Die Filer (part 3)

Where do we start today....

Let's work on the main body of the filer, shall we?

Having a conference with my good friend, Sammy Smith, to discuss clamping. This was a part that I had to think about. How best to hold this casting for machining the first surfaces that would then determine the placement of everything else?

Die Filer (part 2)

So...onward and upward. Or something.

For Part 2 we're going to focus on the Scotch Yoke. Like many cast parts, this has no reference surface to start with. We have to figure that out for ourselves.

Die Filer (part 1)

This is a project that I started some time ago. I've done a lot of hemming and hawing over how to do it, and I'm now knee deep in getting it done. Here goes...

Oh, first things first. I s'pose I should answer the question, "What is a die filer?" Simple, it's a small, motor driven, benchtop machine that drives a file. The rotary motion of the motor is converted to reciprocating motion by way of a crank shaft/pully combination. You rest your work on the table and move it around the file. Trust me, it will make sense.

 Here is the basic casting kit as it came from Martin Models. There is a base, table, pulley, and scotch yolk.

Lathe Compound Slide (cont)

These mini lathes have a slight problem. While I was installing my 20 TPI conversion and new compound, I decided to fix it once and for all.  Lets look at that problem, and how I solved it.

On the compound slide, the moving dial can (uh...will) bind against the stationary dial (see the pointer). What this means is that you can't always trust the reading. I don't run a DRO on the lathe, I never have. I have this thing about DRO's on lathes, I don't know why. Anyway, I rely on the dials.

The cross feed screw does not bind up. Hmmm...but why? As it turns out the cross slide screw is captured by the thread housing (for lack of a better word). The screw has a shoulder, and that shoulder is used to limit the movement of the screw. The compound slide lacks this feature. So, no matter what, the screw will bind against the dial as you feed in.

Lathe Compound Slide

Starting with squaring up a block of cast iron.

First run on the little fly cutter I just made. I did the big material removal with a large carbide insert face mill and then took the final cut with the fly cutter

Lathe Carriage Stop

A thing for making things. There's a lot of geometry going on there.

Lathe Tool Holders Part 1

I seem to be spending a little more time with my 'puter lately. Let's see if I can turn that into some productive writing. (I will do my best, despite Blogger working against me by randomly moving pics when I try to add captions and just making me want to throw shit...so sorry for any strange formatting that takes place)

Current project is new tool holders for my lathe. Sure, I can buy them for about $15 each, but then I wouldn't learn anything. Also, it's a good opportunity to learn 3D modeling with Fusion 360 (more on that later...maybe?).

This is what we're aiming for. How are we going to get there? Ignore the rough finish on the end...that's the result of a roughing mill and will be smoothed out later.

Recent Tools

A few recent tools...

Bench block...