Member postings for Ian Johnson 1

Looks like a bottle opener? One of those freebie corporate giveaways?

IanJ

I have subscribed to your channel Tommy, although I don't have much interest in clock making I find your videos interesting and informative. I think it's the only clock making YouTube channel I watch, apart from click spring.

I enjoyed your workshop tour, some nice tooling there, keep up the good work

IanJ

That turned out nice, the crests look sharp and well formed.

I did something similar with my 4th axis to produce spliced thumb nuts. I used the corner of a 6mm end mill. I wonder if it would work on a spiral to produce a knurl like yours?

IanJ

I forgot these photos were in my album, must have used them when this topic came up some time ago.

This is the method in 'Newnes Engineers Pocket Book' explains it all quite nicely. The technique is mentioned in bottom of the first page and carries over to the top of the second page.

'the tool is advanced slightly several times during the operations, but allowing the tool to cut all over on the last one or two cuts to obtain a thread to correct form'

That'll do me because that is the way I have always cut threads on a manual lathe, nice and simple!

IanJ

Maybe I'm just watching too many YouToobers using this convoluted method, it does get on my nerves when they make a point of adjusting the compound to 29 degrees for a UNC thread, as if it's the only way to single point cut a thread!

IanJ

Joe Piecynski in his latest YouTube video has busted the myth of needing to cant over the compound slide half the thread angle, to carry out single point threading. Although I think he has missed a trick! He advances the cross slide, set at zero degrees to full depth, but without moving the top slide.

Over the years of machining and during my apprenticeship I have never moved the compound to half the thread angle, and have always set it at zero degrees, the cross slide is advanced an appropriate amount, and the top slide is advanced a little bit every so often, maybe a third of the depth of cut, or a thou or two. A couple of spring cuts will finish off the thread nicely, by cutting on both sides of the tool.

Depth of cut is easier to gauge too, because the cross slide is advanced into the job to final depth.

I'm glad someone has at last attempted to call out what I think is the over complicated method of adjusting the compound to half the thread angle!

IanJ

Looking forward to seeing the pictures Yuri, my KX1 runs on Mach3 and I would like to try Mach4, so it will be interesting to see how you convert your machine to Mach3.

Any reason why you didn't go for Mach4? I only ask because Mach3 is no longer supported by new fangled solutions.

IanJ

That set from RDG looks good value, I have a similar set and it cost over £60! One complaint is that the dies are not split dies, so you can't expand them a little bit in the die stock, but they cut great because they are ground HSS.

The chronos set looks like they only come with taper taps which can be a pain when tapping a blind hole. And you get a lot of taps you may never use.

So if you are tapping metric threads I would go for the RDG set.

And like the others have said, metric course is the standard metric thread.

IanJ

Thanks for sharing the video Steve, if your results are anything to go by it's given me the urge to try anodising. And I didn't know of that alternative to sulphuric acid.

IanJ

Watched your video last night Nigel and was suitably impressed, it's one heck of a helix!

Just need a couple more videos now, one of the throttle operating the carb, and another one on making the toothed belt pulley, looks like drilled holes and round bar did the job?

IanJ

Oh no!!! I've got a rather lovely Mathmos Telstar lava lamp, it uses halogen lamps. Looks like I need to stock up!

IanJ

The sieg sx1lp is the upgraded version of my sx1, and I am always pleasantly surprised at how it survives my abuse! It is a sturdy little machine, mine has the pointless tilting column, never used it, so the fixed base is a bonus.

I have made motor cycle parts on it and probably oversized parts too, but I did upgrade to the larger 400mm long table which is now standard on the sx1lp

So yes the sx1lp is a good choice, considering your space limitations.

IanJ

Seems to me that it all depends on where the tool is held. If it is held vertically, 90 degrees to a normal toolpost, such as in a vertical milling attachment on the cross slide, and the tail stock is too high, it will produce a taper just like a tool held normally in the tool post would if the tail stock is skewed left or right.

IanJ

Interesting topic, I think Hydrogen is the future fuel, even though the chemical industry has been using hydrogen as a by product of chlorine manufacturing for over a hundred years.

There is a lot of activity from companies like Toyota and recently JCB developing hydrogen powered piston engines. And there is a trial in NE UK with a mix of natural gas (ch4) and hydrogen into home boilers.

Hydrogen can be made from a variety of raw materials, such as methane (ch4), only problem is capturing the waste carbon. Or water which only produces oxygen as a by product.

And of course nuclear power will provide the electricity for electrolysis with Rolls Royce small modular reactors in every town.

Exciting times!

IanJ

I viewed the video and thought it turned out nice in the end, there are many ways to make something. That video is his way of making that particular piece.

I have subscribed and made a comment, thanks Steve and keep on making the videos.

IanJ

This is good news, there is a definite gap in the market for machines like these.

Oh! And is anyone going to tell Tormach that the union jack is upside down?

IanJ

It'll be interesting to see what can be made on the routing table John. As for cnc terminology a good guess is usually correct! And G code is G code.

But if you are new to CNC and cad/cam I can recommend a book by Dr. Marcus Bowman titled CNC milling in the workshop. Very informative and well laid out, it refers to programming with Vectric cut2d and Vcarve, linux CNC and mach 3 and other software packages, including MeshLab which may be connected to Meshcam?

IanJ

That is weird indeed! I have been using white paint marker pens for darker metals like cast iron and black mild steel, but now after seeing this post I want some red Dykem and now I can't get it! Last time I bought a pot of blue Dykem was from RDG at a Model Engineering Show a few years ago. Now every supplier is out of stock! RDG don't stock it either. What's going on???

Not many companies sell ready made CNC mills for all the reasons Jason stated, Axminster and Arc Euro pulled out of the CNC market at around the same time for various reasons including support difficulties, people making their own from manual mills and a small market, they were both selling essentially the same machines too.

For hobbyists I can only think of Amadeal in the UK who are still selling CNC mills, with their Syil X5, but I think the operating system is Mach3 which is no longer supported by New Fangled Solutions, they only support the later Mach4 system. Worth checking this out though, if buying one!

Another hobby CNC manufacturer is Tormach in the USA, but I don't think there is a UK distributor. So options are a bit limited in the UK, so it seems like the best option is to make your own by converting a manual mill into a CNC.

Second hand factory made CNC mills seem to be thin on the ground too, I can't remember when I last saw a Sieg KX1 like mine for sale.

IanJ

I had the same problem with clamps denting the table, so I made these in the pic, they are little aluminium blocks machined to the same height as the vice slots, the steel top clamp can be bolted down spreading the load evenly. It'll do until I make better looking one piece clamps.

Weirdly this is a new cast iron longer table which dents easily, softer than aluminium! the old smaller cast iron table didn't dent at all, must be made of tougher stuff!

IanJ