi Jason

Thank you so much for replying in such a short space of time. The info you have provided is extremely helpful.

I do intend to have a corner resting on the botton of the vice, and your measurements have reasured me that my vice will be fine. I can't thank you enough. You are a star!

Cheers

Andrew

Hi

I am hoping to purchase a hex Stevensons ER25 collet block from ArcEuroTrade, but need to make sure my vice is big enough to hold it. The inside walls of my vice are 30mm high. Can anyone advise how much of a gap there is at the bottom of the block when two side faces are horizontal?

I did emeil Arc, but no reply so far.

Many thanks

Andrew

@Zebethyal - thanks you so much for taking the time to provide me with the above info. Very much appreciated. I definately plan to do the gas strut mod as a priority. I get my machine tomorrow together with all sorts of goodies. Really excited at setting it up and having a play!

Cheers mate.

Hi Zebethyal - thank you so much for the info and pics. Your gas strut mounting is definately on the same lines that I was thinking, as I don't want to undertake anything too complicated at this stage. Would you be able to tell me the spec of the strut and where you got it from? It also fits in well with your Z axis DRO scales. Is the DRO from Arc?

Thanks Howi.

John - many thanks for the offer. I'll get familiar with the machine first to see how I get on. I might pm you at some later date. Cheers. Andrew

Oldiron: Many thanks for the info/tips.

HOWARDT: Your gas strut assembly looks amazing - well beyond my capabilities. I think I will have to try a side mounted design - to keep it simple, but not elegent like yours! Not sure what you mean by packing out the rack (I guess shims?), but I will try to explore that option. Your background is clearly engineering design - mine is IT, so got lots to learn - need to keep the old brain active!

Looking forward to getting the machine now - Delivery this THURDSAY!!!!!!

Cheers guys - all the best. Andrew

Hi All

Just to let you know that I have bitten the bullet and ordered an SX2P from Arc.

Many thanks for all the help and advice.

Cheers. Andrew

Hi All

Just to let you know that upon checking my workshop, I don't have enough space for an SX2.7.

So, I have bitten the bullet and ordered an SX2P from Arc.

Many thanks for all the help and advice.

Cheers. Andrew

Thanks Ketan

All the best. Andrew

Many thanks to everyone for getting back to me. I certainly didn't intend to 'knock' the SX2P. I just wanted to get the views of those who had experience of using the machine, to help me with my decision making. I recently purchased an SC3 mini lathe from Arc and I have no issues with that or the company.

I really had planned to purchase the SX2P today (together with loads of extras), but having considered all the information (from this forum and other sources), I think I would personally be a little disappointed with the head support arrangement. I have a 56 year old Meddings floor standing drill with a quill feed which performs superbly. Probably a really unfair comparison, but it's an absolute pleasure to use. So, I think I will have to reconsider and look at a machine that offers an accurate quill type facility - such as the SX2.7? I will have to revisit my workshop layout (again) and get saving (again) .

Again, many thanks for all your feedback.

P.S. If anyone in the Yorkshire area is able to recommend a mill costing < £1,400 and is up for giving me a demo, I would really appreciate it. An alternative might be to wait until the show at Doncaster - but that is way off.

Hi

After deciding on the pros and cons between the Arc SX2P and the Warco WM14, I've pretty much decided on the SX2P - brushless motor, belt drive and R8 are all real positives for me. I appreciate that the backlash on the Z feed is grim, but I think I can live with that. The only concern I have is, as a beginner, the possibility of a sudden drop of the head, due to the lack of decent support (ie cantilever rather than strut). I don't want to have scary events!

Can anyone give me some comfort that this isn't really a big issue? I will plan to upgrade to a strut at some point - but will that actually totally resolve the problem - if indeed there is a problem?

I really appreciate any feedback. I do a reasonable amount of woodturning and have invited several folks round to evaluate my woodturning lathe. If anyone in the Yorkshire is able to show me their experience hands-on I would really, really appreciate it.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Andrew

Many thanks for all your comments and views on this - very much appreciated.

The positive comments in relation to both the SX2P and the WM14 have made me reconsider the SX2P. However, I am still undecided at this point. I do like the SX2P, but to me it doesn't seem great getting a new machine and having to replace the cantilever with a strut. It's a shame that there isn't a version out there that has a brushless motor, R8 and a strut mechanism.

I will continue considering pros and cons.

Again, many thanks for your help and support.

Cheers

Andrew

Hi

Having purchased an Arc SC3 lathe a couple of months ago, I now fancy getting a small beginners milling machine.

I was interested in the Arc SX2P but having visited their office I was disappointed with the poor performance of the cantilever supporting the head. That was the only negative, with R8 and brushless motor being two major positives. Unfortunately the Arc X2.7 would be too large for my workshop. As such I am now considering the Warco WM14 with 3xDRO. OK, its a brushed motor with MT2 taper, but I think I will have to make compromises. Can anyone owning a WM14 give me their views on this?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Andrew