Member postings for Dennis WA

Bob..if you want the Australian Boiler codes, they are issued in 4 parts available from:

http://www.smex.net.au/Store/Store_AALS-Codes.php

Dennis

Bob..if you want the Australian Boiler codes, they are issued in 4 parts available from:

http://www.smex.net.au/Store/Store_AALS-Codes.php

Dennis

Bob..if you want the Australian Boiler codes, they are issued in 4 parts available from:

http://www.smex.net.au/Store/Store_AALS-Codes.php

I have found them to be excellent - the only slight drawback is the material references are to Australian standards, but for most of us this can be overcome with an Internet search.

Dennis

Clive....thank you. I accept that these engraving cutters do not really fit into the scope of our workshops.

I am curious to identify the taper (I cannot find a reference in my handbooks) and if possible the manufacturers that used it. These cutters came from the estate of a man who had worked for Marconi Instruments in the St Albans area and I imagine they were used for engraving brass dials.

From what I can find out on the internet, the modern CNC-type engraving machines do not appear to use taper shanks.

Dennis

I have been given a quantity of tapered engraving cutters without the engraving machine.

Can anyone tell me the machines they fit and/or the details of the shank taper?

The shank taper has small diameter of about 0.160" and large diameter of about 0.215", with an overall length of the ground taper varying between 0.720" to .780" on those that I measured. see pics.

Thanks

Dennis

Edited By Dennis WA on 29/02/2012 13:50:56

Glenn...Why don't you try and find a scrap clock movement with its Westminster chimes intact - it may be a cheap starting point? I have bought movements like this directly from clockmakers and on eBay in the past.

Dennis

Alan,

Reply sent to your pm.

My thanks for a speedy response that solved my query in under 12 minutes!

Dennis

Some years back there was an article in ME dealing with a modification to the wheels / tracking control to improve the tracking of the blade. As a result it was claimed that cutting performance was much improved.

Is anyone able to identify the issue(s) of ME?

Alternatively, can anyone who has made such a modification provide details?

Thanks

Dennis

Thanks KWIL - I see the assembly A1994 in http://www.myford.co.uk/acatalog/Myford_Super_7_Headstock_Assembly.html

Did I understand you correctly that Old Myford would sell the bronze gear / sleeve separately, which the rebuilder would have to press fit to the pulley?

ADY1 - I will pass on your sentiments to the gentleman who asked my help to inspect his proposed purchase.

Dennis

Thanks Bazyle.

I'll pass on the mandrel handle idea. As we still have an active engineering industry here, there would be no problem in having a replacement gear made, or even sourcing a near-fit as you suggest. However from what I can make out from the Myford pages on www.lathes.co.uk, (thanks Tony!) the gear as manufactured includes a sleeve:

On both ML7 and Super 7 that part of the (bronze) backgear carried on the headstock spindle was in the form of a "sleeve pinion" - that is, the small gear was extended to form a long bush on which the pulley was pressed, the whole assembly rotating on the spindle when backgear is engaged - a design that did much to enhance the lathe's ability to run reliably at slow speeds for long periods.

This would indicate that when repairing these one might have to buy a complete pulley assembly! New or 2^nd hand that could be very expensive.

Helping a newcomer to our hobby here in Johannesburg, I have just inspected an old S7 (serial number 78745) which overall is in reasonable condition except the teeth on the bronze backgear. Compared to my own more modern S7, the bronze teeth are both worn and chipped in places. (The other backgear teeth, the 17T/53T cluster and the 60 T are in good shape)

It is not clear from the Myford manual how the vee cone pulley / bronze backgear assembly is put together.

What options does he have should he want to retain the use of the backgear to get low speeds? The backgear works at present, but I would think that failure is not far off!

I did point out that he could avoid using the backgear by fitting a VFD as one solution.

Thanks for any help.

Dennis