Strutt Epicyclic Train Clock (maybe?)

[crueby]

Looks like that worked much better!   
 

[Kim]

That one looks great!   
Kim

[kvom]

My waterjet parts have been cut according to the company and are in a USPS box which is shown to be delivered on Friday.

In the meantime, today I started (or restarted) on third of the lantern pinions, and it's my third attempt after making errors the first two tries.  This pinion differs from the first two in that it's attached axially to the planet wheel.  Hence it's called the planet pinion. Workholding is tricky since the two ends have different diameters, and the ends themselves are thin.  The larger end is 9/16" in diameter, and as I don't have any brass stock between 1/2" and 3/4" I used the 3/4 round bar.  Like the other two pinions, I needed to ensure that the trundle holes on each end match up.  To do this I machined two flats on opposite sides of the bar.  The flats needed to be shallow enough so that they would disappear when turned to 9/16".  So I toughed off the endmill at the top of the bar, then raised the table .060".  The collet block ensured that the flats are equidistant from the center.

Moving to the lathe, the first op is to turn a 3/16" spigot in what will be the large end.  This spigot will be inserted into the center hole of the wheel.

Then the center diameter is reduced to .136" using a parting tool.

[kvom]

After parting off  at the lathe, the part is mounted in the mill vise.  I used a vise stop to retain position after part is flipped to drill the other side.  While I could have drilled through both side sat once, I found that one of the holes in a previous try wasn't straight.  The drill is nominally .031" and doesn't need spot drilling, but the resulting holes easily accommodate .032" music wire. 

The large end also gets three .047" holes that are tapped 0-80.  These are used to attach the pinion to the wheel.

After carefully turning down the large end to 9/16" on the lathe, I used a 9/16" collet to hold while turning the small end to .350"

To insert and hold the wires I held the part by the spigot slightly proud of the collet to that the wires would protrude out the bottom.  Then I used an insulin syringe to apply a small drop of Loctite 620 on each wire.  This will cure overnight. 

[Kim]

A very nice looking little pinion! 

Kim

[kvom]

The 620 fixed only 4 of the 8 wires in place, so either it didn't wick into the holes or the gap is too wide.  I have some other ideas, but they'll have to wait until tomorrow. I have some Loctite 638 which is fast cure.

[kvom]

I got my waterjet parts in the mail today.

2 plates
2 barrel caps
ring gear
great wheel
barrel ratchet
depthing base

Cut edges have matte sandblast texture and burrs on the top sides.

Plenty to keep me busy for a while.

[crueby]

Great looking parts! 

[Kim]

Very nice parts!  And those gears look great! 

Kim

[kvom]

I have no idea if the surface on the teeth will impart too much friction. The inner teeth of the ring gear mesh with the planet wheel, but all other wheels mesh with lantern pinions.  I'll be able to test the feel of the great wheel with the center pinion when on the depthing tool.  That's important as the inter arbor distance determines where the arbor will be planted onto the plates.

And speaking of depthing tools, I drilled and tapped the hole for the adjusting screw into the base plate, so the basic tool is finished.  The holes of the arbors are reamed .126".  It seems logical that for any wheel or pinion being measured, I'll need an adapter for the 1/8" rods.

I checked the fit of the pillars with the plates.  Some are a snug fit and others need some getting.

[Kim]

Very nice!   

Kim

[kvom]

Worked on the barrel caps today.  I reamed the center holes to .376 and then used one of the cheap Chinese expendable arbors I bought years ago (and rarely used) to hold the caps.  Then with the shank held in the chuck, turned down the inside to match the barrel diameter.  After completing the second one, I couldn't get it released since the (did I say cheap?) screw's socket stripped.  I was able to press it out, but I doubt I'll be using that one again.

With both caps available I tried out the partially completed barrel arbor.  Too tight in the cap holes, and the center section is about 50 thou too long.  Both each lathe jobs.

[Roger B]

Those water jet cut parts look great    I hope the gears work as well as you hope   

[kvom]

Assembled the plates, pillars, and washers for a beauty shot.  The spigots on the pillars all needed to be shaved .003" to achieve a good fit with the plates.

Also "finished" the planet pinion, although there is some unattractive Loctite residue on the inside.  I'll see if a soak in the sonic cleaner with some soapy water will remove it.  Photo shows if on the planet wheel.

[crueby]

You'll  need a solvent like acetone with a stiff brush to clean off the excess loctite.