Only managed an hour or so in the workshop over the last few days but felt well enough to go out today and finish the last task on the new leadscrew. That of cutting the threads on the end of the right hans side of the lathe. Both ends have now been machined. The brass collet I made worked well and protected the threads fine. Next time I would part off another 1/4" long piece just for the dial indicator to rest on as the overlapping slots cut on the main collet did disrupt the centreing process. However it was nice to see that when cutting the threads down, that they all disappeared at the same time. Showing the leadscrew was running true. No real drama occured and this was more than likely down to the 'fear' factor of cutting the new leadscrew. It turned very well and a clean finish was achieved without too much problem. One interesting aside was the effect that turning a thread had on me. The way the thread looked to be moving toward the cutter started to make me feel a little sick! I had to turn away until nearing the end of the cut. The effect was soon reduced though as the thread was cut down. Once the bar was turned to size (using the half method) the thread run out indentation was cut using the parting off tool, and then the threads were cut on the end using a die. The new tailstock die holder is proving valuable and I would recommend them to you if you don't have one. They should be easy enough to make but its the time I am short of and they are not dear.
The front or left hand side of the leadscrew was then turned to size and the leadscrew removed from the 4 jaw with much relief. A start has been made on the new bushes required for the gear end of the leadscrew and hopefully if I feel up to it, they should be finished tomorrow. Hope to make a start on the shaft that fits between the leadscrew and gear end tomorrow as well.
About Mike Freeman
Hello, my name is Mike Freeman and I am a retired Chief Fire Officer from the United Kingdom with a keen interest in model engineering, silver caddy spoons and sea fishing. I live in the pretty fishing port of Brixham, South Devon, in the United Kingdom.
I am a sufferer of degenerative osteoarthritis, which impacts on the amount of time I can spend in the workshop, and is the reason why you will see seats and a stool in some of the photo's. I have only recently added the above sentence after a discussion with one of my Doctor's from the excellent pain clinic, based in Torbay. This does affect concentration one of the reasons why I double then re-double my measurements and set ups.
Before completing nearly 30 years of public service I and my wife Sandy, owned and ran, a small restaurant in Okehampton Devon. Prior to marriage I worked for my father in his various businesses, in the early days these were garages, which he bought in a run down state, then built them up before moving on, to start again.
I took every opportunity in those early days, to work in his workshop's
learning 'on the job' rather than as an apprentice. This, I suspect, is the reason why my building various model's in the early days, turned into model engineering, when funds allowed the required equipment to be bought.
My workshop comprises one half of a detached double garage. It has a
stud wall separating the two halves and unusually perhaps, its own
shower/toilet/washbasin compartment! (the true reason for buying the
bungalow - don't tell the wife!!!)
It is fully insulated with a ceiling and fluorescent lighting supplementing the one window. Several double electrical sockets are dotted around in
relevant positions.
Equipment consists of 2 lathes (1 Myford ML 10 and 1 Chinese variable
speed motor with etched glass DRO's), 1 milling machine (RF25 far East) floor standing pillar drill, Proxxon bandsaw, Warco bandsaw, 6" wire brush and polishing mop motor, 6" coarse and fine grinder, Proxxon mini drill, various benches and an engineers vice. I have just acquired a third lathe, a Myford ML7 which I am at present evaluating so I can decide which of the Myford's I will keep.
I have only just bought the Chinese lathe and had it fitted with DRO's prior to delivery. And what a bonus they are! So good in fact that I decided to buy another set for the Milling machine. Whilst my engineering experience can only be described as limited, I find the use of DRO's has affected my accuracy levels which have improved tremendously (although that's not saying much!) and would recommend their fitting to any model engineer.
Prior to retirement I built for my son's 17th birthday a Locost car. This
was a tremendous project and a great feeling when it passed its test. The book it was based on suggests it can be built for £250. Ours was nothing special in the sense of all new parts but still cost about £900 to build!
