Can anyone identify what this is and how it works?

I think this may be some sort of grinding wheel dresser but I do not see how or what it mounts to in order to perform its task. The "cutter" shaft moves finely in and out of its hexagonal sleeve, by turning a mini-handwheel. The hexagonal sleeve moves in and out by means of a rack and pinion , the pinion gear being turned by large black plastic knobs either side of the sleeve. The angle of the sleeve to the whole body can be swivelled to set, in advance of the operation. The angle of the "cutter" head to the sleeve can be set in advance of the operation, manually and locked in place by a caphead screw. The cutter/sleeve can be moved left/right by means of a rack and pinion during the operation, the pinion gear being moved to and fro by a long hand lever. The very odd thing is how and in what position it mounts because it seems that if the operator while operating can view all the dials and move the hand levered pinion gear, then the view of the cutter itself is obscured. I am wondering if it mounts in a such a way that it is suspended and the cutter moves upwards into the grinding wheel, if it is indeed a wheel dresser/shaper. The end of the "cutter" is broken. Bolts and leadscrews are all metric.?

Edited By Adam Harris on 29/07/2020 15:42:36

Edited By Adam Harris on 29/07/2020 15:50:44

I cannot identify said object, but am just wondering (not trying to be gruesome here) if this might be a piece of ex-military hardware on the lines of an artillery quadrant or such. (?) Would that 'mounting point' be for some sort of sighting scope rather than a cutting tool?

Mid 20th Century Medical equipment was often finished in the ivory stove enamel, as was photographic equipment produced by the Kennedy Instruments subsidiary of Ilfords.

It has quite substantial felt rings both ends of the hexagonal shaft that moves in/out with a rack & pinion, and I thought these might be to protect from ingress of grinding dust. There is a small amount black powdery residue inside the sleeve (and no swarf) that would support the notion of dressing grinding wheels. However the end of the "cutter" is broken uncleanly and not worn smooth by a grinding wheel. The active part of the apparatus is the long levered rack & pinion that moves the "cutter" right and left (perpendicular to the axis of its shaft when angle set at 0 deg)....

The colour is similar to that used on Communist era East German machine tools & a bit of digging brought up this

If you scroll though the pictures, something of similar shape can be seen on the LHS of one of them - not exactly the same, but similar & a similar colour. The machine is a thread grinder & the accessories list includes a dresser unit.

HTH

Nigel B.

Thanks Nigel but I can't see which photo you are referring to....

Judging by the colour it looks similar to the old "Diaform" and "Optidress" grinding wheel dressing equipment made by "PG" (Precision Grinding"

Thanks Chris, yes it does look like it shares wheel dressing type functions. Now to find what machine it came from...

I can't see which photo you are referring to....

Click on the picture montage on the page I linked to. This opens a string of pictures - the "object" is visible on the LHS of the 8th picture down.

Nigel B.

Ah yes well I see what you mean. Well I think mine must also mount somehow on top of the wheel dressing downwards