2014 POTD Thread Archive

[Whyemier]

Spent some time with the new (to me) lathe getting to know it. I machined these two items, nothing big or complicated, just a couple of knurled brass knobs. One for the 'lock' on the gear cover the other for the carriage lock. I press fit a socket head cap screw into the knobs. This way I don't have to look for my allen wrench every time I want to lock/unlock them but can use the allen wrench if I need to for some reason. The knurling on the first was not what it should be but the knurl on the second worked better.

 

[zmotorsports]

Spent some time with the new (to me) lathe getting to know it. I machined these two items, nothing big or complicated, just a couple of knurled brass knobs. One for the 'lock' on the gear cover the other for the carriage lock. I press fit a socket head cap screw into the knobs. This way I don't have to look for my allen wrench every time I want to lock/unlock them but can use the allen wrench if I need to for some reason. The knurling on the first was not what it should be but the knurl on the second worked better.

That is the best way to practice, plus it gives you some alone time with it to get to know it.:whistle:

Nice job.

Mike.

 

[zmotorsports]

Friday night I had a client come by the shop and drop of some measurements to me for a suspension end that he needed machined. He called me a couple of weeks ago asking my opinion after he hit a rock and damaged the suspension link. I told him to get me some measurements and I could turn him a new end then just cut the damaged one off and weld the new one on, no big deal.


Well wouldn't you know it that he waits until he needs it right away rather then get me the dimensions and let me fit it into the workload. He absolutely had to have it by Saturday so he could repair the link and get it back under the buggy so he could go on a run Sunday with his Jeep club. He didn't get my sarcasm Friday night when he dropped it off and I asked him why give me so much time, if you didn't need it until tomorrow, why didn't you wait until tomorrow to get me the measurements?


Anyway, Saturday morning I hurried and knocked out the part for him.


I didn't have any 2" OD thick walled tubing to I started with a piece of 2" round stock and bored out the ID. Drilled out to 1" with drill bit before starting with the boring bar.



I wanted a pretty snug fit so I shot for the exact measurement of the bushing. Once I got close I broke out the snap gauges and micrometer.






It needed a snap ring groove on either end to hold the bushing in. I reached for my snap-ring assortment and measured the thickness so I knew how wide to make the HSS tool.



Ground the HSS tool to a few thousandths over the thickness.



I like to hone or stone the cutting edges a little.



Completed tool and ready to go to work.



Measured in the proper depth and cut the snap ring groove.






Turn the part around in the chuck and face off to the proper length.



Knock the edge off and chamfer the outside.



Chamfer the inside by running the lathe in reverse.



And here is the completed part ready for him to pick up.



His notes or measurements were just scribbled down on an old envelope. Prior to starting I drew them out as drawings with measurements make it easier for me to follow. Plus I like to keep the drawings just in case I need to machine another.



All in all about an hour and a half job and hopefully he was happy. I tried to express the importance of not waiting until the last minute but I still don't think he got it. I am sure the next job will be a "rush" job as well.


Mike.

- - - Updated - - -

I noticed the other day when I rode my bike to work that I was missing a screw holding the small visor on my helmet. I stopped by the Harley shop and they had to order the fasteners and they were not cheap. I decided what the hell, I will just machine some new ones and replace all three, this will give me two spares for the wife's helmet in case she ever loses one.


Here is a quick little drawing I made up. The original ones were plastic but I thought I would make them out of aluminum.



Faced off a piece of .5" aluminum round stock.



I have never single point threaded anything this small but I decided to give it a try vs. using a die. I like to mark the area with a Sharpie for my scratch pass, makes it easier for me to see and to ensure the thread pitch is correct before continuing.



After scratch pass, yep 28 threads per inch.



Completed one next to the OEM one. One down, two to go. Originally I was going to knurl them but the finish turned out so nice I opted not to.



All three completed and installed. I added a little Loctite to these ones so hopefully I won't lose any of them.



Mike.

 

[John Hasler]

The way to express the importance of not waiting until the last minute is with a rush fee.

 

[calstar]

I didn't have any 2" OD thick walled tubing to I started with a piece of 2" round stock and bored out the ID. Drilled out to 1" with drill bit before starting with the boring bar.



I wanted a pretty snug fit so I shot for the exact measurement of the bushing. Once I got close I broke out the snap gauges and micrometer.






It needed a snap ring groove on either end to hold the bushing in. I reached for my snap-ring assortment and measured the thickness so I knew how wide to make the HSS tool.



Ground the HSS tool to a few thousandths over the thickness.



I like to hone or stone the cutting edges a little.



Completed tool and ready to go to work.



Measured in the proper depth and cut the snap ring groove.






Turn the part around in the chuck and face off to the proper length.



Knock the edge off and chamfer the outside.



Chamfer the inside by running the lathe in reverse.



And here is the completed part ready for him to pick up.



His notes or measurements were just scribbled down on an old envelope. Prior to starting I drew them out as drawings with measurements make it easier for me to follow. Plus I like to keep the drawings just in case I need to machine another.






Here is a quick little drawing I made up. The original ones were plastic but I thought I would make them out of aluminum.



Faced off a piece of .5" aluminum round stock.



I have never single point threaded anything this small but I decided to give it a try vs. using a die. I like to mark the area with a Sharpie for my scratch pass, makes it easier for me to see and to ensure the thread pitch is correct before continuing.



After scratch pass, yep 28 threads per inch.



Completed one next to the OEM one. One down, two to go. Originally I was going to knurl them but the finish turned out so nice I opted not to.



All three completed and installed. I added a little Loctite to these ones so hopefully I won't lose any of them.



Mike.

Cool projects and really great pictorial of the process. For me good pics are worth more than the "1000 words".

thanks, Brian

 

[zmotorsports]

The way to express the importance of not waiting until the last minute is with a rush fee.

Agreed. I charged him $20.00 more due to the rush. I told him that I had to bump his job in front of others that were scheduled thus the additional charge. I really didn't have much else going on but I was trying to prove a point as this guys jobs usually are rush and I am hoping to curb that habit.

Mike.

- - - Updated - - -

Cool projects and really great pictorial of the process. For me good pics are worth more than the "1000 words".

thanks, Brian

Thanks Brian, I appreciate that. I too like pictures as I am very visual. Plus I just like seeing what cool things everyone is working on.

Mike.

 

[Smudgemo]

Good stuff Mike, but $20 sure doesn't sound like much of a penalty. Probably just my ridiculously expensive location..

I started my Harold Hall design advanced grinder rest. I've got a ways to go on it...


I also parted off some 1 3/8" .058 4130 for bicycle head tube reinforcement rings. I only needed two, but since I was set up and running, I did ten. The steady rest is a nice way to economize on material and repeat sizes.


-Ryan

 

[zmotorsports]

Good stuff Mike, but $20 sure doesn't sound like much of a penalty. Probably just my ridiculously expensive location..

I started my Harold Hall design advanced grinder rest. I've got a ways to go on it...
View attachment 82582

I also parted off some 1 3/8" .058 4130 for bicycle head tube reinforcement rings. I only needed two, but since I was set up and running, I did ten. The steady rest is a nice way to economize on material and repeat sizes.


-Ryan

Nice job Ryan. I am assuming the parts that you milled for the grinder rest were done on your PM935? What kind of depth of cuts were you able to accomplish? Are you still happy with the mill and does it appear to be a good rigid, powerful machine?

Thanks.

Mike.

 

[Smudgemo]

Nice job Ryan. I am assuming the parts that you milled for the grinder rest were done on your PM935? What kind of depth of cuts were you able to accomplish? Are you still happy with the mill and does it appear to be a good rigid, powerful machine?

Thanks.

Mike.

Yep. I think it was two .200” cuts and a finish cut. Width of each cut was maybe about 3/8” using a 3/4" good quality hogging endmill. Material is free-machining steel. I switched to a MIC cutter for the final pass and the shoulder was now smooth, but the face was somewhat crappy (soon to be rectified by a few nice cutters while Enco has 20% off and free shipping this week.) I promise you’ll be happy with the 935. I haven't regretted buying it for a second.

-Ryan

 

[zmotorsports]

Yep. I think it was two .200” cuts and a finish cut. Width of each cut was maybe about 3/8” using a 3/4" good quality hogging endmill. Material is free-machining steel. I switched to a MIC cutter for the final pass and the shoulder was now smooth, but the face was somewhat crappy (soon to be rectified by a few nice cutters while Enco has 20% off and free shipping this week.) I promise you’ll be happy with the 935. I haven't regretted buying it for a second.

-Ryan

Awesome, thank Ryan. I appreciate the response. .200" deep cut is a pretty respectable number.

Mike.