Well I managed to get back into the workshop this morning and decided that I would start on the last camshaft for the Seal engine since the lathe was still set up for the cam turning fixture. With the half turned practice blank that will make nearly 4 camshafts now made. Two proper camshafts made from Stainless Steel and another made from BMS which I intend to try and harden. If it works I may use it as a comparator in one of the engines. If it doesn't work, well I will have learnt from that as well.
I am going to write a large lettered poster for the workshop saying “If it looks or feels wrong then it IS! Investigate as to why before continuing!” I may produce a dozen copies and post them all around the workshop and maybe have it tattooed to the inside of my eyelids as well.
I did have a few set up problems with the camshaft fixture turning true. I must be learning something though because it took me less time than usual to find the culprit. My tail stock also swivels around the locking point located centrally. I couldn't see to begin with why, when I was off setting the tail stock, the live centre did not follow, indeed it was going the other way! It was only when I lent on it that it revolved! Doh.
Hopefully tomorrow I shall complete the camshaft and then I can get my lathe back.
Well another lesson learned and mystery solved. It brought to mind all the times when 'something' wasn't right and in the past I have not investigated fully. Its only since the rebuild of the Myford ML7 that I have been far more investigative with good benefits resulting. So the new motto will hopefully serve to 'help' me. Time will tell.
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!
