Chris's Marion 91 Steam Shovel

[crueby]

Hello Chris,

As others have noted in the past, some of your photos look like the real (full size) machine. This is a great photo, all it needs is some dirt and grease.

Have a great day,
Thomas

Thanks Thomas! 

Though I'll try not to get TOO good at the weathering, will leave out the racoon poop and such...

[ddmckee54]

will leave out the racoon poop and such...

Yup, building that working scale raccoon so you could get the scale raccoon poop MIGHT just be going a little bit over the edge.

Don

[crueby]

will leave out the racoon poop and such...

Yup, building that working scale raccoon so you could get the scale raccoon poop MIGHT just be going a little bit over the edge.

Don

Well, its not a raccoon, but we did have this drawing show up last year....

[crueby]

Well, different types of 'exhaust' aside, just finished redrawing the valve block for the clutch in Fusion. After taking a close look at the original plans, it was obvious that it needed to be scaled up a little to be practical. The original steam lines into it were only about 1/2" OD, and at 1/16th of that they were a bit more like hypo needles than practical steam tubes on the model. So, redrew the block slightly larger. Should be starting on it tomorrow...

[zeeprogrammer]

Ah...I missed a few posts.
I'm not sure I'm sorry. 

[crueby]

Ah...I missed a few posts.
I'm not sure I'm sorry. 

Don't be!   

[crueby]

With all the snow here this past week, some pictures have been floating around. This one should give ideas to those with CNC, looking for mass quantities of parts to mill out...!

And no, this is not from my yard!

[crueby]

Started in on the control valve for the hoist clutch this morning. Started with some 1/2" steel bar stock, and milled out the central cavity of the steam chest:

and drilled/tapped the holes to hold the lid, also used to mount to the floor underneath:

Drilled/tapped a M5 hole in the end for the control rod packing gland - this goes in partway, smaller hole for the rod goes through the wall. Some spun teflon tape or valve packing string will be used to seal the rod. The end was milled back to leave a boss around the hole.


The part so far:

Next will be to cut the steam ports on the inside, and drill the holes for the pipes on the outside. The bottom will be thinned down, leaving a boss for the exhaust out the bottom.

[crueby]

More work on the valve body - chain drilled the slots for the vavle ports, then used a dental bur in a high speed air handpiece to connect the holes. The passages from the sides were drilled in to meet the slots, and the ends of the holes drilled out to .250 to take the steam pipes. The exhaust port goes out the bottom, to drain below the floor, so the center hole in that slot was drilled all the way through the block.

Then moved over to the lathe to turn the boss on the bottom of the block, centered on the exhaust hole. This boss got a shallow .250 hole to take the end of the drain pipe.

The parts so far, ready to make the valve slider and the packing gland.

[Kim]

Hi Chris,
When you say you're using steel for the steam chest, does that mean stainless steel?  I'd think that steel would have a rusting problem when used around steam?
Kim

[crueby]

Hi Chris,
When you say you're using steel for the steam chest, does that mean stainless steel?  I'd think that steel would have a rusting problem when used around steam?
Kim

Yes, I use 303 stainless wherever possible, sometimes have to use tool steel, like for thin flat stock when they don't make it in stainless. This alloy machines very nicely and is reasonably resistant to rust, not as good as other stainless alloys but good enough. I have used it for thru hull fittings on my rc subs with no rust.

[Chester]

Well, seeing as that isn’t your yard, it sure looks like somebody’s elves were enjoying the season!

[Firebird]

Hi Chris

 

Cheers

Rich

[crueby]

Well, seeing as that isn’t your yard, it sure looks like somebody’s elves were enjoying the season!

Thats gotta be the biggest herd of snowmen I've ever seen!

[crueby]

Hi Chris

 

Cheers

Rich

Hi Rich, nice to have you along for the ride!
Chris