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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: MEW180 CAD Article
11/08/2011 22:54:41
In response to KWIL's opening question.
... Yes, me for one!

Personally, I have no objection whatsoever to someone proposing a design; especially when the proposal has been so thoroughly worked-through, and is so clearly presented.

Sure, there will be things that each of us might wish to make differently; but that is true of most designs, whether or not the author has actually fabricated the thing.

If one cannot see how to "improve" on a proposal then one might as well buy ready-made. Extrapolate this and ultimately our hobby dies.

May I suggest that we could sometimes use the term "Workshop" [in the magazine's title] in the modern sense of a discussion group. ... Before forums like this existed, that is how magazines like Model Engineer often ran.
[for a prime example, check the protracted discussion about the Quorn]

MichaelG.
Thread: What happened to the Myford sale thread?
22/07/2011 00:10:01
However ... I now see that the ebay offerings include the statement "Price Includes VAT!!"

MichaelG.
Mark; you beat me to it ... now there are [again] more questions than answers!

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 22/07/2011 00:14:21

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 22/07/2011 00:15:53

21/07/2011 23:46:35
To quote from: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/identity-ov.html

"Business sellers on eBay.co.uk are required by the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 to display their contact details."

... Therefore; on the evidence available, we must presume "myfordlathes" to be a private seller, not a business.

MichaelG.
Thread: The perfect ME Lathe
18/07/2011 20:47:08
Here's a thought ...
A) The lathe should be built to the highest quality standard that can be achieved at the chosen price point.
B) The "starter version" must include all the "big bits" that are impractical for the typical customer to make, plus the facility to enhance it on a modular basis.
C) Customers would be encouraged to submit design ideas for bolt-on features ... perhaps with prizes for the best.
D) The add-on modules would be available either "ready to fit" or as part-machined kits, or simply as drawings.

My point is ... we need the best possible base upon which to build; not necessarily the longest list of features.

On a smaller scale; the traditional watchmaker's lathe is a good example of this approach.

MichaelG.
18/07/2011 19:08:53
CoalBurner says: "Many of the chinese lathes are getting very close to an ideal machine, build quality aside!"

... which nicely sums up the essence of our problem.

As John Ruskin is oft-quoted:

1. ?There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.?

2. "The bitterness of poor quality Lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."


There are excellent notes on the "preparation" reqiured before use of the Chinese machines, on ArcEuroTrade's site.
... for proper comparison, we must include the cost of doing this work.

MichaelG.
Thread: Best way to improve fit of main spindle quill in casting (long)
17/07/2011 16:52:20
Ian,

You say:
On reflection, I''m not sure there is much to chose between the cotter and the split clamp. An ideal clamp would hold the quill without applying any force to it that would result in it moving to a different position. In reality either type of clamp mentioned will push the spindle sideways by an amount equal to the clearance.

I beg to differ; but of course it is your choice.

The Split Cotter effectively provides 3 point [or, hopefully, 3 line] clamping, which is inherently more stable.

I do, however, agree that the perfect clamp can only exist as an ultimate goal, like perpetual motion!

MichaelG.
17/07/2011 14:56:35
Ian,

I have just been reading this thread out of curiousity ... one never knows what useful hints will be found.

You obviously need to get the bore to the right size, and the quill running true, but the underlying problem of that poorly designed locking mechanism remains.

My suggestion would be to fill the "clamping slit" with a nice piece of gauge plate [dowelled and screwed in place] before you do anything else. Then correct the bore, by your method of choice. Then make a proper locking mechanism, along the lines of those preferred by the late/great Geo H. Thomas.
... This "split cotter" design is vastly superior to the "split clamp" arrangement and should be easy to fit by slightly modifying the existing hole.

MichaelG.

P.S. I have found this photograph of "Versatile Dividing Head" parts, which might be useful for reference.

http://staff.um.edu.mt/ccam1/tooldh2.jpg
http://staff.um.edu.mt/ccam1/tooldh2.jpg

Thread: What happened to the Myford sale thread?
16/07/2011 17:26:04
There is a useful write-up on http://www.lathes.co.uk/cowells/ which includes some of the ancestry of this excellent little lathe.

I think this might be the right time to start a new thread, to gather information about Flexispeed/Perris/Cowells.
... old catalogues, photos, articles, users' opinions, etc.

Any offers?

MichaelG.

Thread: Something to ponder 02
15/07/2011 08:33:22
See also:
http://www.physikinstrumente.com/en/products/linear_actuator/piline.php

15/07/2011 08:20:01
I have just found this catalogue:
http://www.labhoo.com/brochures/B9006_Microscopy_Stage_CatalogV79b_C.pdf

Sixty pages, but downloaded very quickly.

Some very interesting kit, and good sketches.

MichaelG.
15/07/2011 08:08:44
Alan,

( I can never remember the somewhat illogical name of the damned things,its a sort of precision bacon slicer-you know what I mean ah-its coming back to me a microtome ? )

That's a lovely functional description of a Microtome!
... and, evidently I don't dive the right skips.

You are probably right about the "Twitch and Anchor" [*] mechanism; but I confess that I have not seen one.
The folks that fabricate Integrate Circuits on on Silicon wafers use some amazing electro-mechanisms.
Also, some camera lenses use Piezo-drive for focus.

Must investigate further.
... I will report back if I find anything of interest.

MichaelG.


[*] The Twitch and Anchor sounds like a good Pub name.
14/07/2011 23:39:50
Richard,

Oops! ... I hadn't realised the scale of the planer you are building.
Given that this thread started as a discussion about a microscope stage, I foolishly presumed you were making a miniature, for watchmaking! [hence my concerns about contamination of the bearings].

It sounds like a very interesting project.
Do please keep us informed.

MichaelG.


P.S.
You said "I just cut and pasted the name on your post."
... Just for clarity; Michael, or MichaelG. is fine.
... it's short-forms such as Mike that I don't use.
14/07/2011 12:34:52
Alan Frost,

Yes, Piezo drives are used for very high precision stages; but these typically also have short travel. ... Those in the catalogue that John McNamara found being fairly representative.

I don't know what stage travel Michael Williams has in mind.

Piezo drive is certainly worth further investigation though.

MichaelG.
Thread: New technology in Model Engineers Workshop
14/07/2011 06:27:52
John,

Thanks for sharing your experience.
The MOGLICE site that you linked is also very useful.

MichaelG.
Thread: Something to ponder 02
13/07/2011 19:29:50
Dick,

Could I just mention that I much prefer to be called Michael.

With that off my chest ... 1/3 of the ball circufrence sounds quite reasonable to me.

I'm delighted to hear that you are using Epoxy-concrete; it's something I have wanted to try for years, but never got around to. There was a lot of good work done at Cranfield in the late 1970s / early 80s. ... If you haven't already done so; try a Google search for Granitan.

Please let me know how the build goes.

MichaelG.
Thread: Digital Issues on iPad
10/07/2011 20:28:02
Thank you, NeilC

Yes, it works ... I knew I must be doing something daft!

MichaelG.
09/07/2011 22:27:56
Thanks for that ... there must be something really strange going on, because the iPad [which, as you know, doesn't use Flash] opens issue 179 as a "book".

MichaelG.
09/07/2011 21:36:53
I was delighted to see that issue 179 is accessible on the iPad ... all previous issues require "Flash".

Unfortunately my delight was short-lived: because the Zoom feature only allows access to the right hand page of each double spread [and the iPad's gesture zoom isn't implemented].

If anyone can offer a workaround, or tell me what I'm doing wrong, please respond.

Thanks
MichaelG.
Thread: Dividing plate
15/04/2011 23:28:05
Hansrudolf,

No, actually I do not ... and I already have a selection of dividing equipment available.

I simply asked Mogens the question because he appears to sell nicely presented plans at a very reasonable price, and I think he deserves encouragement.

MichaelG.
15/04/2011 20:44:06
Mogens,

?
I hope to persuade David to print a build article in ME Magazine. I just have to write it some time soon I hope.



That's good news, thanks.

By the way;
... sorry I spelled your name wrong first time.
... and mine is Michael.

MichaelG.
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