My background: Decades ago I worked for a handful of years in the capacity of machine design engineer and we manufactured small electrical machines. There I learnt many things in machining, materials, heat treatment, fits and tolerances, techniques and processes, mass manufacture, etc. Of course I could not ever lay hands on any machine. So I was only a intense observer in shop, in the tool room, heat treatment area and in metrology lab. That was a few decades ago. Life changed soon and I moved on.
One of my interests is astronomy. In 2011 I got into ATM (Amateur Telescope Making) and I machined a nice little Crayford focuser for my 8 inch telescope. Two years ago I opted for retirement after 44 years of regular full time work (I still work, though only part time on consulting assignments). I bought a 9x20 lathe, mini-mill and few other machine shop machines. I have been playing with them. I have been working on my 2nd telescope for which I have already made another Crayford Focuser. Plenty of work still to be done.
I attended Cabin Fever Expo in 2014 and looked at those tiny engines for the first time. They looked very intriguing or way too complicated to me. Again I was at Cabin Fever Expo this Saturday and met Fred and Stan. Great people and they introduced to this group. As I said I have always admired those great little engines but never dared to make one. This may have opened new hobby activity for me.
I intend being a lurker for a while, I will try to learn from the discussions,
Thank you all for listening,
Prasad
Eastern PA
