Member postings for GaryM

Hi Jason (moore),

For info, my subs to MEW was due to expire on the 28th Feb 2014. I'm on direct debit and was waiting until the 14th to see what the special offer would be (I already have the Foundation book). I knew if I took the special offer my subs would increase but thought it might be worth the extra if it was something I wanted. Anyway, on the 7th Feb the subscription was automatically renewed so I didn't get the chance. I'm not bothered as I use my caliper as a depth gauge. Just warning you that it might be sooner than you think.

Gary

Edited By GaryM on 15/02/2014 11:00:19

Echoing Jason & Martin's pleas. You can't stop posting now Allan. We're all waiting to see it run. The thread has contributed so much useful info to beginners like myself it would be a shame to stop now.

Gary

Edited By GaryM on 13/02/2014 14:12:31

All the best for the future Neil. In the few years I've been reading this forum I think your posts have only been a positive addition to it.

Gary

Just as some of you are getting to grips with 3D printing it looks like 4D printing is emerging as the next big thing. Early days yet but an interesting introduction here;

**LINK**

8 minutes but stick with it, more interesting at the end.

The future possibility of flat-pack furniture that builds itself will appeal to many non-practical types (of which there appear to be many). Although on second thoughts, if you have to soak it in water maybe not.

Gary

Hi Rik,

Sorry I couldn't resist this but the square box with a handle on the front, usually in a chest is a drawer not a draw. This crops up over and over again and I always have to resist the urge to correct it. But not this time.

And I know I make mistakes. Meant in good humour.

Gary

Studying for a nit-picking degree.

Well here is the result. It fits and seems to do the job, but it's not pretty. In the end I adapted Jeff's idea and drilled a piece of 3/16 bar with 7BA clearance so I could use a 7BA screw to hold it, which made working with it much easier. Slot still ended up rounded even with a flat needle file. If I decide to make another I'll try slitting it before the turning operations and while still on the stock. Might be a good learning exercise anyway as it's only a small part. I didn't fancy soldering or gluing as I thought it might take me longer to get it clean afterwards.

John S - I thought I knew the Arc catalogue inside out but hadn't spotted these small clamps. Worth having some at the price (that should get you your £2 back).

Again thanks for all the suggestions, even though I didn't use some of them they are stored away for the future.

Gary

Hi Jim,

Very nice little engine with a few unusual touches. Just curious, but why have you recessed the crank into the frame/stand?

Gary

That Commando looks to be in very nice condition, Steve. You're beginning to make me jealous.

Gary

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. For this project I have been following a Tubal Cain article published in ME Aug 92 to May 93. His instructions were for someone who only had a lathe and for this part he suggested mounting on a vertical slide and using a 3/32 slot drill. With hindsight, it may have been easier to mill the slot first then part off last. I could have then tapped the hole afterwards. As Jason says you don't get much to play with in Stuart kits (about 5/8" in this case) but obviously that doesn't stop me using another bit of brass bar. Jeff's mandrel idea sounds appealing if the vice won't hold it well enough. I've got some 7BA screws so I could just fasten it to a short piece of 3/16" bar as suggested which would give extra support.

Bazyle, my problem would then be finding it again in my brain.

As I said above I'll try holding it in the bench vice first and sawing and filing it but thanks for the ideas. I'll let you know how I get on.

Gary

Hi,

The photo below is a part-made forked end for the S50 I'm building. I need to cut the slot for the eccentric rod in the square end. I'll probably hold it in the bench vice and use hacksaw and file but I was wondering how you would do it. I thought about holding the round end in a collet block and using a slitting saw but thought the clamping might not be good enough. Any suggestions welcomed.

Gary

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forum. If you can borrow an engine crane it might be easier than taking the head and table off. Or even hire one for a day from HSS.

Enjoy playing with your new toy.

Gary

I left school with O levels in Art and Maths, amongst others. I thought I'd end up painting computers.

Gary

Hi Dick,

Concentration of CO2 in air likely to be immediately dangerous to life through displacing oxygen is about 50% (Source HSE). Current concentration is about 0.04%, so there's a way to go before we need worry about asphyxiation. Other effects might concern us sooner though.

Gary

Hi Allan,

You might find this series of videos by Keith Appleton interesting/useful when you get to the final assembly and running stage.

**LINK**

He's started refurbishing a twin Victoria that doesn't run at present. Only started in December so it's a work in progress.

Gary

As I've only been interested in model engineering for the last two years I've only been to the Harrogate and Midlands shows, which I've enjoyed. My wife and I treat them as a holiday. We stay two nights and as they are both near to attractive towns, my wife spends the day having some sort of spa treatments and doing a bit of retail therapy and I get to spend all day at the show. Costs a fortune but I think of it as a holiday with an exhibition nearby rather than an expensive day trip. I was a bit disappointed when the Manchester show (admittedly modelling rather than ME) was cancelled after only two years as there were quite a lot of youngsters with their dads and it reminded me of going to shows with my dad when I was a boy. I think there is a good chance that the 'Maker fairs' will replace them and the ME shows will die off, just like lots of us.

Gary

I think you have all our sympathies Bill. I'd be devastated. All the forum can do is offer support and encouragement, but if everyone on here lived within a few miles of you then you can guarantee there would be a working party round there sharpish.

Gary

But we don't get out much, do we John.

Think of all the saving in carbon emissions from travelling, apart from ME shows that is.

Gary

Hi Paul,

Postage charges can be quite high for small quantities of metal bought on-line but Chronos include postage and packing in their prices making them quite cheap for small quantities.

Gary

Bill,

One can be fitted to the other end of the table, but at £300 I don't think I'll be fitting one in a hurry. It kept disengaging while traversing quickly.

Gary

Bill,

As this is the only milling machine I've ever used, I'm not sure my observations count for much but here goes. I bought the long table version which Arc have since stopped supplying (not sure why) but the rest of the machine is the same as the SX3. I find the extra space on the table useful as I can leave the vice bolted to one half of the table and have the other half free for clamping work direct. So far, I can't find anything to complain about and I think this mill should be capable of doing any work I'm likely to ask of it. When I first got interested in model engineering I bought a mini-lathe and am now wishing I'd gone for something bigger (upgrade looms). The only minor thing I've done to the mill is to add four M12 washers to the X-axis feed handle to keep the dog clutch permanently engaged (see below). I think a DRO system might be on the horizon. A borrowed engine crane was handy for lifting it onto the bench.

Gary