Machining Larger Parts

Hello Everyone hope you are all well.>>

Please don't shoot me down too far BUT, i am building a 5" gauge Britannia.>>

I have a Myford ML 7 lathe, i can machine many parts but don't feel combatable machining the driving wheels and the cylinders. >>

Does anyone know of any companies that would be able to do these if I supply the castings and the plans? I was thinking with all the CNC machines it would be possible.>>

Thank you so much in advance.>>

Rob>>

Have a try with John Dunn Engineering who advertise machining services to model engineers in ME

I'm sure you will, sooner or later, find a firm to do stuff like this. I don't know where you are, but I live fairly deep in the countryside (the Welsh border) and within 10 miles I could find two or three firms to help. If you live near a big town, especially one with proper industry, it should be easier still. But - precision engineers are not cheap. They have serious kit and seriously skilled employees. And they are often booked up for months on stuff for industry.

So, my suggestion would be to contact a local group of model engineers, and ask them how to solve your problems. They might respond with 'I can do that, mate'. There are addresses of clubs for a start in Model Engineers Workshop. You are more likely to find help there.

Regarding the 'advantages' of CNC for your tasks, please think about it. CNC is a wonderful way to tell a machine what you want, exactly, and once told it can make dozens and dozens before you are out of the door. But setting up the machine takes time, and so does writing the instruction, and testing the routine, before you start on the real thing.

Let's see what others think, of course, but that is my answer.

Regards, Tim

Edited By Tim Stevens on 21/03/2016 15:57:17

Edited By Tim Stevens on 21/03/2016 15:59:31

Thank you to you both of you!! you make a very good point Tim.

I am Bolton / Manchester. I would pay to have someone do a good job on these items, i understand it takes a huge amount of time to setup and test on a CNC machine.

Jason, i will take a look at the link you have provided, Thank you very much!

Regads

Rob

As Tim says, Professional help is expensive. I had to get some very peculiar king pins turned up, with tapers in between top and bottom bearings, oil grooves and a long hole thro the centre etc etc. The first pin cost about 350€, the second 50€ and the next pair thrown in for 12€.
Most clubs will have one or more very keen machinists who would help you out for much less.
BobH

Thank you Bob.

I understand what you mean, it's a difficult one, the cylinders are £420 for a set it's too much to take a risk. Having said that it could be more than double the price of the cylinders for the machining alone.

I have sent some emails off to get some indicative pricing, I will make sure I'm seated when I open the reply

Thanks again  

Edited By Robert Greenwood 1 on 21/03/2016 18:24:31

Best route might be finding a club where there is someone who would mentor you through the job so that next time you can do it on your own.

Neil

Hi Robert,

The Myford should be able to machine those bits with a bit of faffing around. The wheels although apparently daunting would fit on the face plate and as the gap is quite generous on the Myford could be maybe tackle 10-inch diameter at a pinch. All you need is to set them up to run fairly true with some bolts through the spokes and then centre drill and ream to size. Hell LBSC covered this umpteen times in his words and music. It seems to be a lost art today.

Same goes for the cylinders. Fettle them a bit to remove the blobs and casting flashes with a file, or if lazy use a small angle grinder to carefully knock the bits off which are unwanted, and then bolt it onto the cross slide and stick a between centres boring bar though the core hole and away you go. Use the self act on the leadscrew to get a nice slow traverse and Roberts you proverbial family member!

But I agree that finding an engineering works to do the machining might be a challenge and to find one sympathetic and who isn't going to bugger up the job and cost you and arm and two legs today is more difficult. Rather get to know the local model engineering club, by that I mean join as a member and your small monetary investment annually will be well repaid for all the advice and help you will get. Six heads are better than one!

Try Paul Pavier **LINK**. He is a professional model loco builder and a member of his local club.