Member postings for Terryd

Hear Hear, It is not neccessary to be level, ask those Navy Engineer making repair parts in a pitching sea. Twist is what matters

Regards

Terry

Hi Neil,

That argument is spurious, Shakespeare lived in a time when there was no standards and no dictionaries, at a time when the English language was in a great state of flux and change. He also made many words up in his works as did other writers. However his writings were not intended for general publication but for actors and theatre managers etc. The general population were illiterate there was no mass communication such as we have. He was not publishing for mass consumption.

I also know several excellent Engineers who are dyslexic but who would not publish works without checking with others. If you are to communicate to a wide audience standards are important, take the case of our complaints about Chinglish which are often heard here and elsewhere. Do you excuse the mistakes which may occur there? Do you accept such errors on drawings? I think not.

Best regards

T

PS Lambton changed his name on his thread about 'non(sic) de plumes' after posting under his own name.  the name  suddenly changed.  I'm never afraid to sign my postings controversial or otherwise and I'm not far off his age .  I think his first name was Eric but I might be mistaken as my memory is not so good these days

T

Edited By Terryd on 19/10/2012 23:01:25

Not meant to be rude, just a statement of fact, sorry if you took it badly.

Hi joegib,

Glad someone else appreciates WKCD,

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 19/10/2012 17:32:12

Hi Mr L, (pity you don't give us a name)

I have no disagreements about your 'analysis' of the article, but most contributors to this thread are complaining that it is an unsuitable subject for a full six page inclusion in a magazine, where perhaps there are other subjects we would like to read about other than cheque book modelling, as it has been described by others.

However I do disagree about spelling and punctuation not to mention grammar. They have been established to aid communication. If you don't agree try reading Ulysses by James Joyce, not many finish it.  Of course no one bothers about the odd mistake or typo here or there or the odd apostrophe missed or added needlessly but some postings are riddled with awful spelling, atrocious punctuation and terrible grammar. So bad as to not be understandable without a great deal of effort. My grammar is not perfect but I usually put a good deal of thought into a message before posting. I try to keep my text readable by using reasonable punctuation, I check spellings I'm unsure about (admittedly the odd typo worms it's way in at times) and use a spell checker, but they are not always reliable. Most folks prefer to have things pointed out constructively rather than continually embarrassing themselves, a bit like having your flies open, i.e. constructive criticism.

If you don't like it, that's your right. But your personal likes and dislikes are of little concern to me.

Best Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 19/10/2012 16:55:47

Hi Neil,

I knew something was wrong and I had a nagging at the back of my tiny brain, It is actually a South seeking chariot. Apparently the Chinese worshipped South because the sun was at it's highest there! I have seen two explanations for it's use, one is to impress on ceremonial processions, the other is a direction finding device, essentially a compas,s used by the Chinese military on their expeditions on the steppes. They have been dated to around 2640 BC. There is one in the Science Museum apparently, but I've never seen it. It was once thought to be magnetic until the mechanism was revealed. Take your pick.

Regards

Terry

Hi all,

During a long and varied career I have always been involved with manual machines or small cnc. I have never used a manual machine with a DRO and scales and know little about them. I am considering equipping my milling machine and lathe with scales and DRO.

My question is, can both machines share a DRO, or do I need a dedicated one for each?

Best regards

Terry

Actually Peter that's not quite correct. The screw is an extension of the inclined plane. In effect an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder to form the helix.

Hi Neil and Gray,

The chariot in question was used by the Emperors of ancient China in their regal processions around the country.  It was a favourite Meccano model, I believe that it was 'Model of the Month' in a Meccano Magazine, I'll look it up.

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 19/10/2012 11:50:41

Spot on , I'm looking at it on my study bookshelf right now, well not exactly, I'm looking at my keyboard now, but you know what I mean.

Regards and thanks again,

Terry

To follow your comment Mr L - and this is not a criticism of what you wrote - There is a difference between the odd typo which we all make from time to time and habitual bad spelling and grammar. For some typo happens occasionally , for others (a minority) bad spelling happens all the time. One of the most blaring typos I cam across was in the corporate letter heading of a famous insurance company, the name which was on all the letters sent out, was, 'The Pudential'. It was not until I pointed it out to them that they noticed. I would have thought that the intelligent folk who use this site are able to make the distinction between bad spelling/grammar and typos.

As for a spell checker, don't trust them implicitly. To misquote that old joke:

I halve a spelling Chequer,

it came with my pea sea...........

........Eye am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

As for the article, if the lad has a generous dad that's his good fortune and if he starts a business so be it, most successful businesses are started by folk who had a privileged youth, the right school, a rich dad etc helps enormously. Comparatively few start from a poor background. However one workshop is not a celebration for the future of our hobby as several have maintained, one lucky/privileged young man will not a hobby make. If the facilities were there for many, rather than one it could make a difference, e.g. in a school, or youth activity centre.

Personally I thought the article was a waste of space. I didn't need the best part of a page to tell me how to negotiate a move for a large miling machine, if he had done it himself with tube rollers or skates and crowbars that would be interesting, but no, the wallet came out. I would rather the space be allocated to more interesting stuff.  If not articles on models, then a bit of engineering history, or more museum visits, I would rather see how a great Engineer (such as Maudslay or Whitworth) affected our future rather than a vainglorious self promotion.

That is simply my personal position as a paying customer of the magazine.

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 19/10/2012 11:36:04

Hi Neil,

I suppose that it is appropriate being a German tank as they pronounce z as ts Hence Mozart and Liebniz etc.

Best regards

Terry

Hi Michael,

thanks for the link, it was an interesting and novel way to present the theories we learnt so far back in our Engineering training. I particularly liked the slomo camera work revealing the beauty involved in a variety of processes, including the jug. Pity he didn't try to explain the use of differential calculus and the entropy equation, he passed over that somewhat - I suppose that he didn't want frighten too many people with the mathematics at which the general population are so poor in the UK. I wish that my lecturers had tried to make the subject of thermodynamics more sexy, I might have taken my studies further.

It also just goes to show that the steam engine (among other devices) was not an 'invention' but the culmination of many folks work over many years and a natural progression of development. I also liked the discussion of the Tokomak. and the guy who said that it was the work of scientists and Engineers. I remember well a quotation by an eminent professor of Engineering (I forget his name unfortunately) who said,

"A scientist will find you a new star, but it will take an Engineer to make it".

And engineers are making it in the Tokomak. It's just a pity that every time there is a new development it is always presented on TV etc as 'scientists have discovered.......', never are Engineers credited for the work. Perhaps that is why Engineering is held in such low esteem by the bulk of the population.

Thanks again

Terry

Hi Dazz Dazz,

I can't agree with you on this matter. I have taught mostly adolescents for 35 years, and have taught and worked with many thousands, as well as lecturing in the evenings. Most school workshops sold their equipment in the 80s and 90s to make way for other curriculum developments. That is why there are so many Boxfords and Colchester Students not to mention FlameFast foundry equipment adn forges such as was highlighted in the article on the market. I have seen many schools denuded of their workshop equipment and replaced with computer and CNC equipment in a few cases, 'Blue Peter' technology in others.

There is work on robotics and automation eetc but this is usually based on Lego or (in the better schools) Fischer Technik. The emphasis being on design in the modern curriculum, not on how materials behave and are manipulated. This leadds to unrealistic ideas of what can be made. The subject of Engineering technoology as we understand it, is more or less extinct in schools for all practical purposes. Young people generally see Engineering as using computers and CNC.

You are very lucky in your area to have opportunities for young people to use machines and make things. Around here thare are no evening classes and only a couple of clubs, one 6 miles away and the other 15 miles away and these clubs are not really welcoming places for most youngsters. Of course they also like games and playstations, so do I, I've been playing computer games for 30 years, they are nothing new. There is nothing wrong with that as long as it does not become obsessive. Most obsessives are in their 20s and 30s.

Regards

Terry

Hi Chris,

It is a BSF thread, 1 1/2" od 8tpi for some attachments to allow me to mount my boxford chucks on a rotary table and perhaps other circumstances. It's really just an exercise as I.ve never cut such a relatively coarse thread this large a diameter. I've often cut both internal and external threads up to ,around 2" dia but usually fine threads 60 for instruments and tools.

I could buy a Boxford nose for not very much, but that's no challenge is it? By the way, I never expected anything other than proper treatment from a reputable source.

Best regards

Terry

Dazz Dazz,

You seem very confident of your ability to write concisely and clearly, but I'm not sure about your use of English. Sentences a whole paragraph long? Use of 'wrote' instead of 'written', overuse of commas and the lowercase i for the personal pronoun I. Poor spelling e.g. 'earnt' instead of 'earned'. Not to mention variable use of the apostrophe.

There is also your hatred of text speak having already used 'imo' a typical abbreviation for text use. Admittedly the Victorians used abbreviations in their written work extensively, it was simply their form of 'text speak'

I could rant on, as you did, but have to add that you must have had a very good editor when having articles published.

Further I'm not sure where you have obtained your data from, but to generalise as you do about young people today is wrong. I taught 11 to 18 yr olds for many years and can tell you that given the opportunity they love being practical and creating things. Unfortunately the vast majority do not have the opportunities that the lucky young man in the article has. School workshops have been closing since the educational changes of the 1980s and there are few Engineering opportunities. How can they be practical?

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 18/10/2012 14:31:43

Update,

I have now exchanged the tool without quibble and am very satisfied, and show the correct tool below.

A few points though,

my original post was intended as a warning to beginners to double check that they had received what they ordered as mistakes are made. I ordered a 55º tool but received one at 82º.

I did not complain about the quality, that was done by other posters.

To those who said I could grind up a tool yes, but without my grinding rest it is difficult to be absolutely accurate. I am well practised in HSS grinding (started at 16 as an apprentice, I am now 65) and will continue to do so, but cannot guarantee accuracy and this job needs accuracy.

To those who think tipped tooling is OTT, I bought a tipped tool as it was for a one off job and the tool was cheaper than a ready ground HSS one. i.e. £4.45 as opposed to around £8.70 for an HSS equivalent (actually £17.40 for a combined external/internal set).

I will not need to 'touch up' the tool as it appears very accurate.

I am satisfied.

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 18/10/2012 09:54:40

Hi,

Spot the error in my previous post:

"The Brunel in question was the French engineer Marc Isambard Brunel - 1876 - 1849 born in Hacqville, Normandy."

Should of course have read:

"The Brunel in question was the French engineer Marc Isambard Brunel - 1776 - 1849 born in Hacqville, Normandy."

Regards and sorry,

Terry

The Brunel in question was the French engineer Marc Isambard Brunel - 1876 - 1849 born in Hacqville, Normandy. He was driven out of France during the revolution as a monarchy sympathiser during the 'Reign of Terror' but fell in love with a certain daughter of an English girl -  Sophie Kingdom while in Rouen. He went to work in the USA but emigrated back to England where he married his love Sophie and they named their son Isambard Kingdom in celebration of that love. The rest is history. It pays to check it out.

BTW unlike Whitneys efforts in no way can you describe Maudslays work as 'Pretty Rough'. I suggest you get up close to the Block Making machinery (1803) , or Maudslays screwcutting lathe and then you will appreciate precision and craftsmanship.

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 17/10/2012 21:54:40

His son Donald was also after the record. We were all very excited at the prospect of a new record so the attempt was screened live and it had a huge audience. I remember watching the attempt on Coniston Water when his boat became airborne and flipped. They found his helmet but I seem to remember that they never found his body. We were all stunned and shocked.

See here and scroll down to '1967'.

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 17/10/2012 07:15:57

Interesting site, if unusual. First time I've seen a centre drill listed next to a barbecue. I rather like the steam engine kit at 32 Euros.

Terry

I still vote for what was probably the first tool which had to be devised rather than found, The Hammer. Read the history of the inventor, New-Fist-Hammer-Maker here 

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 16/10/2012 16:11:38