Member postings for Brainsparks30

I got inspired by some videos I found on 1/2'' scale models, built by Victor Shattock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMoE6UQPFfE
Is there a source of drawings for 1/2'' scale?
Has there ever been any castings to buy?

I made an order with Myford solutions about three weeks ago and nothing has arrived yet. Email has not yet been responded too either. It looks legit but I am starting to get suspicious.

Has any one had any experience with them?

I stripped the carriage for cleaning, (all full of iron chips) and noticed grease had been used, which I understand is bad.

But what really vexed me is that after cleaning and oiling, when reassembled, the carriage locks up solid when the screws at the front are tightend.

It is shimmed front and rear, is it possible someone had used shims to thick?

They don't look like plain brass except were it appears to have worn through the grey coating on one.

The screws holding the front retaining strip were a bit too easy to remove and I wonder if they had been used to adjust play.

This makes me wonder about wear and how to measure how worn parts are.

Having got an understanding of Gib strips and correct set up, I noticed my cross slide and compound slide feed screw nuts are worn, the cross slide has a little play and the compound quite a lot.

Can I replace the nuts and be ok, or must the screws be changed as well?

Would the Arc Euro Trade bearing mod fix things cheaper?

I have been wondering what to do with the four grub screws on the compound slide since I took it off to put the quick change tool post from Arco. There is a metal wedge bit inside I presume to take up slack from wear.

Before I took it off I found the compound handle was hard to turn with a tight spot. Is the a secret to adjustment to get it set up nicely? Maybe an upgrade?

Ohh this is good! I saw that on an end before but did not know it could be done this way too.

I rummaged through all the bits in the box that came with the machine and found what looks like a home made height gauge. Need to calibrate that too.

Don't know where to start.

Are there scrap yards for bits?

Any tips for sourcing useful bits of metals for cheap or free?

Is there a guide to centering tools to workpiece using a quick change tool post?

I guess the same would apply to using a DTI at initial setup in a tool post?

There is a picture of a DTI in use in the manual but I could not find a device to hold it, not of the shelf.

Its a matter of skill, you have it, and I don't! Later on it would be cool though.

I don't want to buy junk. I have found the 000 model and adaptor on ARC website, and the 'official' Myford one.

I am looking to buy a good quick change tool post for the ML7, not too sure about RDG or Chronos stuff.

What is a good one to choose?

Thank you, had to be sure. Made assumptions before, and they were not always right...

Has anyone installed a VFD on their ML7?

I understand a three phase motor is required, do they have a recommended parts list?

Cheap/used is OK.

I need to fit a replacement drip oiler the the ML7. Its the right thread, but sits to high to screw down on its seal. Does that matter? It sits over the bearing its meant to lube, so surely its going to work?

I have measured the width of the window and I should have 1/4'' each end to fit it through. The place is rented and despite a so called preservation order, its in a terrible state of repair and barley holding together. I dont fancy dismantleing any part of this house even with permission, as I dont trust it isn't bodged in the first place.

If I go with through the window, I will probably have to do a bit of covert night ops as the only sash window left is the one overlooking the main road through the village. The path is narrow here so anything you haul up will be suspend over passing traffic, and might look a little suspicious.

Not possesing a 5mm punch I have one on order, just in case I go that route. I will post victory pics when done. Or just move house (planning that anyway) to somewhere with a proper workshop away from noisy roads.

Having just received my ML7 and got it upstairs (nothing ruptured) the next problem is how to get its custom made stand up an angled Victorian staircase.

I thought it would be be simple, but nooooo, it wont fit and is extremely well made and very rigid.

Having removed the bolts to remove the top I found what looks like solid rivets under all the paint.

Rivet join

Thanks for all your replies. I have bought a really nice looking Myford ML7 with some tools including a vertical slide. I think I got a lot for the money! If for some reason its not what I want (unlikely!) I am confident that I would get back at least what I paid for it.

I bought it from a gentlman at who used it to build O gauge locomotives, and apparently has had a good pedigree of similar carefull owners.

The one problem now is how to get its custom built stand up the stairs...I will start a new thread for that.