Member postings for Michael Gilligan

Things change [and of course they should], but it's worth reading the Editorial in Issue_1 of MEW.

... The scope of the new magazine was specified there.

Personally, I would much prefer MEW to concentrate upon more demanding projects for the Workshop. The current "StepperHead" series is a superb example and [assuming there are no problems with Copyright], I would suggest a reprint of some Geo. H. Thomas articles.

If there is a need for change then it would be better to "spin off" the simpler articles into a supplement [maybe published quarterly] which is a "give-away" with MEW: After a quick read, this could be passed-on to youngsters and newcomers; who would doubtless be encouraged to subscribe to MEW in due course.

Striking the right balance in a "Technical Hobbyist" magazine like MEW must be an Editorial nightmare [keep up the good work, David]; but if you allow the core content to be diluted too much then you will lose the more experienced readers.

MichaelG.

Chris,

"They are not cheap either !!"

If you mean the Blades; the best ones [Vallorbe] seem to be about £4 per dozen, and the cheap ones about £4 per gross ... which seems pretty good to me.

MichaelG.

Please have a look at my recent post on the "Milling Copper" thread.

Yes, I know that EDM WireCutting is probably the "right" approach, but ...

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 08:11:48

Now ... there's a thought ... a CNC Piercing Saw !!!

Maybe one for an "Open Source" Design Project , as proposed in another thread.

Tricky, but by no means impossible.

Most of the youngsters would probably expect to use a Cutting LASER, but there is so much very fine work that can be done with a Piercing Saw.

[Clock Hands being an excellent example.]

Is anyone up for this ?

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 07:34:37

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 07:41:27

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 07:43:26

Chris,

This video on YouTube makes it look easy

But he's using thicker material than yours

... you may need to stick it down to a sacrificial base [but then the sticky could clog the cutter]

MichaelG.

P.S.

This, from another forum, might help.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/07/2012 23:04:38

John,

An excellent summary ...

MichaelG.

James,

The unit you have bought appears to be for use with a Motor Starter, not for direct connection to the motor.

MichaelG.

Adrian,

I can't help regarding the shaper itself; but I would recommend that you look at converting to Poly V belt drive.

I have only used the small profiles myself, but the principle applies at all scales: ... Very efficient, and capable of handling large pulley-ratios.

You may even be able to machine the grooves into your original flat-belt pulleys.

MichaelG.

These do look superb!

It's interesting to see details of How it Works [Patent on Espacenet]

Shame they don't make something much smaller ... My little BCA MkIII uses 11mm o/d collets.

MichaelG.

Hansrudolf,

I think you will find the Z axis lets these probes work as a cost-effective substitute for one of these.

i.e. for Metrology rather than Machine set-up

I remember we had a massive CMM at Kodak in the late 1970s [probably one the first in the country], mostly used to check the plastic mouldings for the little cameras.

MichaelG.

Thanks for the comments

The motors do look cheap; although the plastic gears are very well moulded, and I was delighted to find the micro-pitch belts and toothed pulleys [these seem very difficult to buy, and I need some].

What intrigued me was those Encoders [Strip and Disk] ... there must be somewhere we could re-use them.

MichaelG.

I have just stripped down a Hewlet Packard 1350 All-in-One Printer/Scanner, for the "Useful Bits".

To my surprise; there are no Stepper Motors in this device.

Scanner Drive, Print-Head Positioning, and Paper Feed are all done with DC Motors.

The Paper Feed has an Encoder Disk on the end, and the Print Head reads a Linear Encoder that runs the full width of the paper. ... Both of are printed transparencies ... I have not yet checked the resolution, but they are very fine. Both run through Slotted Encoders.

The motors drive through a mix of plastc gears and micro-pitch toothed belts, and there the usual shafts and rollers to salvage.

Definitely one to Recycle ... BUT "Caveat Dismantlor" there may be some ink residue inside; so don't wear light coloured Chinos.

MichaelG.

Richard,

What Browser are you using?

MichaelG.

Nice clarification, thanks David.

On balance, I'm best sticking with my Direct Debit.

... Others may decide differently.

MichaelG.

Reminds me of the recent T.V. advertisement

"Brand New Customers Only"

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/06/2012 20:50:48

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/06/2012 20:55:53

Solar Power Farm

[that should probably read Orchard]

MichaelG.

Thanks John ... I was unaware of that.

However,I still think it "proper" for the ME/MEW forum to host its own review of the drawings.

MichaelG.

Thanks David,

Much appreciated

Provided you can keep posters "on-topic" ... I think that's a practical way forward.

MichaelG.

Link to Topic

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/06/2012 11:48:31

Pete,

Excellent comments !

However, in the absence of Errata from the Publisher ... perhaps this forum is the place to log all of those errors & omissions that builders find; together with their proposed fix.

MichaelG.

[David Clark 1]

Would you be prepared to create one thread for each of the available drawings?

... kept specifically for this purpose, and using the Drawing Number as its title.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/06/2012 10:18:29

Ady 1,

There is another Digitizing Probe, very nicely drawn-up by Shaun Wainford; available via Lester Caine's website.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/06/2012 08:12:27