Member postings for Ches Green UK

Apart from anything else, the videography is outstanding. Even the muzac is unobtrusive. 29 mins of delight.

Making a Watchmaker's Faceplate for the Sherline Lathe - Part 1 **LINK**

Ches

Pat,

I got the line drawing video downloaded and running....off to have a play with the program settings.

Thanks,

Ches

Edit: The Pan Horiz, Vert and Zoom sliders can bring a larger image in to the centre of the page. Adjusting the Step Angle slider can slow the engine down so one can follow what is happening. I wish there was a Stop button....is there?

Edited By Ches Green UK on 28/12/2022 13:24:25

Edited By Ches Green UK on 28/12/2022 13:25:36

Dave, Pat et al,

Great info, thanks.

The video of the red engine was good although, as you say Pat, there are not many visible moving parts to catch the eye. The noise it makes is nice and it seems to run happily at a low-enough-to-watch RPM.

I wonder if anyone will ever build a model (running on air) with a transparent face on it ? ... It would be an education to see those squares moving about.

Ches

Pat,

Thanks for the explanation of 'how it works'. Still wrapping the grey matter round it but I'll get there.

I wonder what clue/need led the original designers to the engine layout? I now know it was compact and powerful, maybe suffered a bit from steam leakage and used about 100psi (...is that a typical pressure for the day?).

Cheers,

Ches

Pat,

That looks neat. I know nothing about this design but am now trying to digest a website that lists those kind of  designs eg 1856 Roots Patent ... http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/POWER/squarepiston/square.htm

Quite fascinating.

Thanks.

Ches

Edited By Ches Green UK on 28/12/2022 09:59:42

Health and happiness to all in 2023

Ches

In anticipation of the cold spell I had wiped way oil (forget the actual brand) on anything metalic I could find in the shed, so the condensation was sitting on the oil this morning.

About noon I reckoned the only way to get the condensation off the metal was to aim a hot air blower at the lathe, mill etc to try to bring them up to ambient temperature. That seemed to have worked somewhat, as most (but not all) of the condensation was gone - the shed has four vents so hopfully the gentle flow of air through the vents would carry out the evaporated moisture in the warm air.

I'll check tomorrow for any rust patches and treat them.

Ches.

Pete,

Just a warning to everyone today.

Same here Pete, in central Scotland.

My shed has been 0-3C for about a week but this morning (- outside temp was about 10-12C and humid) I went in to the shed and saw that everything was covered in condensation....even the undersides of wooden shelves!

It would seem that my reasonably well insulted shed had remained very cold inside. Meantime outside, the air had quickly become warm and humid. As soon as I opened the shed door the damp air entered.

I've never had bad condensation before so I think this is a rare event due to the large and sudden temperature delta. But I've now bought a small bar heater for 'next time'. I'll turn it on a day or two in advance when I see large temp rises predicted.

Ches

Ordered a couple of small end mills and two slitting saws from Arceurotrade around 5th Dec, received them on the 12th IIRC (but it could have been a day or two before that). That timing is OK by me, especially for December..

The package was delivered by Royal Mail 24, to Central Scotland.

I don't know if it has always been the case but recent small deliveries from Arc arrive in a neat rectangular stiff cardboard package around, say, 6" x 5" x 3/4" .... these always fit through the letter box so no need to stay in for a delivery.

Ches

Edited By Ches Green UK on 14/12/2022 15:12:34

Edited By Ches Green UK on 14/12/2022 15:30:51

Tony,

I built my 8” tractor in home workshop

Your tractor looks amazing, and much fun. I'm still at the 'building Stuart models' stage but maybe one day

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Although Wikipedia 'states' ....

Model engineering is the pursuit of constructing proportionally-scaled miniature working representations of full-sized machines

...I've always seen it as another branch of engineering, one that tries to physically represent a known (or envisioned) machine but on a one-off basis, usually for fun, enjoyment and personal learning.

I worked in Avionics for a while - we had a 'model shop' where aircraft black-box designs were made out of wood at a 1:1 scale so that a test fit of the proposed design could be carried out on the actual aircraft. This modelling wasn't for hobby reasons, but actual commercial gain. It was just before 3D CAD modelling became an alternative.

So I guess there are two slightly different meanings for 'model engineering' a) in the hobby world and b) in the commercial world.

Ches

Samuel,

Thank you for the insights.

As a comparison, I own an ARC Sieg SX2p and am very happy with it, apart from the (inconsistent) Z axis 'drop'.

I intend to take the mill to bits once my current beginner-project (Stuart cast model) is finished and have a look inside at what may be causing the drop. I believe it is to do with the way the rack meshes with the gear. There are plenty forum threads on the matter. Your mill, being a bit lighter, possibly does not suffer from this.

The SX2p uses a loaded spring to support the weight of the head, but that support changes in strength as the head comes down. This means the Z clamp degree of optimum tightening varies as the head gets closer to the bed. Typically, I nip up the Z clamp and use the Z fine-feed dial but even then occasionally the head can suddenly drop 1mm or 2mm.

Like David, I use ER32 collets. The deepest cut I tend to take on mild steel, say, is around 10 thou (0.25mm). I recently bought a flycutter to reduce the wheel turning in the Y axis

I did think about your mill when buying mine but I had the space for something a bit bigger. I guess it all depends on what one needs to do/make on the mill determines it's size and power.

Ches

Edited By Ches Green UK on 06/12/2022 10:28:28

so depth might be around 1300

1 = 500mm ...eg depth of 500mm

7 = 50 ... eg depth of 550

6+8 = 100.... eg depth of 600

So 650 mm is 1,6,7,8 ie 500 (1) + 50 (7) + 100 (6+8)

Therefore 1,2,3 is ....well, I haven't got round to adding it all up but I think that is the gist of it

Ches

Edited By Ches Green UK on 28/11/2022 12:22:22

Edited By Ches Green UK on 28/11/2022 12:22:51

Kevin,

Thanks for that clear explanation.

Next time I use Checkout I'll tick the Newsletter box.

Ches

Kevin,

How does one retrospectively sign up for your Newsletter?

I already have a Registered account but didn't tick the Newsletter box back when.

I've just had a wander around the 'Your Account' page but cannot find the Newsletter tick box now.

Ches

Steve,

I put lino on the floor of my similarly sized wooden shed. Makes sweeping up easy, and helps contain spills.

But as Dave says, items can bounce and roll for yards on lino so I have mats placed at the mill and lathe stations, and at my 'desk' area. The mat deadens the bounce of a small screw quite effectively. It is also easier on the feet than hard lino if you are standing at the lathe, say, for a while.

You also get a 'sound clue' from the fallen item ...a dull thud means 'mat', and a clickity-click means lino.

I use black/grey mats similar to this...I think Costco also sell them..... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mibao-Washable-Non-Slip-Entrance-Absorbent/dp/B087BN4NG2/ref=sr_1_7?crid=31QXWTI1FPTQD&keywords=amazon+carpet+work+mat&qid=1668097935&sprefix=amazon+carpet+work+mat%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-7

Ches

I also wonder if there is an overall increase in materials handling efficiency ie higher friction on the cylinder wall requires more driving power, but that is more than offset by the screw being 'full'?

Ches

An interesting machine.

There's quite a few folks on the web examining why it's better... eg dust danger - https://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/08/prweb2799054.htm

At the heart of the problem eventually solved with an Olds Elevator are "dust explosions". A dust explosion is the catastrophic end result of the ignition of a dust cloud, created by the mixture of dust from materials and air, often within a bucket elevator. As Olds Elevator spokesman Richard McIntosh explains, standard bucket elevators "are notorious for allowing the conditions for dust explosions to exist." As for an Olds Elevator, McIntosh adds "Since Olds elevators convey material in fully-flooded mode there is nowhere for dust to form. No dust, no dust explosion".

Ches

Nice project, that I may tackle one day .

Inheritance Machining has a good YT video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hearLttbrLo) where he describes his journey from a keen youngster to an Engineer, ably assisted by his Granddad whose machine shop he inherited and had to move to his own premises.

His reason for enjoying 'making stuff'? ....

"I fell in love with the Zen like state I would go in to when using these machines ....I have to be focused, precise and deliberate in my movements ...I'm 100% in control of the outcome ...and I love the satisfaction of making something."

Says it all.

Ches

John,

Thank you very much. I did not know that featurev was there.

No excuses for me now

Ches

John,

I watched the video...very good.

The show looked better than I imagined. On one hand, as an visitor, I like shows that's aren't too busy, but on the other hand that's obviously not what the organisers or exhibitors want

Having organised exhibitions and 'stand manned', I do appreciate the huge amount of effort those exhibitors make.....it can be a long, tiring few days...but having lots of interested customers certainly helps ease the pain and makes it worthwhile.

Heather looked good as did the Ransomes' baler.

Ches