What did you do Today 2018

Another riveting episode:

Starting from the front row on the right the first rivet is full length. Clearly there is too much metal for the snap to close the rivet flush. The next rivet left is about 60 thou shorter; here there is not enough metal to form a proper head. So at least that sets limits on the length. The rest of the rivets going left and then to the right along the back row are experimenting with lengths. The rivets start about 0.890". Running down the back row I started at 0.870" and removed a few more thou each time, ending up at 0.855". This seems about the right length. In due course I'll add another two rows of rivets to the back of the plate above, to see what consistency I can achieve rivet to rivet.

If that looks good I'll set up the Britan to knock out a batch of shortened rivets, after I've finished the rivet bolts for the smokebox.

Andrew

Not long ago I treated myself to a Vertex 6inch rotary table I have an old 4inch table it looks like one I saw on a Centic milling machine.

The small one is certainly well made the Vertex was bought as am working on larger projects but the manual is not perfect so downloaded the Grizzly manual.

The Grizzly had a lever to engage the worm to reduce backlash where mine was just a knurled dial.

So did a quick modification and put a lever on it.

What a difference as when your grip is not that good the Grizzly type lever is a lot easier to use to eliminate back lash.

Tomorrow Elvington calls the Straightliners team have been setting the timed American mile course and conditions look good.

Will see if the fastest Granny can better her record of 264 mph on her bike the air should be denser but wind has to be the deciding factor for runs at that speed.

This machine is her new one after crashing the record one a few years ago.

Edited By Windy on 19/03/2018 23:13:57

Edited By Windy on 19/03/2018 23:19:05

A lousy wet start to Elvington top speed meeting but what a surprise I had.

A team from the Isle of Man was there with a steam bike that had only run around an industrial site.

First run was over 49mph the next run over 72mpf the last run something went wrong so could not run.

It had data logger and many electronic control systems the engine was fairly conventional with a flash type generator.

Thats really interesting and it shows some promise for a first time out. A bet that's inspired you Paul.

Repaired the wife's die cutting machine loads of brownie points

H

Not today, but last Friday. I finished making a cup stand for SWMBO's pottery stall at a craft fair. The stand was made from an ALDI 10kg weightlifting weight and quite a lot of aluminium bar and tube. It actually looks quite good. Unfortunately, it snowed last weekend and we didn't even take enough money over two days to pay for the stall. It was nice to have a couple of relaxing days out of the house though .

That is fascinating! Looks initially like a Moto Guzzi derived steam engine.

The high pressure piston is only 0.034" larger in diameter than my flash steamer but it's stroke is a lot longer.

Seems to be a very standard type of compound steam engine it's the steam generator that's the key plus electronic control system.

Think they will be back for an FIM record attempt later in the year

Well tomorrow actually. Off to drive Black Prince on the North Norfolk Railway with the Cambridge Astronomical Association (Steam Section). It's so good when you can combine hobbies.

regards Martin

Saw this and thought of Windy - steam powered rocket anybody?

Just my sort of thing.

Lol!

Neil

I was using the mill today to 'turn' the rust off a 1" length of 8" diameter pipe. The mill's got a 10" 4 jaw chuck that clamps to the 8" rotary table. The 11" swing Hardinge lathe has got a 5" chuck .

After I came in from the shed I went on to fleabay and ordered an 8" 4 jaw chuck, from the same importer that the mill's one came from, to fit to the Hardinge. I'd been meaning to do it for some time and this finally prompted me.

Received 5 spiral flute taps from China/Hong Kong... from eBay ... all for the princely sum of £4.89 economy shipping... 3-4-5-6-8 mm, look ok but testing will tell ...

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George.

Edited By mechman48 on 27/03/2018 09:07:24

Is that a Titanium Nitride coating? The cherry on the top

.... claims to be...


Drill 5Pcs M3 M4 M5 M6 M8 Titanium Coated HSS Spiral Flute Metric Taps Set.


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Dang it you tripped my Buy-It-Now reflex

Edited By Robin on 27/03/2018 11:34:18

Steady on. It's not that agricultural.

Borrowed an MT3 test bar from a fellow club member.

My lathes are all well pre-owned.

The Emco Compact-8 - perfectly aligned.

The Kerry 1124 - spindle pointing somewhere out into the back yard. It was harder to test, though - the MT3-4.5 adapter was bad - the test bar would visibly rock when put in place, so I put the collet set on, and held the bar by the straight bit. Aligned the tailstock afterwards, of course. Fortunately, the Kerry was designed to have the headstock aligned quite easily...

The Kerry had an alignment issue, as when drilling deep holes, the drill would complain.

I've had Connelly's "Machine Tool Reconditioning" book for a few decades, but this is the first time I've really put it to use.

Maybe now that the Kerry is straight, I'll use it more than once every 3 years... (the Emco just is such a nice lathe to use, the Kerry is a bit of a beast for small parts)

I'll have to source a MT3-4.5 adapter that is not nackered, should I actually have need to turn between centres.