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Member postings for Nicholas Farr

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

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Thread: Some thoughts on Model Engineering
26/02/2011 09:01:22
Hi Terry, just to make you groan (only joking) a little more, I looked up the word mill in my trusty old dictionary and along with the building and equipment for grinding grain were a few others including; any of various machines for shaping, cutting, polishing, or dressing metal surfaces. I then looked up milling and that has three definitions, the secound one being; the operation of cutting, shaping, finising, or working metal, cloth, or any other product manufactured in a mill.
 
I finally looked up milling machine and it says; a machine tool with a rotating cutter acting on a metal workpiece held on a movable table. Also called a "miller"
 
How about that, just when you think you've found the correct definition, they stick on the end of it, also called a "miller"
 
I like you prefer it to be called a milling machine. and as you say a miller works in a mill grinding grain.
 
One pet hate I have with definitions is trian station while this is most likely to be technically correct, I've always associated them as being a railway station, that is what I was brought up to understand they are. You could have a train station out in the wild west where there are no rails, but where all the wagons and horsees are stationed before they start thier wagon train. hence I don't think trian station best describes a staion on the railway, because trains and not staioned at all of them, but people usually are.
 
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 26/02/2011 09:05:39

24/02/2011 11:42:13
Hi Peter, I understand what you are saying, but I think the term "model engineering" has been established for many years and of course changing the name of the magazine associated here will probally not happen.
 
There used to be a rugular magazine called Practical Machanics which included alsorts, including model making using dirrerant materials ect., but must have lost interest along the way some time ago. Maybe it didn't keep up with the trends or the desire to use lathes and machines that we aspire to today.
 
I think the term can be used for any type of engineering you like as a hobby or pastime, being departed from a commercial aspect, where you don't have to obay strict standards. Not that it should be undermined though, you may set you standards and achievements to a level of your own if you wish.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: Change gears on old warwick lathe
24/02/2011 11:16:33
Hi Terry, I presume the little gear on the extreme left, then yes I'd say it should be locked to the shaft. It may be done by a pin between the gear itself and the coller that is next to it. this may be missing or sheared. Alternativly it may just have a little grub screw inbetween two of the gear teeth which may be loose or missing.
 
Your Myford change gear are probally suitable but may need a hole drilled in near the shaft hole for a pin to connect them to each other, instead of using the keyway which is cut into them.
 
Look on www.lathes.co.uk web site and click on the links for the other makes he mentions in the text for the lathe you have for more info as they are all very basically the same.
 
Hope This helps.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: Some thoughts on Model Engineering
24/02/2011 10:45:17
Hi Wolfie, I'll just add I don't think LBSC's work could be classed as any sort of a snobbery, in fact he challenged established ideas somewhat.
 
Regards Nick.
24/02/2011 10:31:35
Hi Wolfie, LBSC wrote in ME for many years from about the mid 20's I believe untill the late 50's and designed and built a lot of live steam locomotives of various gauges and is considered in high regard for others to be inspired to emulating his achievements. A kind of forefarther to model engineering today.
 
Regards Nick.
 
P.S. I believe he also wrote in Practical Machanics sometimes as well.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 24/02/2011 10:38:05

24/02/2011 10:08:20
Hi Ian, you have the same view as LBSC then in some way. But of course a "model" can be full size or even twice or more the size of a prototype.
 
Others make adaptions to thier workshop machines and tools ect. and still class it as "model engineering"
 
As has been said many times, enjoy what you are doing, no one can dismiss it as not being model engineering.
 
Regards Nick.
24/02/2011 08:02:40
Hi Wolfie, you ask what denotes a model engineer, well I'll guess there is a host of definitions, but one I think is anyone who makes anything that represents a prototype that already exists or may exist after a fesable study.
 
If you have ever read any of LBSC's notes, he didn't regard what he built as models, more over as live steam on a small scale.
 
A model can be something that just represents the outside appearance, like the Airfix kits, to something that has all the same working nature of what it represents that are possible to obtain.
 
While a lot of model engineers are some type of mechanical engineers in thier day job, the abilities do very often differ, as the smaller you go the higher the tolerances have to be. I for instance have been in medium to heavy maintenace of large processing plant, all my working life and while its not to hard to get a 0.000" to 0.001" tolerance on a four inch drive shaft for a bearing, scaling that down is a bigger challenge. Likewise an engineer who is involved in lab equipment for instance may find it hard not to be so fussy on something a bit larger or more tolerant.
 
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 24/02/2011 08:15:17

Thread: Dividing Head
23/02/2011 18:20:41
Hi John, a lot of rotary tables can be used as a dividing head with an optional accessary kit.
 
The picture below shows my 6" Vertex with a four jaw chuck fixed to my cheap drill press on the hurry up, to drill five holes in an oil pump spocket mod, which failed on my car last year. There was not much room for error to achieve the strongest job, hench the choice for this application. I hasten to add this was just to get the engine going again to asses if there was any other failings in the engine.
 
 
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 23/02/2011 18:21:40

Thread: Engineers Level
22/02/2011 21:41:02
Hi Pailo, by how you have described it, I doubt you have much to loose by milling it to something acceptable. To have it reground and scraped by someone other than a volunteer would be likely to cost more than a new level.
 
The thing to think about is, is it is any good as it is, or will you make it any worse. You say that it has a sliight twist in it, which what ever method of machining is used, may unlock stresses and make other twists, unless it is heat treated to remove any stresses that may be present.
 
By milling it as you say it will only be acceptable, and can't be called "precision"
 
I think the choice will have to be your own. Others may disagree with me of course.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: Material for smoke boxes
22/02/2011 20:42:34
Hi, when rolling hot rolled steel into a cylinder, it is always best to roll a slight curve, then turn it over and roll the curve to other way and then finally turn it back to the side you strated on to roll your cylinder. This method breaks the suface grain structure stresses, from the manufacturing process and gives a much truer roundness in your finished cylinder.
 
The type of rolls will depend on how much flat portion there is at the beginning and end of the roll. Pyramid rolls will always have a largish flate portion at both the beginnig and end of the roll and an allowance will have to be made in the length of the material from the start if you intend to cut these off to avoid having a flat place that you then have to deal with. The other method is to shape the ends to the correct radius prior to rolling.
 
In fabrication shops this is normally done by nipping it in the rolls with the edge of the plate just over hanging the bottom roll and then hammering it along its length, then advancing it sligtly and repeating a few times until you get the correct shape using a profile gauge for the length requiered for the rolls you are using. It is then rolled through and the other end is given the same treatment. When both ends have been done, it is removed from the rolls and turned over and then rolled to shape. This method saves on material, but is a little time consuming.
 
Pinch rolls are not supposed to leave any flat at the start or finish of the roll, but I haven't used a set that actually does this, so one of the above methods may have to be used, but the portion won't be as long.
 
Once your cylinder has been rolled and the joint welded, and with the weld dressed, it can be returned to the rolls and be slightly over rolled for a couple of revs' to take out any ovalness that may be presant if needed.
 
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 22/02/2011 20:45:16

Thread: Darjeeling Eccentric Rod Dimension
20/02/2011 20:07:35
Hi Donald, maybe an errata page could be printed at the end of the series for future constructors.
 
just a thought.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: New or Second Hand Lathe?
20/02/2011 15:14:01
Hi Rodger, not an easy question to answer to anyone, as it is something you have to decide for yourself in the end. However it could be a bit like buying a secound had car, that is unless you have some real idea of what to look for, you can easly get a bad deal. If you don't really no what you are looking for, or don't know anyone you can trust to give you good advice when buying a choosen second hand lathe, then you may be better off buying a new lathe from the one of the many suppliers that sell to the Model Engineering fraternity. If you would prefer a secound hand Myford or similer, I would suggest going to a reputable secound hand machine dealer who will give you some sort of warranty and support, although the price may be a bit higher that your £700.00 figure.
 
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 20/02/2011 15:15:05

Thread: Lubricate or Not?
20/02/2011 14:43:31
Hi Nick, I agree with Jason. It is generally accepted that cast iron is self lubricating.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: "Potty" radial engine
19/02/2011 10:52:37
Hi Eric, you are looking at a cross section, where the outside is flat and the inside is a round bore. If you actually cut the piece thruogh and looked at it in this way, that is how it will look at a point blank view.
 
Regards Nick
19/02/2011 10:19:39
Hi Eric, I guess thats why it was machinced from round bar stock. Don;t know about the I D numbers.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: IC cylinder head gasket material & suppliers
13/02/2011 19:26:10
Hi Mick, you can always use Wellseal jointing compound in conjunction with brown paper or the copper/aluminium mentioned, If you are confident that both faces are relitivity flat and reasonably smoothish it can be used just on its own. There seems to be plenty on ebay.
 
I have used Wellseal for many different things in my work, and also including my old Beford vans engine head gasket, which was recommended in the Haynes worshop manual. It is a bit of a sticky compound, and you have to use it as directed to get the best result, but it dosen't harden or dry out.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: Have broken a cast bit of my lathe - any hope of a repair?
13/02/2011 18:40:32
Hi Paul, sorry I haven't checked that out. My real point was to show good suppliers give you the technical data for welders to make an imformed choice and tell you what metals ect. are in there products.
 
I'm not trying to put Magna down, as I've not used any of there products, but specs to substanciate what they claim goes a long way. In my professional role I've used many different makes of welding electrodes, and some which claim to be good without giving very much technical info, have been a waste of time to use.
 
I used BOC in my example as I know they do good products. I have no connection with them whatsoever. As always it's best to shop around.
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: Is it just me!!!
13/02/2011 18:17:12
Hi StirlingSingle, I'll doubt you are alone, and as far as abanded projects, I've had many, (not all in ME though, some have been at work even) my late farther started an LBSC loco before he met my late mother and it is still not finished. I don't think it's so much because of time consuming but time availability, as you say yourself working, family, shopping ect. Becoming good is really an on going thing, I've been in engineering all my working life and am still becoming good, or moreover better. I think we can all feel we are fighting a loosing battle, because just as we think we are getting ahead, something else needs more attention.
 
But as long as you still enjoy what you are doing, getting to the end or winning dosen't really matter, dose it!
 
Regards Nick.
Thread: Have broken a cast bit of my lathe - any hope of a repair?
13/02/2011 16:07:16
Hi, the Magna rods mentioned should be suitable for the job if they do what they claim, however a true data/spec sheet seems to be elusive.
 
BOC do an electrode that is sutable and a data/spec sheet is avalable on the link below, page 123
 
 
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 13/02/2011 16:09:05

Thread: perseus horizontal engine
11/02/2011 17:54:24
Hi, Jason you are correct, issue 4362 vol 203, but they don't have all the words and music as LBSC used to say, only the plans.
 
Regards Nick.
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