Author Topic: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!  (Read 14146 times)

Offline NickG

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #30 on: August 29, 2017, 08:31:13 PM »
Enjoying seeing one of these built. Did you turn the  main portion of the column or just dress it? I like how you have managed to maintain a lot of cast surfaces.


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simplyloco

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #31 on: August 29, 2017, 08:43:32 PM »
HI Nick. I just dressed the column in the lathe, but I still have to do some work on it as it is a bit wruff as cast! I also have a shot blast cabinet which helps maintain the illusion!
John
« Last Edit: August 29, 2017, 11:38:48 PM by simplyloco »

simplyloco

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Stuart Beam Steam Chest
« Reply #32 on: August 29, 2017, 09:25:24 PM »
We went on a picnic this afternoon to the New Forest, and that meant I didn't get into the workshop until about 5.30. However, I cracked on with the steam chest and cover.

WP_20170829_20_36_43_Pro by inkaboat, on Flickr

It was a straightforward 4 jaw chuck job, but I thought I'd share my method of getting jobs to run true with the minimum of pfaffing about! Basically, I centre pop as accurately as possible where I think the centre ought to be, and using the wobbly pointer out of my centre finding kit and a DTI, I can get the job to run within a thou or so in a couple of minutes.
It works for me, providing the centre pop is accurately placed...

WP_20170829_18_54_13_Pro by inkaboat, on Flickr

By the way, the chest cover casting wasn't as square as it was purported to be, so into the 4 jaw it went!
WP_20170829_20_24_17_Pro by inkaboat, on Flickr

AND the cover wasn't flat, but it is now!
WP_20170829_20_21_07_Pro by inkaboat, on Flickr

I'll drill the holes and make the valve tomorrow, after I've been to the railway club and conducted the committee meeting!
How did we ever find time time to hold down a full time interesting job!
John

Offline NickG

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #33 on: September 02, 2017, 12:21:40 PM »
Thanks John, it is looking good.


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simplyloco

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CYLINDER & STEAM CHEST COMPLETED
« Reply #34 on: September 04, 2017, 10:30:20 PM »
Cylinder cover held on an arbor to maintain concentricity

WP_20170904_18_05_48_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

The cylinder push fit on the cover lip is about as good as it gets!

WP_20170904_18_05_32_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

Not a good photo, but it all seems to be assembling OK!
WP_20170904_19_03_32_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr
John

Offline Steamer5

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #35 on: September 05, 2017, 01:39:18 AM »
Hi John,
 Looking good! Been following since the beginning.

Like the lathe :naughty:

Cheers Kerrin
Get excited and make something!

Offline J.L.

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #36 on: September 05, 2017, 01:46:45 AM »
Nice work!  :ThumbsUp:
J.L.

simplyloco

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Nearly done!
« Reply #37 on: October 28, 2017, 04:39:02 PM »
I've been away in France for a month, so there was some catching up to do this week. The eccentric and strap is just about the most fiddly part on the thing! When I made the strap I didn't notice the raised ring on the eccentric which keeps the strap in place. I had to remount the strap in the four jaw and machine the groove: it is too easy to  over tighten the strap body and distort it!

A few bits of valve gear to do, fettle the bearings, bolt it together and paint it and the job's done by Christmas! That's the theory anyway... :hellno:

DSC00094 by inkaboat, on Flickr

If you look closely you can see where the component flew out of the chuck when I was being heavy handed machining the eccentric! I fixxed it but its a little undersize now...

DSC00086 by inkaboat, on Flickr

DSC00092 by inkaboat, on Flickr

End view.

DSC00095 by inkaboat, on Flickr
« Last Edit: October 28, 2017, 04:43:15 PM by simplyloco »

Offline J.L.

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #38 on: October 28, 2017, 10:09:15 PM »
Hi John,

Lots of progress since your return.

The square connecting rod with recesses is a nice variation.

Cheers...John



Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #39 on: October 28, 2017, 10:23:59 PM »
Coming together nicely John. Good to see an update and hope you enjoyed you time in France in the interim.

Bill

simplyloco

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #40 on: October 31, 2017, 06:54:16 PM »
John, you are quite right: it looks SO much better with a curved bit on the end and a machined channel shape! I'll fill the 1.6mm screw holes later when I paint it.
John
WP_20171031_18_33_33_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

I just happened to have a nice alloy billet lying under the bench!

WP_20171030_12_38_55_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

Drilling and Tapping little threads is always a bit on the wild side, but using the fish plate as a guide helped!

WP_20171031_17_51_12_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

WP_20171031_17_54_38_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr



« Last Edit: October 31, 2017, 07:25:13 PM by simplyloco »

Offline J.L.

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #41 on: October 31, 2017, 08:13:15 PM »
Hi John,
Thanks John. Yes, I sent a photo of the beam ends with our rounded end as a suggestion to Stuart models.
J.L.



simplyloco

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #42 on: November 05, 2017, 07:44:27 PM »
Cracking on a bit, I dressed up the cylinder cover with the Proxxon using a grinding stone and then emery, twirling the cover on top of the vice jaws. It only flew off a few times...

WP_20171104_17_37_00_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

I didn't like the idea of only four 5BA bolts holding the cover on - there are six holding the base cover! - so I've used six 7BA screws instead. I'll make some studs later. The components and their fixing are a bit 'chunky' for my taste, so I'm reducing as I see the opportunity. The bolt sizing plate is really useful here to obtain same size bits!

WP_20171104_19_30_49_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

Moving on to the valve gear, I had a go at the eight parallel motion links. Rather than filing from solid, I chose the fabrication route. Here is a tryout using some scrappy round bits, and it looks OK to me! They will be silver soldered, with nice fillets at the joints.

WP_20171105_18_50_20_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

The saddle was fixed in position and and end stop fitted in the toolpost. I use a push rod through a bush in the headstock spindle to nudge the bar into place.

WP_20171105_15_27_48_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

WP_20171105_16_36_51_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

Parting off using this method (usually) ensures consistent component thickness! I made 18 although only 16 are required.

WP_20171105_15_28_26_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

Drilling the bushes to accept the connecting rods. A simple end stop in the vice worked well.

WP_20171105_18_45_08_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

The rod end was turned to fit the hole in the bush,  and was thinned by eye with a parting tool and files, and finished with emery. The little bronze bush in the tailstock chuck worked a treat! Only eight to make in total...

WP_20171105_18_41_51_Pro[1] by inkaboat, on Flickr

« Last Edit: November 05, 2017, 07:48:38 PM by simplyloco »

Offline J.L.

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #43 on: November 06, 2017, 12:11:50 AM »
Most impressive work John.

And beautifully documented with superb photography.

J.L.

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Stuart Beam 'Again' but in the UK!
« Reply #44 on: November 06, 2017, 12:39:29 AM »
Beautiful work John and as the other John said, nice pictures to document he work as well.

Bill

 

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