The Workshop Progress Thread 2020

Some further work on the beam engine...

Main beam, CNC cut, thanks to Geoff Adams...

eccentric & side plates...

eccentric assembly...

George.

With the paint dry on the RMC Type-A it was time to put it back together, take some photos while still clean then go and get it dirty with a run for the Video.

I've added a pulley and mounting stud to the side of the cylinder so I can drive a small cooling fan via a Mamod drive belt, still gets quite hot so may think about skimming a bit off the top of the piston as compression is quite high which will hopefully allow me to run it a bit slower but it's not too bad a tick over speed.

That's another nice one Jason, very tempted to have a go at something like that!

Brian

Started assembling parts on beam engine; still a lot to do but it's starting to look like a model. The beam has been given a etch primer coat & a 1st top coat but as usual will end up rubbing it down & giving it another coat, the bain of my model making, getting a decent top coat finish. A lot of polishing & clean up as I go along...

George.

You do turn out nice engines Jason, this is another one I like very nice indeed. Sounds good and I dont think the tickover is too fast. I like the cooling fan and its drive, thats fun and I know I keep repeating myself but I do like the shapes in the RMC castings, different.

Ron

I meant to ask Jason did you make the fan it looks like copper, impressive to.

3mins on the CNC cut it out from 0.35mm copper, cut easily with a 2mm 3-flute disposable cutter though the tabs that were meant to be left to help hold it did not as I had done the CAM for thicker material so the tool wend down further as it was set from the top of the workpiece. I did do the central hole first on the X3

Very good, I do like the radiused blade tips looks much nicer and in keeping with the engine than square or just slightly curved.

Got the Perspex back from the waterjet cutters today and made a start on drilling and boring the holes. Due to the odd shape I had to do some lateral thinking and creative positioning of a number of parallels and the jaws of the ARC vesatile vice to get the workpiece within the working envelope of both the mill and DRO. Final result is shown below with the wooden pattern held to check out the positioning.

Once that checked out OK, I placed the cut perspex in its stead and centred up on the top (left) bearing recess. Using that position as the reference point I changed the DRO readings to coincide with the coordinates on the drawing. I'm happy to say everything is working out well.

I'll have a go at the other "walls" tomorrow.

By the way, I butchered an old digital cakiper as per Readers Tips in MEW 292 to obtain a couple of thin parallels, visible in the second photo and they work brilliantly! Good tip!

John

A little bit more progress on my beam engine; just a loose assembly to see how pieces fit,there are a couple of tight spots I found already so need to sort them first...

George.

looking good George mines on hold other projects making a weather vane for her indoors birthday not aloud out for twelve weeks text from doctors last night how did you machine the fly wheel ??

keep safe Geoff

That is indeed coming on nicely George. I have seen this engine in the past and not been too keen on it but yours will be a great looking model for sure.

Jim

Thanks guys; Geoff, pic showing flywheel set up, set to run as true as possible with DTI, then machined the centre boss, front face, inner rim, drilled & ream bore, reverse & hold on machined boss after checking bore with DTI for concentricity,machine other side boss, rear face, inner rim & OD. Others may have a different set up.

George.

Having had the mounting plates for my gearbox project waterjet cut, I've been busy drilling and boring all the holes in them, ready for a trial assembly. Here's the result :

VERY annoyingly, an error has crept into one of my drawings and the reverse gear idler mounting hole is in the wrong place. I can't for the life of me understand how. It all fits perfectly in CAD 2D and 3D! I'm off to put my lateral thinking hat on so that I can hopefully retrieve the situation.

I tried to add a desription to the album, but I get an error message in a previous picture telling me to use the correct format! Very strange. Tried deleting the picture and reloading, but it won't let me do that, either.

John

Too late to edit the above post, I've entered the description on the iPad.

John

Whoops! I seem to be monopolising this thread, so I'll be brief. Second trial assembly successfully completed. Details, if interested, in the album.

Next job to tackle is the gear selector mechanism, Now that should be fun!

John

No need to apologise John, I'm watching your doings with considerable interest. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

Finished building a Worden cutter grinder, just got a couple of attachments to make for end mills and slitting saws.

Also finally replaced the spindle bearings on my SC3. Four years of use and cutting vibration getting decidedly worse. Decided on angular contacts for now so I can measure up what I need to make for rollers in the future. Milled some slots into the abutment face of each bearing bore to make for easier removal next time, though it probably won't be me doing it.

Jason mentioned my Farm Boy. It's been put to one side for the moment as I have been playing with the brown stuff. I've been getting on with my Chitarrone - carving the roses has been a bit of a stumbling block but it's done now. I ended up printing 3D patterns and using them as a cutting guide.

Also making a Baroque Guitar, I've just finished the body, shown with the mould I constructed.

Stay well,

Rod

I have to agree with Brian H, its very nice.

It would make a change from Locomotive parts. And you only make one part not multiples.

Nice wood work Rod.

Bri

Edited By Boiler Bri on 30/03/2020 16:44:04