Member postings for Ian Johnson 1

How the heck do you kill an elephant with electrickery? It must take some serious current to get through that thick skin!!! And you'd need a step ladder to put the head harness on, where do you attach the electrodes? and how do you keep it still? Too many questions and I'm thinking about it too much!

Yes Tesla was a genius way before his time

Yes the curved spokes are very pretty, that's why I was thinking about CNC if castings aren't available, most things can be machined from solid, but like you say space is a bit tight on a little KX1.

Really nice work Jason, I like the design especially as it is open to view to see how the mechanism operates.

If I do make one how big is the flywheel? I was wondering if it could be CNC'd on my KX1? If the castings aren't available.

Ian

In the film Edison electrocuted a horse to prove how deadly A/C was. This ploy backfired a bit because the authorities, who were obviously impressed by the quick 'painless' death, asked Edison for his expert advice on how to develop the electric chair, using A/C of course! oops!

Just been to watch 'The Current war' at the pictures. Not a documentary so I'm not sure of the timelines and accuracy but it gives a great insight into the rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse, and Tesla gets in on the action too! Very watchable film kept me entertained for nearly two hours or so. Some of it was filmed at Cragside in UK, the first house in the world to be lit by hydro electricity in 1880.

I can recommend the film to anyone with an interest in engineering, electrical or mechanical.

Ian

Yep! go to Lidl (UK) for your Acetone, I bought a 1 litre tin of the stuff the other week, Lot better than buying the little bottles of expensive nail varnish remover.

Ian

MSDS sheets are designed to scare people to death! And as others have said, this one could be anything, so I'll guess at weak Acetic Acid, it's what I pour over my chips. I prefer to call it by its proper name - Vinegar!

Sillyolddufferr mentions Sodium, I was an apprentice on the Sodium plant, if you melt salt (Sodium Chloride) you split it into its metallic compound Sodium and Chlorine gas (that's the Chloride). It was an interesting if scary place to work, watching the process guys on top of the cells puddling the molten sodium by hand! then It was cast into large ingots or transferred into a special heated road barrel. The plant was decommissioned in the 90's.

You put out a Sodium fire with salt, lots of salt!

This MTDCNC video appeared on YouTube tonight. Great to see ornamental clocks being made in Huddersfield England by Sinclair Harding, using the latest CNC and EDM machines.

**LINK**

Hello from me I'm from Cheshire too!

Ian

That's a great idea Joe, it got the job done very efficiently and quick

Ian

Good answers thanks. I'd not thought about Sherline. And as for a five axis milling machine that would be nice, I already have four axis on my KX1.

Whether I get value from my machines is not so important because it is a hobby and I seldom get commissions for work, so I have the luxury of messing about in the workshop without worrying about a return on assets.

But the Mini lathe CNC conversion option is looking more attractive. I have a spare Hobbymat MD65 maybe I can butcher that into a CNC?

Ian

I have a Sieg KX1 milling machine and have been considering a new little CNC lathe to compliment the Sieg. But what I can't understand is why the CNC lathes are more expensive than the CNC milling machines!

After all, the lathe has one less axis to equip with a motor and ball screw and controllers etc. And a lathe is relatively simple to make with a bed and head stock, it may not even need a tail stock, and a manual tool change would be okay with me.

In the UK I have a limited choice of new machines, Wabeco CNC are over priced, so Axminster Tools and machinery are probably the place to go to, but their small machines start at £9,799 rising to £16,659 also a bit too much for what they are! Their Mills start at £6,675 (KX1 in a metal box) to £14,998.

I've been following Roger Webb on Youtube with his excellent Mini Lathe CNC conversion so maybe this is the way to go.

So as the thread title asks - does any one know? why do CNC lathes cost more than CNC milling machines? Can we compare like for like?

Ian

There's always two! But I'm a bit slower than Ron! Nice video Jason

Nice demo, I've bought HSS cutters from Arc they are top quality, they cut great and leave a super finish. My carbide single flutes will be mainly used to cut plastic.

Okay! I have decided! I will use my existing 5/8"UNC to 1/4"UNC/Whit surveying adaptor, (see photo) to screw on top of the tripod. I have just checked the fit and it goes on at least one and a half threads so by my reckoning if I use a large enough pair of stillsons I should be able to get a nice engineering 'tight as f*ck' fit (TAF for the acronym fans here) on to the sloppy M16x2 thread.

Anyway I don't want to spend any more time or money on it because I've already spent £3.49!

I have a Hobbymat MD65, not used it for years though! Without getting the lathe out of the shed I seem to remember there are locking screws to hold the carriage in place. Hobbymat used a weird locking system where the screw is tightened up to slacken the carriage and undone to tighten up the carriage.

If I get chance I'll dig out the Hobbymat and have a look

Ian

Has anybody got any spare sloppy taps and dies? Preferably sloppy UNC though!

Not permanent enough it seems! This thread just refuses to die!   (edit: I forgot the emoji) 

Edited By Ian Johnson 1 on 18/07/2019 22:12:52

They turned out nice Jason. Are they single flute cutters? It seems to be cutting very well with swarf flying all over the place! I have bought some solid carbide single flute cutters 3, 4 and 6mm (not Arc) and have yet to try them out on my KX1.

Ian

My 'Threadlocker' photo didn't work very well did it!