Here is a list of all the postings Roger Best has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.
Thread: Which Milling machine and what is its footprint? |
07/09/2020 16:07:34 |
Ta Stuart I had hoped to avoid that, but if needs must... Fortunately there is some guidance available on the matter. https://youtu.be/0wSbjLyvvXI Edited By Roger Best on 07/09/2020 16:08:34 |
06/09/2020 22:18:55 |
Its going to be a big job to get it on the bench so I have asked for a quote for that. I realised that the lathe was where it could be erected, not as close as it could be to the wall, so I pushed it over using a car jack. there is now just enough space to get the mill in if we take off the front crank handle.
Edited By Roger Best on 06/09/2020 22:19:26 |
Thread: Chamfer Block |
06/09/2020 21:53:42 |
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Thread: 1/20th Scale Traction Engine |
06/09/2020 17:38:00 |
Thanks for posting this and the link to your blog site in your first post. Loads of interesting reading there. I was instantly attracted to the post as I am very much into toy engines, Mamod, Wilesco and Mercer for traction engines. Like you I am inspired by Cherry Hills work; I am a Fellow of the IMechE and I have made the pilgrimage to see her models more than once. They are breathtaking, so small that the close-up views in the book hardly make sense. Your idea to make this pretty and fat-boilered Burrell is a sound one. There is plenty of space for heating area and transmission in the design, where a more efficient, more modern (is that the right word in 2020??) prototype would be a tight fit. You might want to nudge the size of the cylinder a little bit but it won't be much; the DM Mercer has a tiny cylinder, no steam jacket, only two small wicks and can pull a child, that is powerful enough. Your engine will be more like a Myfordboy, due to the techniques used. That is a good runner but not very pretty and I am glad you are putting the work in to do a classier job. I look forward to further instalments with great interest. Thanks Rog
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Thread: Hi All |
06/09/2020 16:44:39 |
Welcome Terry! I am a sort of new starter too. |
Thread: Warco Mill - but what model?? |
28/08/2020 12:02:26 |
Although this is described as an economy mill it is a beast relative to modern mini-mills intended for hobby use. Its only an economy machine relative to "proper" industrial machines. I am sure you will have a lot of fun playing with it. |
Thread: Drummond Lathe |
28/08/2020 09:58:13 |
As shown in Sparey's excellent book a modelling lathe is a supremely flexible machine and far more adaptable (or easily adaptable) than an industrial lathe. I would encourage anyone who can get one at reasonable cost to have a go with it to enable some of the more interesting jobs. |
27/08/2020 22:22:44 |
It desperately needs some extra-TLC on the spindle, a previous owner tried to convert it to V-belt and didn't re-assembly the spindle, which has since seized. It lacks a makers plate so I can't date it accurately but it does look like the older model Ms. I will post some better pictures before I ask any questions. The "manuals" look to be more like sales brochures, they lack instruction for setting up the change gears. I guess such instruction was encouraged in person?
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Thread: Is a hand scraper pulled or pushed? |
25/08/2020 19:29:22 |
All this conversation has been about improving the quality of something by careful manual attention. Its still a useful skill, if you want it better than the best machine you have, hand finishing is a good way to go.
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Thread: Copper boiler plate flanging, or not? |
22/08/2020 15:54:17 |
The rest should be less worrying. |
Thread: Wooden Gears |
22/08/2020 12:26:54 |
The issue is making the best of the resources available, not being restrictive; innovation is king in the real world. I say ply is wood enough. |
22/08/2020 00:57:01 |
Plywood gears? - no problem. https://youtu.be/tVbh_FEiF2E https://youtu.be/IvUU8joBb1Q
Edited By Roger Best on 22/08/2020 01:03:00 |
Thread: Copper boiler plate flanging, or not? |
22/08/2020 00:42:44 |
OK Paul - I do see your point - that it is too difficult for a vendor to keep track of a design if the originator can't be bothered to record the corrections. Thanks for reminding me about silver-soldered boilers - that's another problem I have elsewhere. |
Thread: Steam wagon "Meg" advice, please. |
22/08/2020 00:06:28 |
I don't know about the rules but I would suggest that the cylinder is a structural component because it sustains mechanical load as well as pressure. |
Thread: Which one to build |
21/08/2020 23:39:30 |
John - how important is picking it up? Do you need to carry it into the house? Also how big is your garden - they have a dreadful turning circle? It may be that a too-heavy engine can be made acceptable by using a lifting frame or device. I have had a bad back most of my adult life and can probably lift more now than at any time in the past twenty years so I am very aware that bending down to lift 20kg+ is not a good idea. These guys have the right idea - I have visited their factory and seen their kit. Something to pick an engine up onto balloon wheels would take a small effort compared to all the work in the engine. https://youtu.be/F4QXG5cvNSc
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Thread: Brian's 1" Minnie Traction Engine |
21/08/2020 23:13:27 |
Fabulous work Brian! |
Thread: Mamod safety valve |
21/08/2020 21:28:22 |
You are more than welcome, not a new idea though. Here we go: You can do a lot worse than copy Kevin: https://www.ita-shop.co.uk/ourshop/prod_5496551-Mamod-14-BSF.html https://www.ita-shop.co.uk/ourshop/cat_1283563-SAFETY-VALVES-cc-pg_2.html
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Thread: Copper boiler plate flanging, or not? |
21/08/2020 21:18:28 |
Posted by Paul Kemp on 21/08/2020 20:09:10:
Posted by Roger Best on 21/08/2020 15:03:45:
My thoughts are if anyone thinks a model engineering supplier is giving a competent technical service to a degree they are in la la land where they are selling "drawings" with no manufacturing tolerances and many littered with dimensional errors! The other issue raised by Dave H is there is no UK constructional code to underpin the model test code to give the inspectors any definitive guidance so you are reliant on the experience and knowledge of the individual inspector and any reference they make to commercial standards. That said, I do think the "system" as it stands is fit for purpose as if it wasn't there would be boilers exploding left right and centre, insurers would be going bust under the claims, premiums would be rocketing and officialdom would be clamping down hard on the hobby! If we ignore the hysterics of model boilers are bombs, will distribute shrapnel over many metres if they fail and look at the facts, miniature copper boilers are pretty safe and even one constructed to mediocre standards is very unlikely to fail catastrophically. Probably the most likely failure on a boiler likely to cause injury is poor threads on fittings allowing the fitting to be blown out. I have witnessed the failure of a back head to wrapper joint on a commercially made boiler as it happens which was entirely unspectacular bar the cloud of steam in the cab and the loco coming to a halt. It certainly didn't explode violently and the copper tear itself the shreds! We should not be cavalier about these things for sure and every effort should be made to ensure as far as possible they are safe but we also should not instill in ourselves and others an illogical fear and suspicion. Paul. Its nice in la-la land Paul! If the design has been updated then they should sell material for the updated design. Its not difficult. Bob wants the safer design so he is allowed to return the goods. Equally if they are selling certified material they should control the material certs properly; its why certified material is expensive. If you are saying they can't do either competently then shout louder as there will be a lot of boiler certificates that aren't worth wiping your butt with. Selling a photocopy of someone else's copyright material is not relevant to this issue. |
Thread: Mamod safety valve |
21/08/2020 20:25:10 |
Posted by martin perman on 25/06/2020 14:49:00:
Gentlemen, I was given A Mamod TE1A Traction engine for my Birthday when I was fourteen and forty two years later I want to refurbish it, I would like to make a new safety valve, I am aware I could buy a new one but I have the means and ability to make and test one, the operating pressure is 10 - 12 psi, my only problem is how do I calculate the spring required and again I could measure my old one but then I learn nothing. Martin P Edited By martin perman on 25/06/2020 14:50:36 Edited By martin perman on 25/06/2020 14:52:02 Don't bother calculating it Martin. Instead make the valve adjustable my having a threaded stem (towards the end) with two nuts. This is how some other manufacturers made theirs, Fleischmann comes to mind I think. Find yourself a nice stainless spring out of a pen and give it a go. If its a bit soft you may have to look around a bit but it is likely you will find it works fine. There are far too many parameters to design a Mamod SV without encountering tolerance problems; with a little adjustability you can be spot on.
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Thread: Is a hand scraper pulled or pushed? |
21/08/2020 17:22:37 |
I have only seen it done, not done it, but I am sure the answer is push, like wood chisel. have you tried Youtube?
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