Building the Benson Vertical Steam Engine

[smfr]

You've made a good start on this, Don! I'll be following along with interest; this is on my to-build list 

Simon

[sco]

Don,

This is looking really nice - keep it up!

Simon.

[derekwarner]

Must agree the 'entablature' is progressing beautifully   

My understanding was that the 'term' included both horizontal and vertical elements of a structure
Neo-Classical examples do exist in many older steam engine builds ....the example below is from 1883


Courtesy of Wiki.......
"The entablature together with the system of classical columns is rarely found outside of classical architecture. It is often used to complete the upper portion of a wall where columns are not present, and in the case of pilasters (flattened columns or projecting from a wall) or detached or engaged columns it is sometimes profiled around them. The use of the entablature, irrespective of columns, appeared after the Renaissance"

IHI in Japan when they built the first 100,000 DWT ore carrier [Sig Silver - Chelsea Bridge] [1971?] ...the 13 cylinder SULZER engine built under licence in many documents termed the main engine casing as the entablature  ....... ....Derek

[swilliams]

Great stuff Don 

Steve

[Don1966]

Thanks all for looking and your comments glad you are following along.

I spent my time today making Chuck Fellows Helix gear cutting jig. This engine has two 45 degree
helix gears that drive the governor. I want to see if I can produce them before I jump and order them. I downloaded Marv's gear software and together with a spreadsheet I can calculate the dimensions for the button tool. So I should be able to make the cutter also. B
This is a photo of the Helix cutting jig.


Next time I should have the button tool made and hopefully the cutter. So till next time thanks. For looking.

Don

[b.lindsey]

Don...maybe its me but I am not  seeing the picture in your last post...just a little black "X" in a box but I can't get it to bring up the picture...and I definitely don't want to miss anything on this build!!!   

Bill

[derekwarner]

The image is definitely there Bill.......  ....Derek

[b.lindsey]

Got it now both on the phone and the computer at work, I will check again tonight from the laptop at home. Must be something I did wrong.  Nice looking fixture Don...and now really looking forward to seeing you cut these gears.

Bill

[Don1966]

Hi Bill glad your interested.

Today was a good day not that it went smooth but I managed to make my gears. I started by making the  button tool and the from there cut the cutter and finally the gears. I will attempt the walk you thru my process.

First photo the button tool button, you thought Bill's were small this button is .1068" wide.

Drilling the hole positions for the buttons after miling a 5 degree offset on the tool holder.

The button tool after Harding the buttons and loctite them in place.

Next was the job of cutting the buttons to a 4 degree rack with a diamond tool after the loctite  had cured.

The profile of the cutter, the diameter is .375" and the width is .083".

Cutting the profile into the cutter sorry about the crappy photo.

Then to the mill to cut the teeth. I cut them .080" depth.

The cutter ready for Harding after I cut some relief on the back side of the teeth with a stone.

The reason for this photo is that I had soldered the end to the shaft. Well I found out the hard way what happen when it doesn't run true, a photo will follow.

This is what happens when the gear blank doesn't run true.

Finally the gear being cut and this was a good run.

This time the good gear and you can notice the profile of the teeth.

This last shot is the gears running together. I had one more mishap on the last gear and had to remake it also so two out of four. You know these are my first Helix gears and I am very happy. 

The gears together for a final shot after being run in with a little Maas.

I have to thank Chuck Fellows for his ingenious fixture and Marv for his free software. I am very happy with the results and with a little thinking and calculating anyone of you can do it also you just have to try.
Thanks for looking. For any one wanting the spread sheet I have attached it and go to Marv's web site for the software on Gears.

Don

[b.lindsey]

Fantastic my friend, and yes you have some small parts there too in those buttons. The final gears look great and for a first try on helical gears I would say 2 out of 4 ain't bad at all and they are small as well. Thanks for documenting this so well and sharing it.

Bill

[Tennessee Whiskey]

Don, those turned out beeee utiful . And making your own cutter too, man you are walking the dog

Whiskey.

[Johnmcc69]

Nice job Don!! The gears look great!! Beautiful job on the cutter.

 I especially like it when I see techniques & methods used from other members who contribute to the forum.
It just shows that anything is obtainable. That's what makes this hobby grow.

 John

[Jack B]

Hey Don, Excellent work and great pictures.        Jack B

[Kim]

That is so cool Don!  I've heard about people making their own gear cutters before, but this is the first time I've seen it done AND thought, 'Hey, maybe I could do that someday!"  That is sure inspiring work Don, Thanks! 
Kim

[Don1966]

Thanks Bill, Eric, John, Jack and Kim for your support and looking in.

Nice job Don!! The gears look great!! Beautiful job on the cutter.

 I especially like it when I see techniques & methods used from other members who contribute to the forum.
It just shows that anything is obtainable. That's what makes this hobby grow.

 John

John I am also glad for members to contribute to this forum. That' how I learned to do this from reading how a member did his. Isn't it great?

That is so cool Don!  I've heard about people making their own gear cutters before, but this is the first time I've seen it done AND thought, 'Hey, maybe I could do that someday!"  That is sure inspiring work Don, Thanks! 
Kim

Kim there is no maybe you can do it you just have to try. If you don't have it buy the book Gears and gear cutting by Ivan Law you wouldn't regret it.

Thanks for the support all it does mean a lot.

Don