Member postings for dcosta

Hello to all. Good afternoon.

It's good to see that a good portion of the participants are willing to not use those words in the forum, and more than that its representation with asterisks.
Mainly because, not being English my mother language, it's sometimes hard to me to understand what is written in the forum.
I want you to know that I appreciate the effort.
Greetings
Dias Costa

Hello Russel, good night.

Please see OpenOffice **LINK** and LibreOffice **LINK** .

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello Neil, good evening.

Some applications install parts of their code in memory at start up, so, when the user runs the application, a part of it is already loaded, in this way making the loading process quicker.

That feature is, in some applications, transparent to the user because it's made in his back so to speak. If my memory serves me well that is the case of the Microsoft Office.

LibreOffice when is installed gives the user the option to choose to activate (or not) this feature.

In the version of LibreOffice I have (4.0.6.2) if you change your mind after the installation you can do the following, extracted from here: http://ask.libreoffice.org/en/question/8650/tools-options-memory-and-check-enable-system-tray-quickstarter/ and tested in my machine:
Control Panel /Add/Remove programs / Change / Modify / +Optional Components.. find and enable the quickstarter option ( click dropdown and select "This feature will be installed on the hard drive." )

Hope this helps you.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 30/11/2013 22:04:54

Hello Michael, good afternoon.

After reading all the posts of the participants on the subject "A very small Shaping Machine ... " and especially your reactions to them, I am convinced that if I were in your place I would choose to build a machine from scratch using Dave Gingery plans and modifying them in accordance with my goals.
1 - It's the more plastic solution because it allows to be thought a priori to serve your objectives. Not by modifying a used machine.
2 - Unlike a solution with castings, if any error occurs you don't need to buy a replacement.
3 - Unlike a casting solution allows corrections.
4 - It's is probably the cheapest solution.
5 - Allows, like Dave ( Noth Western ) wrote in its post, for installation of a pulley handle for short controlled movements (even possible to install a scale and travel stops on the pulley) if you choose to build with the use of synchronous pulley and belt.
6 - If you want the advances to be controlled by stepper motors do not need to make adjustments, because you can think of solutions from the start.
7 - In limit you even can control the movement of the ram with a sufficiently powerful and well controlled (for no hiccups motion) stepper motor.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello MichaelG, good afternoon.

MG: - ... It seems all-too-easy to accidentally insert HTML when pasting into this editor.

DC: - Yes you are right. But even after having made a copy to a plain ASCII editor and back, I was unable to free the text from the HTML tags.

Than you.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello Lee, good after noon.

Lee: - Why I am thinking of using heavy steel is for the weight? am I not right in thinking any sort of alloy would be too light weight for what a metal shaping machine is used for
DC: - There is a gentlemen in Belgium who is building a shaping machine from "steel plate and nuts and bolts". His site address is . There you can find lots of useful information.

Lee: - But saying that, if yours works perfectly , I have got it wrong
DC: - In another thread I wrote "Let me tell you that I have not had conditions to test the cutting capabilities of my shaper machine because the fire in my workshop. However you can look up some movies on Youtube by Mr. Rick Sparber. He built a shaping machine strictly following the book of Mr. Gingery and shows it on Youtube cutting some metal.". This is still true.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello Lee, good afternoon.



Lee: - Has anyone Built one of Dave's Gingerly shaping machines without having to any of the casting, by building up the frame from steel plate and nuts n bolts instead?
DC: I started building a Dave Gingery's shaping machine and just missing me build a base and apply an engine. In the construction of the shaping machine I did not use any cast element. Basically I used aluminium plate from where I carved and cold rolled steel. And, yes, many nuts and bolts as you can see in my album...

Lee: - I have been thinking of buying the book dave gingery shaper for the plans / dimensions
DC: - Dave Gingery's book was my starting point and my guide. However I made some modifications.
Following is the list of the most important:
1 - I did not use bicycle chain and sprocket-wheel for movement and instead use synchronized wheel and belt in mechanical conversion of rotary motion to reciprocating motion.
2 - I did not used bronze bearings on the main shaft. Instead used a double needle bearing.
3 - In each of the remaining bearings, for lubrication, I built a hole and a small cavity where a piece of felt fits dipped in oil.
4 - The ram does not move on aluminium tabs. They move on a bar cold rolled steel (in each side) and I intend to use UHMWPE tape (see, please, http://www.theptfeshop.com/product.php/28/uhmw-tape---0-25mm-thick/8b342268fcfea1fbcf234c54629ebc51. This alternative was recommended to me by Mr. Rick Sparber, who used it in its shaper and also helped me with valuable opinions in building the shaping machine.
5 - Also the automatic horizontal advance, at least temporarily, will be automatic in one direction only. I only need to build a new "ratchet pawl".
6 - Instead of building an aluminium  work table, I will apply an angle plate bought from Chronos (see, please, http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/info%5f110710%2ehtml).

If I can help you with any thoughts or information, I will do it with pleasure.

P.S.: I'm sorry I couldn't get rid of the white background. Don't know how it appeared in the post...

Best regards
Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 26/10/2013 17:35:08

Hello, MichaelG, good evening.

This is the second and last parte of my text:

I think that a reduction to 1/5th is not possible. If we consider that the side panels of the structure of my shaper machine is 180mm wide and 280mm high, a reduction of 1/5th result in 36mm wide by 56mm high. I think the other components destined to suffer stress, even for brass or aluminium, for a so small size machine would have to be very small and will not support the cutting effort.
Also the resulting size (around 10mm) of the gap between the two panels where the rotary motion is converted into reciprocating motion would be of a size which would not fit the mechanics required.
I think, whatever the shaper machine you'll get, so that it produces high-precision surfaces as you want, it will benefit from a movement of very regular nature which, I think, only a system that uses wheels (with engine or hand crank) will produce.

MG: Sorry ... I forgot to compliment you on the Movie.
DC: Do not worry. Thank you for your kind words.
Let me tell you that I have not had conditions to test the cutting capabilities of my shaper machine because the fire in my workshop. However you can look up some movies on Youtube by Mr. Rick Sparber. He built a shaper machine strictly following the book of Mr. Gingery and shows it on Youtube cutting some metal.
Mr. Rick Sparber helped me with important views in the construction of my shaping machine.

I would like to know that my poor mastery of the English language has allowed me to share with you my opinions.

Hope this helps

Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 23/10/2013 00:04:26

Hello, MichaelG, good evening.

MG: Excellent in your photos.
DC: Thank you for your kind words.

MG: Unfortunately, the Gingery machine is much bigger than I want ... unless I scaled it down to [say] 1/5th.
Do you think it would be practical to scale down your modified version to that extent?
I basically want a high precision Shaper, about the size of a Toaster.
DC: When I started building my shaper machine I never worked with one and did not know its working intricacies.

So then, after deciding to change some dimensions (do not remember which ...), I followed this path:
1 - Because I didn't intend to use bicycle chain and sprocket-wheel for movement and instead use synchronized wheel and belt, I searched market for wheels and belt I needed to support the cutting effort.
2 - Insisted on reading the book by David Gingery until I have understood well the role played by different components.
3 - Realized which components should be the first to be manufactured knowing they will be structural constraints of the size of the remaining components.
4 - Fabricated the remaining components to fit the dimensions of the first components (see ref. 3).
5 - Did a temporary installation to test the movements using a small motor that I had and I liked the result.
That is the current situation.

This text continues in the next post...

Hope this helps

Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 23/10/2013 00:02:01

Hello Michael, good afternoon.

I have under construction (although at this time stopped because of a fire) one small shaping machine built basically following the book by David Gingery.
I fabricated it basically from solid aluminum and cold rolled steel. You can see photos in my **ALBUM** and a short **MOVIE**, two years old. I made the conversion from inches to millimeters and, if I remember it correctly, I reduced a few millimeters on the scale.
In my opinion it would not be difficult task to reduce the size and also mount a lever to manual.
And it would probably be cheaper than one made from casts.

Hope this helps

Dias Costa

Hello all,

Jason Udall: Added bonus..easily moved to allow cleaning if required...
Many auto matics used something like "tank" track to cover ways again just liftup and clean IF required..usually worked so well but brass swarf gets every where
DC: Yes, you're right. Not forgetting that furthermore is very easily (and cheaply) replaceable.
--------------------------------------------//--------------------------------------
Neil: Nice lateral thinking Dias.
DC: Thank you. We in Portugal have a popular saying that says: anyone who does not have a hunting dog, hunts with a cat!
--------------------------------------------//--------------------------------------
Rik: Sorry to hear its curtains for your bellows but take heart for:
DC: As you certainly know it is not easy for a person to understand the peculiarities of a language other than their mother tongue. And even those of their mother tongue many people do not dominate...
When it comes to poetry then the problem of course worsens.
I searched the WWW for some reference to help me understand it from the point of view of an English but did not find anything I could use.
From what I understand from the poem, which is a bit spicy, I liked.
Thank you.

Dias Costa
 

Edited By dcosta on 19/10/2013 15:06:54

Hello all,

Russel: Nice one - but doesn't the swarf stick to the sushi when you roll it?
DC: No. This risk exists because I eat and work at different times.
--------------------------------------------//--------------------------------------
Danny M: Creative thinking Dias. Well done.
DC: Nice story. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------//--------------------------------------
Bazile - Perhaps adding very thin plastic to the back or between two layers would also keep out the finer stuff. It does look like a nice solution to other chip control problems like the sides as long as you don't need to see through it.
DC: In my opinion, the use of plastic is a good idea, but not sandwiched because the result would be too thick. But the plastic can be sewn in some points of some elements of the shutter. Or alternatively the length of the blind may be dimensioned so that the elements are closer by their own weight one over the other.
Bazyle: For faster delivery I believe one of the site advertisers does a range of bellows.
DC: Yes, you're right. ArcEuroTrade (AET) is one of those advertisers and has a very fast delivery system. It's a pitty it's not cheaper! It is a pity that the dimensions of the bellows they sell are not compatible with my milling machine.
Thank you.

Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 19/10/2013 15:10:27

Hello all,

My milling machine is an Optimum BF20 Vario and its vertical guides are originally protected by a bellows.
After some years time, the oil separated parts of the protection which were bonded and now the protection is unusable and the oil prevents re- bonding.

So, I ordered the distributor of Optimum in Portugal but as a new bellows takes a long time to come, I decided to look for an temporary alternative.
And I came to the following temporary solution:
1 - Purchased a shutter from Chinese origin for 4.00 Euros which is described as being made of bamboo ( see **LINK**).
2 - Using scissors I cut out a portion covering the area of ​​the column from the milling head on its highest point to the lowest point (see **LINK**).
3 - Redid the knots of the cotton line connecting each element of bamboo to the next (see **LINK** ).
4 - Made three pieces in wire (with wire from a hanger made for my shirts) to guide the shutter and tied each of two points to one of the elements of bamboo (see **LINK** and **LINK**).
5 - Finally fixed the small shutter by its top to where the bellows were tied. Did not tie the lowest part hoping that the weight of the assembly keep the shutter taut (see **LINK**).

See other pictures, please, in the **LINK** album.

So far it has worked well and prevented the chips pass to where I do not want to have them.
There are clearly improvements to make on this protection and the amount of shutter that still allows me to have all the tests that I want...

Best regards
Dias Costa

To whom it may concern:

No one will find any of my works published (because I have none), I am not professional in model engineering (I'm only retired from TI), I have no ambitions in this area and only spent money on the hobby.
In the wake of what happened to Graham Meek including the relative neglect that is handled his departure, I decided that henceforth all the images that come to deposit in the forum ME / MEW will benefit from watermark.

Best regards
Costa Dias

Hello John Stevenson,

...
And yet, the abandonment of Terryd (already forgot?), Harold Hall and Graham Meek make me feel that I lost with the departure of each one of them, not just a fount of knowledge but also the wisdom of individuals with character, respect for others and sensitivity. Gentlemen...
If you go out of the forum I just lose a source of knowledge...
To me they are gentlemen who have a hobby. And you have a hobby!
This difference for you may not have any importance, but for me it is essential.

Note: I beg your pardon if due to my poor domain of your language I wrote something wrong or offensive to you.

Best regards
Costa Dias

Hello Norman, good afternoon.

Thank you for your kind words about my last post in this thread.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello Andrew. Good afternoon.

See your pictures of the Tom Senior.
Beautiful work on a very nice milling machine. I envy you...

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello Katy, good afternoon.

My mother tongue is not English (I'm Portuguese) and by that reason I run the risk of not tell you exactly what I mean. Accepting to run that risk, this is what I want to tell you:

I was an information systems professional for over 30 years and most of that period I was an analyst/programmer. Naturally I followed the various techniques and methodologies that were offered to my profession in that period for developing applications and most of those methodologies recommended or proposed isolation from the application's end users (users of applications). Despite that, for various reasons the applications I developed or had guided in the course of my professional time were always analyzed involving end users, just as you are doing. I never regretted that choice and I know that in recent years lots of other professionals follow the same path following modern analysis methodologies.

When you started this work I feared you were preparing to turn the forum into a showcase of commercials and relegate to a less prominent plan the interfaces related with the interests of the forum participants but now I realize that this was not the purpose.

Let me tell you your work to this point satisfies me not forgetting, I must add, I'm all in favor for modifications you may want to do in order to care for the people with eye sight health problems affected by the interfaces..

It is therefore from the double perspectives (as a recently retired professional of information systems and as a reader - forum end user) that I thank you by your efforts to improve the interfaces of the forum and also for the technical quality of the work already done.

Kind regards
Dias Costa

Hello ARC. Good morning.

I do not know if it is useful for you, but I suggest you to take a look at the manual from LittleMachineShop you can found by visiting the following **LINK** .
It's apparently intended for the same machine with another badge and another color.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Hello Graeme. Good afternoon.

Thank you for the precious information.

I'll try to follow your directions. For now, the tool is working and I dared to cut with it thin aluminium sheet and paper.

After having disassembled parts of the tool for cleaning and lubrication, I re-assembled it, and simply pushed the blade strongly against the adjustment screws and pressed tightly the retaining plate screws.

Best regards
Dias Costa