2016 POTD Thread Archive

I finished off this little finger engine today. I didn't even know know these things existed until another member posted a link to a page with toys and stuff to build a few weeks before Christmas. It looked like a fun project and good for using up odd-size scraps with minimal machines, so I gave it a go. Mostly 6061 with some hot rolled for the wheel and a bit of leaded brass for the pad. The whole thing is only about six inches tall, and even though it looks dead simple there is a bit of technique needed to keep the thing running. Anyway, fun project, thought you might be interested.

-frank
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Wow frank! I may just have to make one- my boy would love it! Nice work


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Got started on the table slide of the tool rest today, Cut all the parts for the slides and squared and fly cut the faces of the inner slide. Next will be to true up the outers and mill all the dove tails.
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Mark
 
mksj, very clever solution and it looks so "techy". (refer to post #4836) I get same old mess and I believe this will help it. Thanks for the idea!
---ortho
 
POTD 02Jan2016: Making small nutdrivers
<snip>
So, my POTD was to make some #0 nutdrivers.

I used 3/16" O1 drill rod, turning knurls on one end of the 6" tool, and forming a hex socket in the working end. In the lathe, I drilled shallow holes in the ends, sized to the distance across the flats, 0.090" for the bolt head and 0.122" for the nut. To make the hexagonal form, I left the piece in the lathe and put a #0 bolt in the tailstock chuck. Using a propane torch, I heated the work, then cranked the tailstock spindle to force the nut into the red-hot tip. I repeated the heat and press procedure a few times to get the proper penetration. This worked very nicely.


(If I had done a better design on my cannon wheels, I'd have spaced the two holes in the spoke shoes a bit further apart, (or maybe used smaller fasteners, i.e. #00.)

Greg
Greg - First off, that's an absolutely fantastic job! As others have pointed out, if it weren't for the penny, I'd never have imagined how small it was!
Secondly - As (I think) I've posted before, you can use socket head screws for small nut drivers. Just drill into the head a short distance, to clear any projecting screw length. If desired, you can turn down the OD of the hex head for better side clearance. The reference table I used said that both #1 and #0 fasteners use nuts that are 5/16" across the flats, so a #10 socket head cap screw can be used for a nut driver. However, I do seem to recall some #0 nuts that were smaller. Try measuring across the flats, and if there's an allen wrench that size, you can probably find a socket head screw to fit. Might even find something for #00 fasteners!
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Third - Be sure to check http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/de-cluttering-attempting-to-organize.41628/#post-357347
Dan (middle.road) is looking for a new home for some #0 thru #5 taps/dies. Some of these might be of interest to you.


 
John, Thanks for the great idea! If only I'd know this a week or two ago...
Yes, I have two different sizes of #0 nuts, from microfasteners.com. I started using the larger ones on the spoke shoes, but switched to the smaller ones. They are more in keeping with the proper scale. I need to order more today. Probably whatever cap screw uses a 1/8" allen wrench would be the one for nutdriving. You say 5/16" for the #0, did you mean 5/32?
And on Saturday I got my order from drillsandcutters.com which included a set of taps and dies for both #0 and #2 threads.
Thanks
Greg
 
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QUOTE="francist, post: 357642, member: 26535"]I finished off this little finger engine today. I didn't even know know these things existed until another member posted a link to a page with toys and stuff to build a few weeks before Christmas[/QUOTE]
Francist, that looks good, I must have missed that as I'm always looking for small stuff like that for gifts. If you can remember the link could you send it.[
 
I finished off this little finger engine today. I didn't even know know these things existed until another member posted a link to a page with toys and stuff to build a few weeks before Christmas. It looked like a fun project and good for using up odd-size scraps with minimal machines, so I gave it a go. Mostly 6061 with some hot rolled for the wheel and a bit of leaded brass for the pad. The whole thing is only about six inches tall, and even though it looks dead simple there is a bit of technique needed to keep the thing running. Anyway, fun project, thought you might be interested.

-frank
View attachment 118530
Frank can you post the toy site ?
 
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