Monitor Steam Engine

[zeeprogrammer]

Been so long I lost track - did you get the other covers/cylinders all straightened out? Pics?

I drilled and tapped one cover for the gland. Still have to do the other.
Just didn't want to work on them at the moment. I felt I needed to do something different.

As for the steam chest...I'm hoping they will help me when I mill the flat on the cylinders.
I'm thinking of doing the same for the bottom flat.

I don't think being off a little in the horizontal direction will matter. The vibrating arms et.al. can be adjusted.
I don't know about the vertical position but figure there's room there too.

After doing some drawing the past week (while feeling puny), I feel I'm getting a better idea of what dimensions are critical and which are not.
We'll see. 

[mklotz]

I usually do the foam thing but I couldn't find my usual stuff.
You may remember...

I try to not remember many of the things you do.  That was one of them.

[crueby]

I usually do the foam thing but I couldn't find my usual stuff.
You may remember...

I try to not remember many of the things you do.  That was one of them.

Doubt that cookie tastes very good, looks awfully chewy!

[zeeprogrammer]

I try to not remember many of the things you do.  That was one of them.

 

Well I can't feel bad about that. There are many things I've done I try not to remember.
The sad thing is, sometimes I don't need help.

For those who don't know...

This was at a time when I was learning (still am) and the topic of holding parallels came up.
It was Halloween. I stole my kids' decoration.

In keeping with, what I believe even Marv has advised...to use what is available.

Nyah.

[zeeprogrammer]

Doubt that cookie tastes very good, looks awfully chewy!

What would you call it?

Ingredients...
 a) some kind of, probably Asian, foam
 b) oil of various types
 c) swarf - brass, aluminum, and steel
 d) no doubt a bit of me

I'd call it crap.
Belongs in the same group as oatmeal cookies.
Or worse...oatmeal with raisins.

That's right. You heard me.

[Tennessee Whiskey]

I see you have a case of "aluminitis" also. You seem to be doing well. A deep pocket is a pain in butt. You might be able to drill your four corners with a smaller radius drill and mill to it. No oatmeal eh, I guess chocolate chip Rice Krispie treats wouldn't interest you either then. Marv, I'm working on you, I'll get an "ain't " out of you yet  . Keep up the good work Zee.

Cletus

[zeeprogrammer]

I guess chocolate chip Rice Krispie treats wouldn't interest you either then.

You would be wrong. 

[Don1966]

Well I see we finally got some piccys for a change. I been seeing so many cookies lately, it hard to make out what your working on.......

Don

[b.lindsey]

Hmmmmmm.....two pictures of the steam chests and one (plus quotes) of some nasty old foam cookie (which doesn't count) in three pages...still I suppose that is progress though   Nice work on the steam chests though Zee!

Bill

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks guys. I think. Maybe not.

Hey I'm trying! I get one hour after work. Part of which is to see the fine work from other members. Part of which is to reply to the various slights, digs, insults...I mean...praise, compliments, and help.

Doesn't give me much time.

So I was real excited to get some machining in tonight.

Started drilling some holes. Then the mill quit. eh?
I didn't check the current light...but I think it was off.
Hit emergency, switched back on, nothing. Heard the fan though.

Checked the fuse (which didn't make sense to me since the fan was on).
Fuse fine.

Put it back in, tried again...and it's running again.

I can't believe it was a thermal thing...I was only on my 3rd hole.

Mini-mill that you can get at HF.
Anyone have a similar ghost?

Maybe the Halloween foam scared it.

[crueby]

No pics of the holes you didn't drill   

Worth checking the wires in the control box? Maybe something loose?

[zeeprogrammer]

Yeah, it was odd.
It just sort of slowed down and stopped.
No issue since. (And yes...it wasn't unplugged or the emergency stop active...the fan was running.)

The holes...what I did was chain drill between the two steam chests.
Then used a hacksaw to separate them.
Then placed them side-by-side in the vise and used an end mill to bring to size.

No pics. I get in trouble for posting two. Or posting none. Can't win. 

Next challenge is drilling/reaming for the valve rod and drilling/tapping for the valve gland.
I don't think that will happen in the vise. Not enough headroom.

Which is better? Use the 4-jaw in the lathe? Should be fun finding the spot. Or jig it up on the mill table?
I'm leaning towards the mill.

[b.lindsey]

That is odd about the mill ghost Zee. Hope you can track it down just to be sure what it is. Progress is still progress, pics or not. Keep after it.

Bill

[crueby]

Do you have a dial indicator for centering things in the 4 jaw? If so, center in both directions, then calculate the offset to put the hole closer to the one edge. Same technique is good for valve eccentrics.

[Dave Otto]

No pics of the holes you didn't drill   

Chris if I said that I would get this     

Zee some people just don't remember what it is like to work for a living; some of us still do that! And some of us get up in the midddle of the night to tend the fire so others can have a nice lunch (no not me) but I do still work for a living.

Dave