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Modified Rocking Engine
NickG:
Hi all,
Tonight I started machining the components for my Rocking Engine so am going to do a bit of a project log here.
Incase people haven't seen the design thread I did, basically, I was messing around with the Alibre CAD software I bought for $99, which incidentally was a bargain, and it spawned this:
Anyway, I wasn't sure whether I'd make it as the design is a bit OTT for what it is, was only messing around with the CAD really, but a few of the guys on here convinced me to give it a go. So I completed the drawings over the weekend and also got my garage / workshop sorted out. Just moved house a couple of months ago so it was in a state of turmoil!
Not a great deal to show you after the first night's work I'm afraid! Before I started, I remembered something Stew had said, that while you've got everything set up, and your head around making a component, it's often as easy to make two! That makes sense and it'd be nice to have 2 completed engines.
I started on the pedestals, there are 3 of those so I was going to make 6! Because of this, I thought I'd be clever and set up some calipers and depth gauges etc to make it a speedier process.
I found some 1/2" stainless steel bar which was machining nicely, but then I realised I'd already made a boo boo! I'd gone in with a sharp tool not allowing for the radius. So I tried to grind a tool with a rad on it, just by eye. All I would have to do was machine a bit further along the bar to sort it out, but the rad tool gave a shocking surface finish, so I ended up putting the larger rad in with a needle file! I managed to grind a tool which gave a decent finish for the smaller rad on the centre section. It's not perfect but it's that small you can hardly tell to be honest. The only other thing I did was made the bottom thread for fixing to the base 2 BA instead of 3/16" x 40 TPI. I think I probably have some 2 BA nuts kicking around, I don't know why I went for the ME thread in the first place really, it's not necessary.
After 2 hours work this is all I have to show:
After all that tool swapping and cutting threads it tells me that I could really do with a QCTP and a tailstock die holder.
I've abandoned the doing 2 of everything now, if this took me 2 hours it's going to be circa 26 hours for the complete engine, so I think doing 2 of everything is just going to annoy me, although I still think it’s a good idea in principle!
That’s all for now anyway, feeling slightly disheartened due to slow progress but hopefully it’ll pick up!
Nick
chuck foster:
looking good nick :thumbup:
keep us posted. :beer:
chuck :wave:
sbwhart:
Hi Nick
Nice start :thumbup:, it only pays doing multiples if you got the tools to take advantage of it :- QCTP, Tap and die tail stock holder, back stop, collets, vice stop:- etc etc.
Just a few more jobs to add to the list :lol:
Have fun
Stew
raynerd:
Hi Nick
Excellent work - it is really great seeing your design and then you going the step further into making it.
I have just purchased Alibre and have to say that I`m struggling a bit with its use. I have followed a few "step by step" tutorials but then it all fails when the tutorial shows X thing happening and on my screen Y happens! Anyway, I`m sure I`ll get use to it! Quick question in reference to your plans, does alibre allow you to not only model the 3D design but then revert back to 2D to attain plans such as those you are working from - i.e standard CAD style plans?
Chris
EDIT: PS. after the few models that I have made, I now appreciate even more the need for the correct tooling. I think 50% of my time is taken measuring up, 20% finding my damn tool in the first instance, 20% swapping tools and the rest doing the job. I think a QCTP will reduce to tool swapping and finding and after my mill X axis power feed that I am working on, it is my next project before I go any further.
arnoldb:
Good start Nick :thumbup:
Looking forward to the rest :D
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