Monitor Steam Engine

[zeeprogrammer]

...do I hear some music in the background??

Well do you? Do you? 
Revenge would be sweet. 

Just trying to keep you honest!

As you should.
By the way...when's the last time you saw your wallet? 

[PStechPaul]

Uh-Oh! I hear banjos! 
 
I bought an assortment of slitting saws at CF 2 years ago for about $3 each, but I'm not sure if there is a 1/8":

 
The one bottom center is probably more accurately a side milling cutter or milling saw. They are available in 1/8" size, but apparently only in larger diameters (like 5") and quite expensive:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=327-1794&PMPXNO=22503919&PARTPG=INLMK32
 
Little Machine Shop has a 1/8" blade for $11:
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4730&category=

[zeeprogrammer]

Got the two long spacers done.
And before my honesty is questioned again...here's the pic. 



Here's what I did wrong ...

1) Chucked and drilled/tapped one end.
2) Re-chucked long, used a live center, and turned down. (Here's where you all gasp. I heard it.)
3) Flipped, re-chucked and drilled/tapped the end.

What I probably should have done...

1) Chucked and drilled one end. No tap.
2) Re-chucked long, used a live center, and turned down.
3) Now tap.
4) Flipped, re-chucked and drilled/tap the end.

The gaspers know what I did wrong.
Putting the live center on a threaded hole meant the spacer was not true (the live center was not centered). This was evident when turning down.

Ah well. Not a biggie in this case. But poor practice is poor practice.

P.S. I used soda can aluminum to hold the spacer after I'd turned it.

Now to see how/if it fits together. Hm...hopefully I have the needed SHCS. Studs and nuts will be later.

[crueby]

Zee, another handy bit of equipment for the wanna-get list: a steady rest. Lets you turn on the end of a long piece without it moving off center.

[zeeprogrammer]

I do have one. I think I've used it once. But then I haven't done a whole lot of machining.
Not sure how it would have helped here though.
I needed to turn down (basically just take off the crud) over about 3" on a 4" piece of rod.

Good reminder.

[crueby]

I do have one. I think I've used it once. But then I haven't done a whole lot of machining.
Not sure how it would have helped here though.
I needed to turn down (basically just take off the crud) over about 3" on a 4" piece of rod.

Good reminder.

Gotcha - I thought you were turning the rod to length. Never mind! 
Steady rest comes in handy when boring or facing off the end of a long bar that is too large a diameter to fit through headstock bore. You may need it on the cylinders.

[zeeprogrammer]

Steady rest comes in handy when boring or facing off the end of a long bar that is too large a diameter to fit through headstock bore. You may need it on the cylinders.

Cylinders?  I'm looking forward to working on them...but with much angst. (Angst? Read fear.)

Sheesh. I just noticed...15 pages and what do I have? Two outriggers, some unfinished frames, and a few spacers.

Must be all the banter. I like the banter. Part of my enjoyment on this forum is interacting with the members. (Big part actually.)
Hope you all enjoy it too.

P.S. If anyone finds my banter on their own threads a bit too much. Please send me a P.M. I'll understand. (I may forget. But I'll understand.)

[zeeprogrammer]

Wow. Can a message box get full that fast? 

[Don1966]

Zee we enjoy your banter and it's also nice to see some progress along the way. Parts are starting to accumulate.

Don

[crueby]

Banter away!

[10KPete]

Zee, I enjoy the banter every bit as much as I enjoy the machines. Maybe more. For some reason your threads seem
to bring out the conversation. Don't ever change!!

 

Pete

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks all. Not that I was fishing. Just letting people know they can call me out if they're uncomfortable with me.

Don't ever change!!

The conundrum. T says don't change. But T wants me to change. Such a fine knife edge to travel along.

Anyways, I have a complaint against you people. 
Used to be some of you fine people would caution me, warn me, at least give me suggestions.
But noooooooooo. Not this time. Somehow I lost the fine people looking over my shoulder.
That, or you've made the mistake I've learned something.

Those slots? Fine job. 1/8" exact. Couldn't be happier. My parallels slip in slicker 'n (you know).
The frames. Not 1/8". They be big. This is a  moment.

No way I could have flycut them to 1/8 on the size of machine I have.
So I should have measured them...and adjusted the slots.
I consider this your failure. Not mine. (Not true, I know, but I have to protect my little ego.)

Filing filing filing. Sanding sanding sanding.
It'll work out. But my arms are really tired.

Happily I realized I need to make the bearings, and use a rod through them to square things before locking the frames down.

Unless my good friends have some cautions, warnings, or suggestions. 

Aw c'mon. It's the day before Friday! and a big snow storm is supposed to come in.
I'm celebrating...


something. 

[Tennessee Whiskey]

At this point warning you is like giving up the punch line to a joke someone is telling. It spoils all the fun

Cletus

[Don1966]

I wouldn't celebrate to much this storm your taking about has just dumped some rain on us and is going to dump snow and sleet on some of you northern states and the east coast. The airport are canceling flights and the roads are slick with ice sometimes I like living in the south......uhhhh... ..but not in the summer.
Now you know we're not going to call you out.......now we will watch as you progress and you really haven't done anything really bad to call you out on Zee.........

 . ...Don

[b.lindsey]

Already cancelled classes here for tomorrow and cancelled almost all flights out of Charlotte and I hasn't even done anything yet. Supposed to start here after midnight and its going to be ICE not snow. The snow will follow on Saturday so they say. Sounds like more shop time to me

Zee, do you have a belt sander wide enough? Just don't keep your hand on the metal too long, it will heat up FAST!!

Bill