Member postings for Graham Meek

Having done a lot of stone walling in my youth, (Great Grandfather was a Stone Mason), most Forest of Dean stone walls were laid horizontal.

I do wonder if the wall in the opening Photograph was at one time a retaining wall for a Ramp from the roadside to higher ground. If it was then this ramp would be a substantial foundation for the building. Laying the courses parallel to the ramp surface would leave a nice clean edge at ramp level and not stepped. Which is what would happen if the wall had been laid horizontally.

Regards

Gray,

Sorry to dampen the theories, but did the Spoon and Knife not start their days in INDUSTRY??????????????

Regards

Gray,

Ditto,

I could see where this post was likely to go when I made my post above.

Other hobby machines have been used in industry, yet they do not seem to attract the same amount of flack as Myford's do.

My first Myford S7 purchased second or third hand form N Mole & Co, and totally reconditioned by me. Is till working in a local engineering firm 40 years later.

Regards

Gray,

Being currently a non Myford user or owner, I think things are becoming a little blinkered.

As someone who has used Myford equipment in my industrial carrier. It is time to reflect that they did not only make the Series 7 lathe, which so far is all that seems as being considered.

They also made a very good Cylindrical grinder, the 254S and the 280 lathes. A 254S was used on a production set up in a toolmaking trade shop where I once worked turning O1 Tool steel, and EN 24T for weeks on end.

Regards

Gray,

PS

Did you know, Emco Compact 5's were extensively used by Aluminium Founders to prepare Lab Specimens.

Hi Neil,

I had some Poplar machined up once to a coving section for our Bathroom and Hallway. Standard coving was just too deep and it looked out of place. While the bathroom was no problem. The hallway has a dogleg wall. To get this to fit the convex and concave curves. I cut into the back of the coving at regular intervals which allowed the wood to flex and follow the curve.

In the lounge on the opposite side of the hallway the standard plaster coving was treated in exactly the same way.

This technique will work for you downward sloping ceiling.

Regards

Gray,

Hi Kiwi Bloke,

I apologise for not responding before but I did not see this post.

1. To fit a Gib adjustment strip would necessitate opening up the Keyway in the Slider. Twelve months ago when I had my other equipment this would not have been a problem. Today that would be impossible unless I subcontract the job, which is fraught with problems.

Fitting a Gib here would also mean putting the adjustment screws in from the back of the machine.

When the head is unlocked the turning couple due to the weight of the milling head. Tends to concentrate the force at the top of the rear face of the Keyway. This would be directly onto the Gib strip if it was situated here.

The ball race allows the adjustment to come from the opposite side and any droop from the turning couple is taken by a solid face. I also chose the ball race because this would reduce the drag. When compared to a full length Gib strip. It will also tolerates a slight deviation in the Key strip width, due to this being just drawn bar stock.

2. In an ideal world I would have fitted this key in a shallow groove. This does two functions in that it would take out any straightness issues from a bent Key strip. Secondly it is not going to move in use. Plus it would not matter if Countersunk screws are used.

Proxxon have had two different types of Key strip attachment from the components I have in my workshop. Some years back they were attaching the Key strip with M4 Slotted Countersunk screws. This Key strip is planted directly on the Column diameter. The Column on this set-up is of "Drawn" appearance.

Currently there is a flat machined on the Column and the Key strip is held with 3 x M3 Countersunk screws onto this flat. Even here there is a second deviation in that some columns have been turned, while the two new ones I received from Proxxon recently have been "Ground". I have put Ground in inverted commas because I am of the opinion from the finish that this may have been done with a tube linisher. The new Columns do perform better than the old ones.

I hope this helps?

Regards

Gray,

Edited By Graham Meek on 21/02/2023 11:39:21

In my apprenticeship days you were severely reprimanded for blowing down the machine to clean it at the end of the day. This had to be done with the swarf brush. There is little chance of blowing the debris into the slideway mating surfaces this way.

Using an airline to remove swarf from a pocket was an acceptable practice. More often than not though the swarf would be directed away by a good supply of coolant.

Regards

Gray,

Hi Kiwi Bloke,

My original thoughts were to use two of these lamps either side of the milling head in bespoke units. With more rigid arms. The Flexible arm is good in theory, but does start to droop over time. In the current set-up the head of the light unit is held by a single screw which also holds the internal circuit board of the mill.

This position affords the best option from an operational point of view, but it does not illuminate the X-Axis dial in low ambient light levels. A good point for me is I don't run the risk of the light catching me in the eye and triggering a migraine.

Regards

Gray,

Hi Ian P,

I can tell you there is a circular populated Circuit board contained in the plastic cylindrical housing. I cannot say for sure how many components are present.

Regards

Gray,

One thing I had noticed when "Tramming" the milling head was that there was a tendency for the Quill housing to work it's way out of the Slider.

To solve this I have made a semicircular Bronze Key which fits in the groove machined to provide clearance for the M6 Cap screw which clamps everything up when the Milling head is dead true.

The key is held in place with a single M4 Cap screw. The counterbore for this can be seen in the top face of the Slider.

The Bronze ring provided two Keys which was handy as I have a spare milling head.

One other thing I need to make is a Tailstock support for the Emco Dividing attachment which I have adapted to fit this machine. This will then give me the machine that I want.

Regards

Gray,

Hi Duncan,

I have three such lights in use and as yet I have not had any problem with them. These lights came with a slotted tag on both wires which were the same colour.

It is not my final answer to the lighting problem as I does leave a unlit area the other side. I also have to watch how bright a light I use. Too much brightness will induce a migraine. Halo type lights are too bright having tried these.

Regards

Gray,

I did think when I purchased this machine, given it's country of origin. That I would not have a lot to do to get this machine to where I wanted it. The Guide strip or Key down the Column was one area I thought would not need any attention. Unfortunately this time I was wrong.

The Guide strip is held onto the Column with countersunk Allen cap screws. Experience has told me that the heads on these screws are seldom concentric with the thread. The head will therefore tend to move sideways the item being secured.

This was one of the issues with this machine. While the Guide strip was relatively straight, 0.05 mm bend over the 290 mm. When fitted to the Column there was helical run-out of around 0.2 mm from end to end.

Straightening the Guide strip 0.005 mm over the 290 mm and counterboring the countersunk holes to take shallow head M3 cap screws, eradicated the helical error. To make sure the Guide strip did not move during use four 2.5 mm hardened dowels were fitted at 90 mm centres.

In the above photograph you will see two additional M5 cap screws have been added to adjust the clearance between the Column and the Slider. Next to these is a large slotted screw head. This carries an eccentrically mounted ball bearing race which eliminates the play between the Slider and the Guide strip.

This shot shows the bearing just showing in the sidewall of the keyway. Note there is no loss of bearing area on the internal surface of the Slider to Column interface.

These are the adjuster parts and wiper assembly to keep swarf out. The Allen key is in an M4 grubscrew which locks the eccentric adjuster via a copper pad.

This shows the basic modifications . The two tapped holes on the top of the Slider are to lock the M5 cap screws after adjustment. There is a Delrin pad beneath the M4 grubscrews.

These modifications have totally transformed the machine in use and have been well worth the extra work.

There is one more small mod which I will detail later.

Regards

Gray,

The Tailstock conversion has moved down the list slightly. I have been making some new HSS tool bit holders. These have less protrusion than my original versions.

The tool bit is locked by one "Angledicular" M2.5 Cap screw and a 15 degree chamfered washer. I was a bit dubious about this being man enough to hold the tool bit. In use my doubts have been shown to be un-founded. I also benefit from only having to use one locking screw.

The old holders now get used on the Unimat 3.

Although this may be only a temporary measure as I have an idea for a better set-up on here.

Regards

Gray,

A while back in this thread I had to use my smaller Boring head to extend the range of my Boring and Facing head. A set-up which I was not impressed with, but it did do the job. I have since made a dedicated Extender block for the B&F Head, shown above.

Those Eagle Eyed among you might notice the two dowels in the Gib strip. This forms part of a further refinement for this machine and I will shortly post more details about this.

Regards

Gray,

Hello Nic,

Welcome,

On a clear day I can see the Brecon Beacons from my front room in the Forest of Dean.

Not far from where I live and just outside Ross-on-Wye is Alan Keef Ltd. He has restored some Kerr Stuarts in the past. He does have open days and one year he had Stanhope there. Details of this engine can be had in "The story of Stanhope".

I hope this is of help.

Regards

Gray,

Up until the death of my father 30 years ago I was predominately right handed. After his death I found myself picking up and using tools in my left hand, until I realized. My GP said the change was due to shock. I now use which ever hand is easier to do the job. Writing still remains on the right side only. Trying with the left looks like my GP's writing.

Regards

Gray,

I have a vague recollection, due to the name on the motor. That this is the type of motor used on the Bridgeport variable table feed.

Regards

Gray,

For those who dislike dovetail cutting.

Dr John Beddard made a Large Boring Head based on a round slider. I think the design and build was published in the SMEE Magazine. The details of this design are available from Hemingway Kits, (usual disclaimer).

Regards

Gray,

Hi Tug,

Sorry to hear you are closing up the workshop. I shall miss seeing you make your engines. As someone who has downsized to smaller machines I can recommend retaining some machining facility.

It is surprising the enjoyment we get from doing the simplest of machining jobs.

Regards

Gray,

I recall seeing somewhere years ago a collection of ETW's original engines being held somewhere, it may have been a private collection. Unfortunately my memory is not what it used to be, so I cannot give any more details.

Regards

Gray,