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Member postings for Michael Gilligan

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

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Thread: metric taps
25/11/2011 22:03:25

I have just found this very handy reference:
http://www.numberfactory.com/

The < Nuts,Screws,Bolts > calculator is especially good.

MichaelG.
Thread: New Blocks on the Block
24/11/2011 13:12:24
Jim,

A very fair point; certainly in the context of heavy engineering.
... I will send you a personal message tonight.

MichaelG.
24/11/2011 11:45:37
Ketan

Thank you for the update regarding hardness.

A very civil way to conduct business.
... Well done Sir.

MichaelG
Thread: 'Bristol Handles'
19/11/2011 21:14:15
Clive,

Very useful lead to 'Wix Royd' ... thanks!
This version, from their list, looks useful for the next "Rolls Royce job".
http://www.wixroyd.com/en/catalog/standard-parts/knobs-handles-and-handwheels/adjustable-clamping-lever/74380

MichaelG.
19/11/2011 21:05:48
Similar handles are used on Manfrotto [and other] tripod heads and similar.

I have no idea how the quality compares but, inevitably, they are more expensive than ARC's.

http://www.manfrottospares.com/index.php?route=product/search&keyword=ratchet%20handle&category_id=1

MichaelG.
Thread: A 'must see' brilliant website
19/11/2011 11:33:32
Ian,

Yes, there is a surprising lack of technical detail on these sites.
... I'm sure there was more on the old "Torrs" website.

The company that seems able to get these schemes rolling, is h2ope ... one of many listed here.
http://www.powerfromthelandscape.co.uk/links/micro-hydro-installers-consultants-and-manufacturers

The Archimedean Screws are imported from Germany
... If I can recall the manufacturer's name, I will post it later.

MichaelG.
19/11/2011 08:41:15

Here is an interesting variation on the Hydro theme.
... a slow speed Archimedean Screw is geared-up to drive the generator.

There are two community projects near to me:
http://www.torrshydro.org/
http://www.stockport-hydro.co.uk/

MichaelG.
18/11/2011 23:43:25
That's a great find, Ian

Thanks for the link

MichaelG.
Thread: New Blocks on the Block
18/11/2011 20:38:53

I have apparently offended several posters ... by trying to move the discussion towards Engineering.

Thanks to John Stevenson and Ketan Swali, who have both provided well-reasoned replies to my original post.

Unfortunately however; it is obvious from other respones, that I do not belong here.

MichaelG.
18/11/2011 17:06:25
John S. and Roger W.
Thanks for the update ... it's a good job I have some old capheads in stock
I take your point; and, from a business perspective, I'm sure you are right.

Steve [S.D.L.]
Surely your measurements support my point. ... Don't forget that 1/4" is 6.35mm.
Just to humour me: Try drawing an overlay, at [say] 10x life size, of a 1/4" UNF and an M6 ... each in their standard clearance holes. ... It's the relative proportion that matters.

I won't be labouring this any further.

Many thanks to John S. and Ketan Swali, for what looks like an excellent product at a realistic price.

MichaelG.
18/11/2011 11:46:23
Steve [S.D.L.]

"Why would anyone ..."

Quite simply ... for all the reasons that I gave.
O.K. perhaps UNF is a better choice than BSF but the fact remains that Allen screws in both these series were better proportioned [for precision engineering use] than the current metric ones.

In my opinion; a thing only becomes obselete if the proposed replacement is better.

If you can let me know of anywhere that I can obtain metric series, high tensile caphead screws; with small diameter heads and fine tolerances, then I shall happily withdraw my suggestion.

MichaelG.


18/11/2011 10:30:38
Now that the air has cleared ... May I return to the engineering?

Bogstandard provides a link to his [very useful] review on the HMEM site. This includes the comment:
"You can see from this shot that the screws, even though fairly close on the small blocks, don't overhang the sides at all, so no real problems on that score. I suppose you could use half height heads if you were picky.

Just one criticism, if it was me making them, I would have gone for one size smaller threads in each set, 5mm & 6mm, they would have been plenty strong enough. But that is just me being picky, maybe they need to be that larger size for some reason."

Now; it is worth noting the enormous difference between ISO [metric series] caphead screws and the "proper" Allen screws that were used in ToolRooms when Starrett first designed their blocks. The head size was much smaller in relation to the shank, and similarly, the clearance hole size was smaller. ... These were the next best thing to dowel-pins!
M6 capheads are crude things by comparison; the specified clearance hole is way too big, and the head size is enlarged to conceal the sloppy fit. They are better suited to IKEA furniture.

An open request to John Stevenson:
Would you please suggest to ARC, that they might offer a version with either UNF or BSF threads, and the appropriate clearance holes?
... This would make a Good Thing even Better.

MichaelG.
Thread: Accurately marking centre line
24/09/2011 21:36:45
Wolfie,

Another way ... Use a surface plate and a scribing block.

The surface plate need not be expensive; a bit of plate glass or mirror will do.

The scribing block can be easily made.

Put your workpiece on the surface plate
Set the scribing block to approximately half height and scribe a line.
Turn the workpiece over and repeat [scribing on the same face].

If your guess was good, there might be just one line
... More likely there will be "tramlines". These are equispaced about the true centre line. ... If they are close, it's easy to split the difference by eye. If not close enough, then adjust the scribing block a little, and try again.

It's quicker to do than describe.

MichaelG.
Thread: MEW 181 (Scibe a Line)
03/09/2011 17:47:29
Martin,
 
Yes that's a perfectly reasonable comment, although personally I have no need to do complex technical drawings in 3D.
 
In the absence of an affordable Mac package that I liked, I kept my old DOS PC specifically to run an old version of Autocad ... which provides vector based 2D plus extrusion. The free version of DraftSight looks like a viable replacement, which is why I started this thread with a "thank you" to those who suggested it.
 
For 3D visualisation [as opposed to "proper" engineering drawing], I find SketchUp very useful.
... We bought the Pro version, which includes some clever tools for intersecting shapes.
There is also a SketchyPhysics plug-in available , which allows objects to interact dynamically. [SP is tricky to work with, but I think it's worth the effort]. ... I am currently trying to model gear trains and ratchets.
 
Moore's Law may prove me wrong in due course, but I doubt if I could ever afford the processing power required to run dynamic 3D models without relying upon polygons!
 
MichaelG.
03/09/2011 14:35:42
John and Martin,

Thanks for the comments; fair points made.
No, I don't think I tried ViaCAD ... Must have a look sometime.

However, for me personally ... the combination of DraftSight for 2D, and SketchUp for 3D modeling looks ideal.

MichaelG.

P.S. Just spotted my typo in the thread title ... Scibe should read Scribe. David; if you are monitoring this, would you please correct. Many thanks.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/09/2011 14:39:39

03/09/2011 10:55:17
Keith Keen's letter in 180 attracted a full page of responses in 181 ... which is an excellent result.

I suggested that he try SketchUp, and I stand by that suggestion, although it is not really CAD.

I must however express my thanks to those who recommended DraftSight. I downloaded the OS X version last night, and it looks superb.

My previous searches for a Mac compatible CAD package had returned nothing to my taste; but this is good!

MichaelG.

P.S.
I first used AutoCad around 1985, Version 2.18 which, if I recall correctly, came on thirteen floppy disks and cost £3,000
We bought one of the first desktop PCs in the company, specifically to run it.
Thread: Make your own timing pulleys
30/08/2011 08:20:00
John,

That locking arrangement looks very neat; and potentially very useful.

The datasheet for T5 belt is also handy to have on file, thanks.

MichaelG. Footnote: There is some very useful info available from Gates http://www.gates.com/catalogs/index.cfm?requesting=ptcatalog&location_id=524 ... it's especially worth looking at the "Interchange Guide".

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/08/2011 08:50:42

28/08/2011 09:32:58
Excellent concept; and very nicely documented!
Do please keep us updated regards your progress.

One thought:
... I haven't checked the geometry but, for high tooth-counts it may be possible to simply use an inside-out belt as the teeth on a pulley.
... Ian P recommends this for "dividing", but it may also work for transmission.
... On the old trapezoidal profile, two flat lengths of belt [i.e. "Racks"] engage remarkably well.

MichaelG.
Thread: Digital Issues
15/08/2011 20:28:09
David Clark,

When you do find out who is responsible for Digital [back]issues; may I suggest you ask them to get in touch with The British Horological Institute for some advice.

The Horological Journal is available in PDF, to subscribers only, and the image quality is stunningly good. The file sizes are also realistic, typically around 4MB for an issue.

Their online viewer is also excellent.

MichaelG.
Thread: Trivex vs. Polycarbonate
12/08/2011 17:23:52
Thanks, both, for this useful info.

David has aleady warned about Polycarbonate's poor chemical resistance. I would just add the, perhaps surprising, note that this includes Loctite ... which causes embrittlement.

MichaelG.
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