2014 POTD Thread Archive

Took some time and cleaned the vise, squared it up and trammed the head on the ol Bridgeport. Then machined the tee nut for my new QCTP. Need to start getting some bike work done!
 
I finally got around to building an adapter for my HF 20-ton press to push out pins and rivets...


I decided to go with a removable 3/4" slug to hold the final sized pins. But as you might notice, with 20ton vs. a .120 drill rod pin vs a Suomi rivet - the drill rod loses...
Next step will be to try hardening the pin first...

View attachment 72903

That's a very similar set up to what I did with my press. I never had an issue pressing pins in any AK's, PSL's, or FAL's - is it possible you weren't exactly in line [perpendicular] to the pin? Drill rod is pretty hard IIRC. Or........ could be Suomi pins are really tight. :thinking:

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Finished up putting a bracket on to hold the readout modules for the Igaging DRO I put on a small RF31. I have noticed the accuracy is not the greatest, but if I go slow it's not too bad for my hobby work.....I won't bore you with details as this has been covered a few times already. Just the finished look for my set-up.

DRORF31_02.jpgDRORF31_01.jpgDRORF31_04.jpgDRORF31_03.jpg

DRORF31_02.jpg DRORF31_01.jpg DRORF31_04.jpg DRORF31_03.jpg
 
I got tired of the vise handle that came with it, so I made a quickie handle from a socket, and old bolt head, some drill rod and some 1" stock I had on hand. Nothing fancy and not quite finished, but it's close. Now I won't have to avoid the knee when opening or closing it.

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A neighbor had to fix a curtain support, making a sort of mortise into a piece of pipe.
The support was basically a pipe made with some mystery metal looking like heavily compressed aluminum dust.
At the first attempt to make a hole with a self-proclaimed HSS Chinese bit, 500 RPM and very light feeding, I got as a result just a notch and a bit 1 cm shorter.
A brand new Bosch HSS bit completed the hole, with the help of some cooking oil (all I had in that moment!), and even the Bosch bit became almost dull. Around the hole instead of chips there was a sort of crust, like slag, pretty hard to be filed.
Then I had to make two cuts with an HSS slitting saw 0.6 mm thick.
After a test I decided there was the need of something constantly dripping oil on the blade to get a decent result, so I filled an empty tube of cold pills with oil, attached to it an IV line (some time ago the drugstore had to dump a full box of them because they were expired, and I kept them to water the plant pots) running just near the chuck and I named it "coolant hose". Of course I removed the needle…
Here is the "IV drill press":

IV_drill_press.jpg

I used an M6 thread bar to push the vise under the saw, turning it at 1 RPM: an astounding advance speed of 1 mm/minute.
The mortise anyway is perfect, the saw blade is not yet dull and the neighbor is happy.

IV_drill_press.jpg
 
The continuing saga of the Z-axis conversion gearbox. I had to pull off of this project last week to fix a CNC router, and get the brass thingies done.


I finally have the gearbox completed.

Roughing out the outside profile

gearcase1.jpg


The final finishing pass
gearcasefinalpass.jpg

It fits !!!! :allgood: Looks like the gears mesh correctly and will disengage when the cam is rotated. Next is making sure everything does fit up correctly, and a little deburing on the case. I should be able to test run it on the bench in the next day or so. I have a little bit more work to do on the machine before I can go live, like getting the travel limits installed!!

gearcaseinstall1.jpg


A nice narrow profile

gearcaseinstall2.jpg

I think the Engage/Disengage cam shaft sticks out a bit too far, looks like I can shorten it up by about 1/2 inch or so.

Now it's time to clean house a bit, there is about 5 gallons of aluminum chips all over the place.
 
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Amazing the differences in the degree of sophistication in our projects, yet we all enjoy it and admire each others work.
 
I'm sorry I don't have any pictures......but.......today I spent $20 worth of time making a 10 cent part for a 3 dollar lamp. I had a good time though. It's good it's just a hobby. I wouldn't be in business long.
 
I'm sorry I don't have any pictures......but.......today I spent $20 worth of time making a 10 cent part for a 3 dollar lamp. I had a good time though. It's good it's just a hobby. I wouldn't be in business long.

You are so right, not everyone understands the concept of "hobby".
 
Took a couple of pieces I got from some members earlier this year and finally rebuilt a compound rest for my logan. Probley the best couple of days this year so far! Made a handle,resized a hole and counterbore, made some tee nuts out of grade 8 bolts, welded some threads onto the short lead screw, the slotted if for a 1/8 key. Just could not figure out the picture thing. Not done yet though, need a new tool post because none of the ones I have fit the new to me compound rest. So tomarrow I run for more steel at the recycle yard.
 
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