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Gallery, Projects and General => Gallery => Topic started by: Divided he ad on April 06, 2012, 04:54:29 PM

Title: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 06, 2012, 04:54:29 PM

Well OK, just glowing ball really....But it wasn't as funny of a topic heading in the singular  :lol:

Anywho... On with the post.


I started this about 2 months ago I think, finished it off just last week and left the write up till this week


The idea arose from an e-mail conversation with John Sommers where he suggested I made a self illuminating mini disco ball.

I got the wrong idea and went off with this below, where as John meant fibre optics etc.


Where as I thought John's idea was too hard for my current capabilities I could in my mind machine my version. so.......



We start wit a big lump of brass!

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0001.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0002.jpg)



This was cleaned up and then the basic internals of my mini brass torches were bored and threaded into the end of it.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0004.jpg)


The end cap was made and all the jiggery pokery fine adjustments were made to get the contact point correct for the light to turn on at full tightening.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0014.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0016.jpg)

This is then fitted to an arbour for sizing and shaping.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0018.jpg)


The main body was then transferred to the rotary table and a set of 5 rings of 4mm holes at ** degree spacing were drilled into the outside.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0008.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0012.jpg)

I then made an arbour for use later in the build.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/00212.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/00213.jpg)
This was then spun up and had very little wobble. Which means I was very happy  :D

I mixed a few batches of GID powder impregnated epoxy resin and used a syringe to fill the holes from the bottom up to minimise airlocks.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0021.jpg)


Once set it was ready to machine... It took me 3 weeks to get to this part so it was well set!
The extra hole visible in the bottom part of the above pic' is the way I knew the torch was working during set-up.
The only way to see the light working  :thumbup:

The workpiece was then chucked up in the lathe again (I had marked it for jaw #1 before removing it the first time to help keep register)

The centre part was reduced to allow the main shape to be formed with the ball/radius turner.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0022.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0025.jpg)


The ball shape was started with the cap inserted so that it cut the cap also . (the cap was made deeper than usual so it could be machined in this fashion.)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0026.jpg)


The ball is cap is removed the sharp edges are smoothed off for safety.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0029.jpg)


The ball is cut free from it's arbour and screwed onto the arbour I made earlier.
This is then realigned with the ball turner and the stub is machined off, leaving a nice ball shape  :)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0031.jpg)


And the obligatory in the dark shot....

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0033.jpg)


There were a few air bubbles left in the resin even given my bottom up filling technique!

I filled these holes with some batches of resin but it didn't look very good. little rings of dirt were evident despite cleaning
with brake cleaner. This is now permanent. I'm not too bothered as this is only my second attempt at resin filled brass machining!


The final pic's....
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0037.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0039.jpg)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0042.jpg)

You can just make out one of the repair rings in the top of the first green ring.
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll221/dividedhead/BRASS%20TORCHES/GID%20Ball%20torch/0040.jpg)


Well that's it. just a little something that only took about 12 hrs!






Ralph.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: sbwhart on April 06, 2012, 05:03:20 PM

Well goodnes gracious GREAT BALLS OFF FIRE

Nice one Ralph

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: raynerd on April 06, 2012, 05:04:41 PM

Nice little project - really interesting idea!

Chris

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: krv3000 on April 06, 2012, 05:26:26 PM

oooooo well dun will have to av a go at one of them

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Deko on April 06, 2012, 05:30:40 PM

Hi Ralph
            What's this thing you have going about balls just lately, :Doh:it's becoming an obsession. Real nice jobby though,and i realy want one of those ball turners :headbang: Thanks for the PM.

Keep on getting better Ralph, see you soon  Cheers Dek :coffee:

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 06, 2012, 07:19:41 PM

Cheers Chaps  :thumbup:

Glad you like it...It's a heavy little sucker!   :headbang:  (need a makeshift "leagal carry" protective cosh!?!  :wack: )

I do however have one more in the works.... Quite a special one...20+ hours in it already! Might be some time before I can manage to do all the file work required though. another 2-4 months should do it!?



Not quite an obsession Dek... But I do like me curves. and that's all the talk of balls that's going to be in public!  :bugeye:
Thanks too... I do plan to be fighting fit in 4-6 weeks  :ddb:





Ralph.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: DaveH on April 06, 2012, 07:24:09 PM

Very nice Ralph  :thumbup:

Nicely photographed and shown :bow:
 :beer:
DaveH

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Rob.Wilson on April 07, 2012, 04:08:04 AM

Very nicely done Ralph  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 :ddb: :ddb: :ddb: shiny disco balls  :ddb: :ddb: :ddb:


Rob

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 07, 2012, 09:34:24 AM

Thank you Dave and Rob,

 I do try   :thumbup:


Just wondering what to do when I get back into the old workshop?

I of course have the obligatory "Round Tuit" list but sometimes that seems more boring than fun little bits and bobs  :palm:

Anyone else got some fun little hour or two kind of projects?




Ralph.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: DaveH on April 07, 2012, 10:29:48 AM

Quote from: Divided he ad on April 07, 2012, 09:34:24 AM

Anyone else got some fun little hour or two kind of projects?
Ralph.

Yep I have, it don't glow in the dark though (well unless one was to set fire to it).

But I bet Ralph could make it glow in the dark  :)
 :beer:
DaveH

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 07, 2012, 10:38:15 AM

Quote

But I bet Ralph could make it glow in the dark  :)

I'd give it a good go  :thumbup:   :)

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: DaveH on April 07, 2012, 11:25:54 AM

Hi Ralph,

It is a post really for the new guys to machining, I hesitate to post it here in case anyone feels I am patronising them.  :doh: :doh: :doh:

I could make it clear at the beginning and I would have to thin it down a bit - it has over 50 photo's - but you will like it  :D :D :D

What do you think?

 :beer:
DaveH

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Stilldrillin on April 07, 2012, 12:08:01 PM

Very nicely made, and shown, Ralph!  :clap: :clap:  :thumbup:

That will keep you anchored down, on stormy nights.........   :D


No projects, yet...... But a couple of minor m/c mods to show, sometime.

David D

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 07, 2012, 05:52:21 PM

Thanks Dave D :thumbup:

It's quite a weight.... Not tried it on the keys yet!  :borg:

Quote

couple of minor m/c mods to show, sometime.

When you're ready Dave   :poke:  I'm going nowhere for the next month!  :lol:





Ralph.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: flyingtractors1 on April 08, 2012, 09:14:59 PM

That is some precise cutting and drilling - Beautifully done and superb effect.  Ralph

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: MadNick on April 09, 2012, 09:01:30 AM

Great work Ralph,

You are carving out a nice little niche for yourself in that department :)

Nick

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 09, 2012, 03:00:36 PM

Thanks Ralph, Nick.

I do like the little things.... Fun to make usually. These specials  still have their little challenges :dremel:


I've got another little kinda related  30 min' project to put up.... I'll get that done this evening, then that's it till I'm next in the workshop  :)





Ralph.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Brass_Machine on April 12, 2012, 08:46:07 PM

I read the thread when you first put it up, but being an idiot, I forgot to respond. This is very cool Ralph. Great design.

Eric

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 13, 2012, 09:23:07 AM

Quote

but being an idiot, I forgot to respond.

Really, you're going to put that in a post.... I'm not going to lie to you. It's taking a lot of restraint right now :lol:

Happy you like my efforts  :thumbup:






Ralph.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: rleete on April 13, 2012, 12:37:15 PM

I really like this one.  Ralph, you may have finally convinced me to get some GID powder.

Title: Re: Glowing balls!
Post by: Divided he ad on April 13, 2012, 09:37:39 PM

Go on Roger  :poke: Take a punt. 20/30 bucks will get you loads I would think?

Well, I had mine shipped from the USA. So it's gotta be cheaper for you hasn't it?



You'll be sticking GID bits all over the place in no time  :lol:



Keep us posted on any designs you mod woth GID stuff eh  :thumbup:




Ralph.