Member postings for Greensands

Is there any advantage in spacing the formers off from the base plate?

Thanks for the information. Probally would not go as far as building a computer but in recommending the link you may have saved me the expense of buying the book. Money better spent on machine tools!

Hi - I am tempted to splash out on a copy of the "The Apollo Guidance Computer" by Frank O'Brien currently available for around £35 by before doing so wondered if any members of the forum may have already had the chance to read the book. I have a general interest in computers but would like some assurance that it would appeal to the general reader.

Seen in a park in Funchal, Maderia, 2018

I have now had a look at some of other drills in my collection and sure enough, they are stamped Trubor. Problem solved. Thanks for your assistance

There is currently a Rubor machine reamer listed on fleabay. Not as that means anything of course

Hi All - I have acquired some Rubor HSS stub drills but cannot find any information relating to their country of origin or their current availability. Can anyone throw any light on the matter?

Dave - Thanks for the link. It looks interesting.

I have just discovered the design for a swing up tool holder for threading as illustrated on the Mikesworkshop website and would like to have a go at making one up. Mike illustrates his design by a series of photos together with some indication of the sizes involved but is anyone aware of a fully dimensioned set of drawings suitable for use with the Myford 7 series lathe?

FAO the Moderator - could you please change the title word "Tool" in this thread to read "Gauge". Thankyou

Have attached a photo showing the makers name plate as attached to the Hauser milling machine

Hauser is in fact of Swiss origin and now part of a larger comglomerate. I suspect that the Universal Jig and Tool Co were in fact the UK agents for the Swiss company at some time although there may have been others importing the same equipment.

I am fortunate enough to possess a small vintage bench mounted Hauser milling machine fitted with levers and stops as originally used I believe for high precision production runs in WW2. The interesting thing however is that where you would expect to see the Hauser name, the fitted plate is stamped "Universal Jig & Gauge Company", Birmingham. Can anyone throw any light on why this might have been so and what eventually happened to the Universal Jig & Tool Co.

Any chance of posting some more photos of the Black Five?

Frances IoM - The reason for running an old 486PC under W95 (not W98 as stated in an earlier post) is because the DOS based CAM software I am running, Compucut v3.2 was designed for and is only happy running on the slower machines via the parallel printer port interface. I do have my doubts about the current 3.5" drive but as previously stated although some 3.5 floppies fail, others can be read without problems which is odd. I do have a replacement standby drive which can be fitted if required but you can see my problem. Computcut was updated from time to time but I don't think it was ever developed to run on systems beyond W2000. Although old, I do find it a very useful tool for running a stepper motor controlled 3-axis milling machine as well as being very adaptable for running QBasic program derived files for relatively simple 2.5D type CAM operations e.g. slot cutting, surfacing operations, co-ordinate drilling on a pcd etc. As I said, an old system certainly but still a very useful tool in the home workshop

All files have been backed up as suggested but I would be rather concerned that any modern 3.5" drive with USB interface bought from Amazon or the likes would be plug-in compatible with my anchient 486 desktop PC

Error - For 0.187" read 0.313"

Neil - Could you please check out another dimension on the DB Pipe Bender for me. Page 45, Item 5, Anchor Posts. The dimension from the top of the post to the slot centre line should I think read 0.187" not 0.513 as shown.

(At this rate I think I could begin to claim Beta testing rates)

The suggestion of fitting a USB to Floppy interface seems a good move to make my setup more future proof but current searches suggest that they would have to come in from China. Anyone know of a possible UK supplier?

Can anyone recall doing this as a WW2 pastime? I was brought up in Woking, Surrey where there use to be an Art Deco style Co-op building long since demolished, equipped with a spiral staircase fitted with a steel banister rail capped with a red PVC? top covering. I have vivid memories as a child during WW2 of climbing the staircase to get to the upper levels and being allowed - yes allowed - to drop dud electric light bulbs down to the basement floor where an image of a swastika had been laid out where of course they smashed to smithereens. Great fufn. Fancy being allowed to do that in this day and age! It would be interesting to know if anyone else can remember doing this sort of thing.