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Martin Botting 221/10/2014 22:39:43
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Forum posters,

I have a project on the bench in it's infancy i.e. in my head. I have got some drawings that are annotated in german and my knowledge of that is as good as my knowledge of rocket science I would like to ask for some pointers from the brains trust would it be wise/ fool hardy, or downright brain damage if I convert the dimensions using a conversion app into Thou and attempt to machine to that. I would not like to think that the conversion of my lathe and mill to imperial lead screws and dials etc would cost so some recommendations please.

Many thanks.

IanT21/10/2014 23:13:34
2147 forum posts
222 photos

Hi Martin,

I don't think that you would have any problems at all.

Most of my machines are 'Imperial' but I use quite a mix of imperial & metric tooling (increasingly metric - because it's cheaper here in UK). I tend to move between the two systems according to what I'm working on. If I'm working on an older machine - I'm thinking 'fractional' generally (Whit nuts & bolts etc), if I'm working on a 'published' 2.5" engine design it will probably be imperial (and I'm into thous & BA threads) but any new tooling or designs I make/design are in metric (mm) because its generally cheaper to use metric materials, fittings, taps/dies etc. these days.

I've been working on drawings for my Sentinel (that I've mentioned elsewhere - seeking a GA) this evening and I prefer to start with a full sized drawing (where 1ft = 12" ) and then scale it down to G3 (1:22.6). Once scaled (it's still in inches) I then convert the drawing to metric (mm). It's very easy to move between the two systems when you have a CAD system - or even a calculator !.

In the workshop, it's still pretty simple. I know that 1mm = 40 thou (well near enough for my purposes) - so even I can do most of the required math in my head. Working out that 0.5mm = 20thou or that 0.2mm = 8thou is really not that hard once you start doing it routinely...

So my advice is convert your drawing directly into whatever system you prefer (or need to use) BUT if it specifies (say) metric fixings - then use them. Don't try going to "near equivalents" - use the material stated but convert the 'machined' sizes to suit yourself and/or your machines

Hope this makes sense...it's getting late - so time for bed.

Regards,

IanT

IanT21/10/2014 23:33:13
2147 forum posts
222 photos

PS I'm also struggling with my technical German Martin.

A while ago I discovered the web site of a very talented German marine modeller, Jurgen Eichart and spent some time reading his website via Bing Translate. I was interested enough in his techniques to buy his two 'milling' books from Amazon UK. { Fräsen für Modellbauer (Volumes 1 & 2) by Jürgen Eichardt } . Very useful for any small scale modeller...he states his methods for machining small items are a viable alternative to etching for instance...

Unfortunately - it's not quite so easy to translate a book (as it is a web-page) so I'm having to work on my German. Anyone who wants a peek at his work should start here:

**LINK**

Regards,

IanT

Ady122/10/2014 00:59:40
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6137 forum posts
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Fit a DRO? Then Imp/Metric can be used at the push of a button

Bill Pudney22/10/2014 06:56:02
622 forum posts
24 photos

Funnily enough I have a similar problem, but the other way round.

Although I am "bilingual" in Imperial and metric, I much prefer the latter. To the extent that my machines and measuring stuff is all metric, apart from a bore mic, because I couldn't find a metric one that I could afford!. Even though I grew up with Imp. I find all the silly fractions, 3 places of decimal when clearly one place is sufficient, number drills, letter drills etc etc such a waste of time and so irritating, that now I would rather "metricate" all imperial drawings. Not trying to start any sort of upset here but it's the way I look at stuff.

The way I do it, is to simply go over all dimensions and convert them to millimetres, mark up the drawing, neatly in red. Each dimension has to be assessed for the requirement for accuracy of course, but as I used to be a draftsman this is no problem. Drawing notes in a foreign language can be a problem. Frequently internet translators are not a lot of help because drawing notes can be somewhat cryptic. This is where forums like this can be of help.

Best of luck!!

cheers

Bill

Stephen Benson22/10/2014 07:29:20
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203 forum posts
69 photos

This is something I do all the time just remember 0.040 = 1mm and 4 thou = 0.10mm and use a metric micrometer.,my mill and Cowells lathe are metric but my larger South Bend lathe is imperial

JasonB22/10/2014 07:32:29
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Although the app will do a direct conversion you will need to tweal sizes to suit nominal tooling and materials

eg a 6mm hole is easy enough to drill or ream to take a piece of 6mm bar but do you want to try and bore a hole 0.236" and turn down a length of 1/4 rod to 0.236"

As mentioned same with fixings trying to find one that is 0.118" dia is daft, either up it to say 5BA or stay with M3

Easiest way on the lathe is to zero your callipers/mic, open up to the metric size then zero, change to imperial reading and you know how much to take off in thou to get the finished size.

J

David Jupp22/10/2014 07:55:20
978 forum posts
26 photos

Not directly imperial/metric, but I thought it worth mentioning that German (indeed most continental) technical drawings are likely to use 1st angle projection.

Depending upon which convention you are used to this could introduce an element of confusion.

Martin Kyte22/10/2014 08:15:59
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3445 forum posts
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Personally I would leave all drawing packages in the units they were drawn in. I say this for 2 reasons. Firstly it's a lot of work to redraw everything and secondly you are far more likely to introduce either errors and or confusion if you do direct conversions because of the proliferation of decimal places. Really if you wanted to end up with an imperial drawing from a metric design you should redesign using appropriate preferred imperial dimensions. This however is even more of an ask.

I just do my conversions on the fly when needed. Digital calipers and mics go backwards and forwards between the two systems at the touch of a button. The main bug bear would probably be co-ordinate drilling for holes on the mill but then I have axis readouts which do this for me anyhow.

Regards Martin

Paul Lousick22/10/2014 08:25:36
2276 forum posts
801 photos

A factor which you should also consider is the availability of materials and tooling. The engine which I am building was originally drawn in imperial units but the materials which are available now have changed and some are not available. Therefore I have re-designed the drawings so I can use metric materials. My mill is metric and my lathe is imperial. As most of my tooling is metric, I decided to build a metric version of the original engine.

I used to work for a German company, and as David has said, most of their drawings are drawn in 1st angle projection. Another reason to re-draw the original design.

Martin Botting 222/10/2014 23:21:45
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93 forum posts
20 photos

Dear all.

Thank you for your help I knew I could count on many heads to solve this problem. I have recently invested in digital callipers and mic so will try the push button cure first. Zero the calliper or mic and then switch between mm and imp…the fixtures will be metric as per drawing and the division work needed is bi-lingual.

The project is in fact a model marine one a voith propulsion unit the builder of the prototype propellors have produced some model drawing which I think is very good of them in these days of industrial secrets its nice that a big company like Voith have gone to the trouble of making up drawings for us miniature makers. Mr Ashley Best in his recent articles stated that his fantastic trams were not model engineering but merely models I disagree his work is engineering in the truest sense but just on a small scale.

If any other marine modellers or come to that engineers fancy having a go at this interesting mode of propulsion here is the link:

http://observethebanana.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/modelvsp.pdf

From personal experience these units in a 12" - 1 foot version are incredible to use you can literally make a boat dance.

thanks to everyone that posted a reply I might be bold and do a blog on the build as its a bit outside what I have done in the past, it will be a challenge. And like my usual method I am sure I will built at least 4, one that works and the other 3 in the scrap pile.

Martin Botting 222/10/2014 23:31:10
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while I have my question head on would some kind person give me some help with this part of the project. its the drive gear (bevel gear) the annotation to the left i am presuming is the number of teeth? the module type and the ratio with its mate of 3 to 1.screen shot 2014-10-22 at 23.23.36 copy.jpg

Ady123/10/2014 00:44:07
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6137 forum posts
893 photos

Is that drawing meant to make sense?

First we have 16.897

Then 15?

Then 13?

followed by 5 H7

No wonder they lost the bloody war

Edited By Ady1 on 23/10/2014 00:45:10

Bill Pudney23/10/2014 01:46:18
622 forum posts
24 photos

My reading of that would be

16.897 = in mm the theoretical max. diameter (actual diameter if the number of teeth was even)

15 = in mm the PCD

13 = in mm the diameter of the boss

5H7 = in mm, the basic diameter of the bore is 5.0mm, the H7 is the tolerance +0.012/0.00mm

Hope this helps clear your confusion, it's really simple actually

cheers

Bill

Edited By Bill Pudney on 23/10/2014 01:46:54

JasonB23/10/2014 07:33:40
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Bottom left

Z = Number of teeth

M = MOD1 (size of gear form)

i = ratio 1:3 so mating gear likely to have z = 45 on it or 45 teeth

Edited By JasonB on 23/10/2014 07:33:53

Martin Botting 223/10/2014 08:31:41
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93 forum posts
20 photos

Thanks Bill and Jason I looked at the mating gear and that drawing has the same annotation but with the numbers 45 so problem is sol-ved.

I am now reaching for the S H Muffet catalog to see if they have such items or bracing myself for the horrors of making them!

speelwerk23/10/2014 10:54:48
464 forum posts
2 photos

It also states that it is a "kaufteil" from "verschiedene Hersteller", so you should be able to buy it from several suppliers, such as http://www.maedler.nl/Article/36057600. Niko.

JasonB23/10/2014 13:19:11
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25215 forum posts
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HPC have them but make sure you are sitting down before clicking here

Keith Long23/10/2014 14:45:01
883 forum posts
11 photos

Martin - as well as the EN8 steel bevels that Jason has linked to above, HPC also do the bevels that you are after in Delrin link at much better prices £20 + vat for the pair. EN8 is somewhat overkill in your application, the drawing suggests brass (CuZn) in the materials spec with mild steel as an alternative. Given the application and likely speed that you'd be using I'd think that the Delrin gears would be adequate. If they broke down eventually then they have the advantage of being standard parts that could be replaced or up graded quite easily.

Brass bevel sets in 3:1 ratio used to be very common as they were used in the final drive for slot cars, but I don't know what module or dp they were. They were also fairly cheap from memory, they might still be around, a bit of "Googling" could bring them to light. Could also be worth asking at your local model shop to see if any of the RC helicopters, cars or trucks use a suitable gear set. If so they are very probably available as fairly cost efective spare parts.

Just found moulded delrin bevels for your application at Motionco price even better - cheap enough to buy on an experimental basis

Edited By Keith Long on 23/10/2014 14:55:50

JasonB23/10/2014 16:39:29
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Just had a look through teh PDF, quite an interesting project and a novel method of propulsion, have I got it right that as the blade rotates the pitch varies and that is what gives the directional thrust?

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