Here is a list of all the postings MEinThailand has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.
Thread: What Hexagon Sizes for Pipe Fittings? |
02/11/2015 10:00:07 |
Hello Mick and many thanks for the chart. I can read it OK and at least it's a start. |
02/11/2015 04:51:11 |
Hi everyone, Is there a Table published anywhere showing what size across flats hexagon bar is needed to make copper pipe fittings. I have just measured what few I have but they seem all over the place. The ones I have are brass but I want to make some bronze ones. I'm in the range of say 1/8" up to 1/2" pipe. (+/-) Many thanks for any guidance, |
Thread: Confused by 26, 32, 40 TPI Threads |
26/08/2015 06:09:10 |
Well, thank you everyone who has helped me to understand the ME Series of threads. I needed to have this knowledge because I want to buy some steam engine pipe fittings and I wasn't sure what the threads stated in the vendor's catalogue were nor if I had the right taps and dies to make matching components. With your help I have compiled the Table below which shows three main pieces of information:- 1) The Threads forming the ME Series as reported in a book "Guide to World Screw Threads" by ISBN 0-89381-1092-9. The above Series is repeated in the book "The Model Engineers Workshop Manual". ISBN 1-85761-000-8 by Geo. H. Thomas. Seems he was correct and my comment in a previous post is withdrawn with apologies. 2) Additional threads reported in the same "Guide to World Screw Threads" book as being "in regular use". 3) The taps and dies that were included in a commercial ME Series tap and Die set that I purchased from one of our regular suppliers. (Plus a few I bought separately) This may be important to you if you are thinking to buy a set because you, like me, will probably end up need supplementary taps and dies. The fittings I was interested in purchasing include some for which I do not have taps and dies, namely 1/2" X 32 and 9/16" X 26 both of which are not in the ME Series. A Standard for the ME Series It seems that there is no published Standard for ME Series threads. The range has grown by demand from users and the trade has stepped in to supply the demand. The situation as above is supported by Geo Thomas in his book on page 266. (I would like to quote but the book is copyright). Whitworth Form Although no publication I have seen states that the ME Series is Whitworth form, the description of the ME Series on page 19 of "Guide to World Screw Threads" appears in Section A "BRITISH THREADS OF WHITWORTH FORM". So that seems to confirm that Whitworth is the correct thread form. Below is the Table I have compiled illustrating the ME Series of threads. Once again thank you everyone who has contributed, it seems that my question has been answered. |
25/08/2015 09:38:23 |
Posted by MEinThailand on 25/08/2015 08:51:17:
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 25/08/2015 08:15:57:
This is very useful indeed. It points to the inside of a hardcopy book "Guide to World Screw Threads" By P A Sidders. This gives the origins of the ME series and two tables of sizes and thread pitches. One Table also gives data such as Major and Minor diameter and Tapping Drill sizes, but not for the 60 TPI threads. Strangely, again, it does not state that the series is based on the Whitworth Form nor does it give the thread angle. Many thanks Michael, I'll try to get a copy of that book. Interestingly, Table II in the George Thomas books (where he *s the ME series threads) differs from that in the "Guide to World Screw Threads". I don't have time immediately to itemise the differences but will do it later today or tomorrow. Please bear in mind that I'm not trying to research ME threads (or threads in a broader sense) I'm just trying to make sure that when I buy pipe fittings that I know what thread it is and to avoid buying another set of taps and dies. Pretty important when the threads will be used on a 1/2 sized traction engine with a boiler running at 125 psi. |
25/08/2015 08:51:17 |
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 25/08/2015 08:15:57:
This is very useful indeed. It points to the inside of a hardcopy book "Guide to World Screw Threads" By P A Sidders. This gives the origins of the ME series and two tables of sizes and thread pitches. One Table also gives data such as Major and Minor diameter and Tapping Drill sizes, but not for the 60 TPI threads. Strangely, again, it does not state that the series is based on the Whitworth Form nor does it give the thread angle. Many thanks Michael, I'll try to get a copy of that book. |
25/08/2015 08:02:24 |
Posted by Lambton on 25/08/2015 07:25:57:
For anyone who want to know all about model engineer's threads, including discussion of metric and BA alternatives I recommend them to refer to Chapter 24 of The Model Engineers Workshop Manual by George Thomas. Ah! A most useful reply, thank you. I have the George Thomas book open in front of me now. On page 266 there is a Table II listing the 'ME' series (amongst other sizes). 1/4 (plus 3/16) X 40 are listed as being ME threads. The origin of the ME series is given as "... established by a committee of the SM & EE in 1912...)... There are no details of (for example) core diameters but I suppose these could be worked out using the Whitworth Form dimensions. (It - the book - doesn't actually say that the ME series is Whitworth Form)
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25/08/2015 06:12:04 |
Thanks Thor, I now know what a Brass Thread is. I should mention that I have sent the same question to the people selling the pipe fittings. It still leaves the question unanswered:-
Perhaps the Trade has generated these in 40 TPI but they aren't listed by in Tubal Cain's book. I suppose somewhere there must be a definition of what "Model Engineer" threads are but I have never seen one. Can anyone help, please? |
25/08/2015 05:40:41 |
Hi Thor and thanks for your quick reply. The plot thickens now... what Form is a "Brass" thread? |
25/08/2015 04:31:09 |
I want to buy some boiler and pipe fittings and they are usually listed for example as 1/4 X 40, 5/16 X 32, 3/8 X 26 TPI. What is the Standard or Series of these threads? Having compiled a Table of these (available if you ask) together with Model Engineer Threads and Cycle threads it seems they are none of those. Examples:-
Another question would be "what is the Form of the Model engineers thread series". I do have the Model Engineer (ME Handbook) but it doesn't explain these questions. By the way I have a full set of ME taps and dies but concern they might not be compatible with the listed fittings.
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Thread: Soba Tapping Attachment Help |
17/05/2015 00:50:41 |
Hi Lionel and thanks for the advice. I'm going to try some more test holes - I daren't use it on real work. Let me ask a very stupid question... In which direction is the tap supposed to be spinning on startup before engaging the hole? Is it supposed to turn in the normal tapping direction or in 'reverse'? I say this because my SOBA attachment chooses itself in which direction to go. Thanks again for the advice.
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11/04/2015 10:20:30 |
I recently bought a Soba automatic tapping attachment and can't make it work! It came with no instructions and I cant find any via search engines nor even a YouTube video. I did half a dozen M10 test taps in 1/8" x 1" strip and it taps fine but auto reverse doesn't work. I'm using the attachment in my milling machine. If I lift the quill lever to reverse the direction sometimes the direction does reverse but it always leaves the tap behind in the hole. Any advice/help gratefully received. |
Thread: Cheap Tools ........ Grrrrrrrr.!!!!! |
16/12/2014 12:23:52 |
Hi Chris, Thanks for your support. I live in Thailand so if I buy duff stuff from UK it has to go in the bin - no chance to send it back. I love Japanese and Taiwanese tools, especially things like drills and taps from Japan. If it's Japanese or Taiwanese you can't go wrong. I also bought a couple of Japanese carbide insert milling cutters from Ebay, 16 and 20 MM dia with the same Mitsubishi carbide insert. They cut steel like butter if you put on a good cut. Superb! Recently I wanted an NT 30 taper tool holder to fit my Taiwanese Bridgeport clone - a superb machine - so I made my own. Now I make all my own insert tools for both bought carbide inserts and home-made silver steel or gauge plate inserts. All newcomers to the hobby should have 'buy quality or struggle with cheap for ever more' drummed into them. I know, my first lathe was a flat bed Drummond with the bearings so worn that you could lift up the spindle and take out the play with you hands. I had to take cuts so lightly that the spindle didn't lift. I have moved on since then (50 years ago) but it seems the industry hasn't.
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16/12/2014 00:54:14 |
Posted by SteveW on 08/12/2014 08:24:21:
Nothing wrong with inexpensive but cheap is a different matter! I find inexpensive tools from the 'usual suppliers' generally OK; some of the 'best' are just too expensive for my budget. SteveW I am getting pretty fed up with the poor quality of tools from the "usual suppliers". it seems that all the focus is on price and hang the quality. I guess model engineers have brought this on themselves by always looking for the cheapest. All these tools were purchased from the usual and well known suppliers:-
Mr supplier, i don't want cheap stuff. I want stuff that works! |
Thread: Original Of Sir William Armstrong Steam Engine |
15/12/2014 03:40:07 |
A friend of mine is making the Sir William Armstrong Steam Engine Horizontal Steam Twin Engine Kit from Cotswold Heritage and I'm trying to find out for him the original engine upon which the model was based. The model was designed by Anthony Mount and was introduced in Model Engineer Magazine 2011, Volume 207, Issue 4410, Page 234. Unfortunately this is one missing from my collection! Research on the Internet throws up two possibilities, either the Hydraulic Pumping Engine that powered the hydraulic systems at Tower Bridge London or the engine displayed on the Canal & river trust website and stated to have "supplied the power for hydraulic cranes and capstans throughout the dock at Ellesmere Port." These are relevant websites:- Only one of these can be the inspiration for the model, but which one? Edited By MEinThailand on 15/12/2014 03:41:49 |
Thread: LNWR Webb Compound Jeanie Deans 2-2-2-0 ME4491 |
06/10/2014 14:00:37 |
Thank you everyone for your responses. I am absolutely amazed and delighted by the responses and the level of detail. It's going to take me some time to work my way through them all but again many thank yous. From a quick scan it looks like the pages posted by Ady1 are the articles I read all those years ago. Once again thank you all and when I have read everything I may be able to respond to individual posts. Best Regards |
06/10/2014 03:04:53 |
Thread Title: LNWR Webb Compound Jeanie Deans 2-2-2-0 ME4491 I was delighted to see the entry of James Tilbury's 5" Gauge Jeanie Deans in the IMLEC 2014 Report - Run No. 21. I remember a very long time ago reading an article in Model Engineer by LBSC about the LNWR Webb Compound Jeanie Deans 2-2-2-0 and since then have always wanted to build one but never saw any construction articles, drawings, castings etc. Then suddenly here is a 5" Gauge Model actually running. Can anyone please provide more information - where the drawings and castings etc came from etc? |
Thread: Vertex Tool Cutter Grinder |
25/12/2013 01:27:30 |
Wow! I wish I had read this before I bought my 'Tool And Cutter Grinder' in Bangkok, Thailand. I probably wouldn't have bought it. In Thailand you can't simply buy another drill or end mill when one goes blunt. As a Brit retiree in Thailand my strategy to save on the cost (and difficulty) of renewing blunt cutters was this tool and cutter grinder. It came with the three main accessories, Drill Sharpener, End Mill Attachment and Lathe Tool Attachment. (Shown in front left to right) The collets are labeled R8. The machine is well built and very heavy. There was no manual with it. As to what all the handles do I have no idea. As I get it to do some useful functions I'll post the details including photos and videos on my ModelEngineeringInThailand.com website on the Buying And Using A Tool And Cutter Grinder In Thailand Page. The links to the operating manuals in the posts above are a godsend to me. The Northern Industrial Tools (426245.pdf) and Central Machinery (45707.pdf) Manuals being particularly informative. I will print them off and study them. So a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to this topic - I am very grateful. In return, as I said, I will be posting detailed descriptions, photos and videos on my website as I go through the learning process. Hope this helps. |
Thread: Little Samson traction engines |
21/12/2013 03:36:42 |
I bought the drawings for the 6" Little Samson and I'm waiting for them to arrive here in Thailand.
I am looking to buy a new lathe to build the 6" Little Samson and so need to know the size (diameters) of the main items to be turned so that I can start looking at options e.g. Flywheel, Front Wheel, Biggest Gear Rear Wheels If anyone can help I would very much appreciate it. PS just to give you an idea this is the spec of a lathe I'm looking at:- Swing Over Bed 460mm Swing Over Cross Slide 224mm Swing In Gap Diameter x Width 690mmX240mm Height of Center 230mm Distance Between Centers 760mm/1010mm/1510mm/2010mm I posted this on the forum at tractiontalkforum.com >**LINK** and was told the dims were on the Little Samson website **LINK** but I can't find them.
Very grateful if anyone could help.
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