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Member postings for Steph

Here is a list of all the postings Steph has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

Thread: What did you do today? (2014)
30/04/2014 07:41:37

I collected my first swarm this year, from one of my hives from a nearby juniper tree. I dropped them into a prepared polystyrene NUC box, locked them up for 2 days, opened them up on day 3 and saw they had already started with comb and brood production. So opened them up, within 4 hours they were swarming again. Half of them left never to be seen again and the other half with a new queen cell were left behind. I introduced a few part made frames with extra brood and stores, these are now doing well and staying put.

Swarming is a good indication that either nectar or pollen flow in the area is drying up. or

The hive is over crowded, ie no space for further expansion of stores or and brood or

Queen is not performing 100% or

Something else, and a New Queen has been produced.

I have generally kept 1 decent size swarm every year and lost 3-5 other swarms, they only stay when everything is to there satisfaction.

Keeping bees is probably the only rewarding hobby I have every had, where I am not in control of it and I just care take.

I would recommend anyone who has a suitable area of garden or flat roof to keep bees.

Thread: Bridgeport clone quill / knee conversion
02/12/2010 06:50:30
Hi, I too am in the process of converting a bridgport (clone) to CNC. With regards to the quill having some kind of drive attached, most conversions seem to favour a direct connection to the front of the quill- shaft, in manual mode this has a direct attachment to the adjustable depth indcator.  A similar setup is used on XYZ machine tools Protrack systems. A handwheel is also attached to he motor shaft to provide manual feed.
BTW are you using steppers or servos?
Regards Steve
Thread: C A D for Mac
20/12/2009 16:45:52
Recently after getting totaly frustrated with Microsoft and there blue screens of death etc, I changed over to mac and have not regreted it for one nano second, ut finding a CAD program took a while.
I came upon the program TURBOCAD for MAC Deluxe edition v4,(on good old ebay)  Cost £12.43, Yes Twelve Pounds 43pence, although it came all the way from the USA, it took 6 days from the time I hit the BUY IT NOW button and paid to delivery at my home in the UK.
 
However, version 3 is plentyfull in the UK and prices are all over the place, but keep looking as version 4 comes up at least once a day.
 
And what a brilliant program, this one came with the program disc and activation code PLUS a full manual and yes, it came in a sealed NEW BOX.
 
A real bargain and just as easy to use as any of the more expensive programs.
 
Macs are Just brilliant, No blue screens of death and no go slows either.....
 
Now its time to look for a larger screen.
 
Regards
steph
Thread: To Web Master
08/06/2009 15:56:05
Doh!
If only I looked a little deeper....
 
YES! I now see you have already taken care of this issue... thanks a million....
 
Regards
Steph
08/06/2009 15:54:15
Hi,
Is there any chance of including a category for "WANTED" just as you have for "FOR SALE"  in the CLASSIFIED ADDs?
 
As there are always items we are looking for or which need a good home,  and I would rather trade or buy from another Engineer rather than buy from a trader on Ebay or the likes.
Regards
Steph
Thread: Just starting
08/06/2009 15:45:01
Hi all, I too am in the process of converting a Warco Turret Mill, with variable belt drive to 4 axis CNC, I managed to purchase an ex-education machine which had been dismantled for about 15 years after it had been supplied New, it never assembled or used, so an excelent machine to convert to CNC. With no wear on anything except paint chipped from the base due to where it was being mothballed...
 
I am looking for advise from anyone who has either converted one of these large knee mills to CNC or anything similar as to what to watch out for, and what needs either replacing or carefull attention, during assembly or re-assembly.
 
eg. leadscrews, quill, variable speed pulley system. variable frequency Drive 1ph to 3 ph. etc.
 
Is it better to power the Quill or the Knee for the Z axis movement?
 
If powering the Quill is this best via the existing handle attachment or via the Quill direct?
 
I have DC servo's with Quad encoders, via DC drivers.
 
Software is going to be Mach3 Mill runing on MS XP.
 
 I would appreciate any help or advise.
 
Regards
Steph
 
 
Thread: Harrison CNC trainer 280
08/06/2009 15:29:17
Hi, does anyone have any experiance or helpfull advise regarding an unused - pristine Harrison CNC Trainer 280?
 
I purchased this a few years ago and have kept it clean and dry, and finaly got it installed in my small workshop.
Its 3 phase, no problem as going to use a VFD to 1 phase supply.
 
the controller is an old ACORN/COMMODOR computer with tape player, the PC side drives a couple of steppers, so going to change these to Servo drives.
 
Has anyone got any suggestions as to what is a good mix of drivers / servos/ software.
As at present I am looking at using DC PM servo drives with quad encoders, via a Rutex DC PM drivers, + break out boards with i/o for pulse wheels, spindle indexing etc and Mach3 Turn.
 
Any suggestions will be most welcome as, at this planning stage I do not want to overlook anyhting glarringly obvious.
 
 The old Acorn/Commodor PC stuff is surplus, in case anyone has a need for this old kit, please get in touch.
 
Thread: Electrical Discharge Machine - Spark Erroder...
07/06/2009 08:49:31
Many thanks Ian, does anyone have a pdf copy of these articles in these issues, as I do not have these in my collection.
I am willing to pay costs.
Regards
Steph
04/06/2009 07:27:45
I am looking for a good set of plans to convert or adapt a mill/drill to cnc EDM, as need to produce a number items in tool steel.
Is there a good source for this information, as I do not wish to invent the wheel.
Regards
Steph
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