(05-17-2021, 08:39 AM)TomG Wrote: [ -> ]Excellent!
This project is helping you learn the value of fixturing in machining.
Tom
Your right. This project has already taught me a lot. It has also given me the opportunity build some of the tools, equipment, and fixtures I have wanted to build but haven’t gotten around to!!
I’m positive I will learn a lot more as I proceed. I’m getting to do a lot of new operations as well. One of the next parts will be the Cam. This will require a rotary table which I haven’t used before.
Trevor
This is the Rod the connects to the piston and passes through the back side of the cylinder to the slide that the connecting rod attaches to. 1/4” drill rod with 6-32 threaded holes in each end.
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The final part from this weekend was the Valve Rod. Made out of .125 Drill Rod with both ends threaded.
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All simple parts machined this weekend. But a few off the list.
Trevor
Made some more progress on the bar stock steam engine. I finished up the three pillow blocks that will support the crank shaft. They are made out of 3/8” thick aluminum plate. I first cut the blocks a bit larger then required. Then I milled the blocks to the final width, but I left them slightly oversized for the height.
I them found the back left corner and started off by plunge cutting the hole for the bushing with a .625 end mill using a vise stop for repeatability.
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Once that was done in each block I set them back up and used my boring head to take the hole out to a press fit for oil lite bushings. I overshot my target dimensions slightly on the first one. Found out that the dial on the boring head isn’t perfectly accurate. So from then on once I was close I would advance the cut with a dial gauge on the boring head. That solved the problem. Luckily the first block is still useable. Tom G told me to do a lite knurle on the bushing to help make it a press fit again.
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I then located and drilled the two mounting holes into the bottom of each block. Then I plunge cut two holes on the face of each block to give me the radius at the bottom the blocks and open up the tops of the mounting holes.
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Trevor
I then was able to use my rotary table for the first time to cut the upper radius on the pillow blocks. I started off by plunge cutting all the way around the radius. Then moved in to the finished size and did a final cut.
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Once that was done I cut the excess material off with my vertical band saw. Then I finished the pillow blocks up on my mill using a fixture plate I made when I machined the connecting rod.
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The final step will be to polish them to a mirror finish at a later date, and press in the oil lite bushings.
Trevor