No 982 smoothing plane in the making -2
Here is the making of the thumb screws.
It is only just a few shots taken at random so there are a lot of steps missed out.
Truing up an extruded gun metal bar on the lathe, for thumb screws and adjuster knobs. i.e. each bar cuts two thumb screws and two adjuster knobs.
These are the gun metal blanks after truing up and adding centres on the ends for work holding. The dividing head and tail stock are ready - set up for knurling the blanks. This is a very costly and complicated way to produce a knurl, but for this knurling there is no way other than to index it on the milling machine.
The blanks are set up on the dividing head showing the driving dog and tail stock. This is to cut the V shape grooves which form the knurl. The dividing head is used to index the spacing to the required divisions.
This computer generated image demonstrates the knurling design for this plane and helps explain why I need to use the above process.
As you can see from this photograph on the milling table, all the indexing work is complete having been returned to the lathe for more turning and thread cutting. The components have also been parted. These are the thumb screws only, showing the carriers which are still to be parted off.
Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!
AnnaHopn
Comment by AnnaHopn — September 5, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
Hi AnnaHopn
Thank you for your comments and hope I can provide plenty of interest for you.
k
Comment by admin — September 6, 2009 @ 10:50 am
Are you able to recycle the slivers of metal left over from the milling process? I know I try to use small, cutoff pieces of wood as kindling in bonfires. Haven’t figured out a use for the sawdust, though.
Comment by Torch02 — September 7, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Hi
Not only can’t I find a use for them but don’t seem to be able to recyle them up here. I even have to throw away my brass offcuts. The only people who make a profit out of this are the scrap dealers.
k
Comment by admin — September 8, 2009 @ 9:36 am
What alloy of gunmetal (bronze on this side of the pond) is used?
Did you pick based on a particular characteristic, or is it a matter of what is available?
Ed Golla
Mechanicsburg, PA
USA
Comment by Ed Golla — November 7, 2009 @ 1:02 am
Hi Ed
The bronze alloys I use for lever caps and knobs is LG2, which is the standard casting alloy and serves my purposes. For the brass sided planes I use Naval brass (CZ112) as I cannot get LG2 in sheet form. However, I have used CZ112 for the No 982 lever caps as it comes in the sizes I need and has a better tensile strength than LG2.
k
Comment by admin — November 8, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
A pleasure as always your blog is somthing on the web I always look forward to like the next episode of Dr who when I was a kid but this time no hiding behind the sofa
Comment by Dave — November 24, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
I think some may hide behind the sofa when they see the price……….
k
Comment by admin — November 25, 2009 @ 4:48 pm