The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

DLR · Full member Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 594 Location: Blyth

any further with this one

alan2525 · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject:

Graham-Jilly · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:05 am Post subject:

I have one of those MAPP burners they are great

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alan2525 · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject:

pauly · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

how much has she cost you so far.

400th post

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every thing I love is either heavy, dirty or dangerous : Fred Dibnah

alan2525 · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject:

If I add up the cost of the PPS parts and the consumables, plus Brass sheet, plus assortments of BA screws and Taps and dies I've needed it'd cost a fair old wack!

Probably a bit more than a PPS Janet, but if I bought one of those I wouldn't have a uniquely designed Mamod Loco and had the fun of making it!

Most of the cost has been for tooling as I'm setting up the workshop whilst making the loco.

Once all the design has been done the actual cost can be brought down though as parts can be nested on the sheet of brass and actual materials aren't hugely expensive at all compared to cost of buying a factory made part.

pauly · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject:

nice

I bet if roundhouse made something like this it would probably cost around £700

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every thing I love is either heavy, dirty or dangerous : Fred Dibnah

Minor1PJG · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

It's looking great at whatever price

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alan2525 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject:

Sadly not too much progress on the loco front - BUT...

...I've bought my Taig Mill and got an ER16 collet spindle for it, plus a Matrix plate from Whitewolf airsmithing. Plus a collet chuck for my Taig lathe and assorted collets and milling cutter holders.

I plan to convert the Mill to Computer control and it should give me much more capability than my current Roland setup for machining larger parts, and producing batches of parts for axle boxes etc. I really like the sound of a 4th axis for 3D machining too.

I visited the Model Engineering exhibition at Harrogate last weekend and had an interesting chat with Lester Caine on the Model Engineers Digital Workshop stand. At least now I know what parts I need to get the mill working using computer control! It was good to see the Taig machine in action too and get more of an idea how it actually functions when the hand wheels aren't fitted anymore!

GUTMACH · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: Machining Project

Nice project you got going there, be a shame to paint it though, it would hide all the machining that was done.

Interesting that you are using Taig Tools, they are just up the road from where I live. One of my lathes is a beat-up old Sherline that I have had for over 10 years, used to work for Sherline Products during the 90s when I was living in SoCal. The other lathe is a 1948 Atlas-Craftsman 12-inch.

I believe the Sherline and the Taig can share toolings, but I am not 100% sure.

What kind of CNC set-up are you using ? I don't have CNC at this time, but, when I do, I would like to take the Linux/EMC approach. Although I am running Mac OS X now, with the last PC, I was running Libranet (Debian offshoot) and QCad.

I agree with you regarding machining, If I go through a week without machining, I get grumpy.

Let the chips fly !

Wayde

alan2525 · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:04 pm Post subject:

At present I'm using the Roland Machine with 2D Design. I've got plans to convert my Taig Mill, using the controller from Lester Caine (http://medw.co.uk/), which uses the drivers from Arc Euro Trade. The software part will be Mach 3 running on a Windows XP PC.

Still setting up, buying tools and really just having a play. It's a little annoying as I've got most of the stuff I need but always have to stop and figure what tool I need, if I'm short of taps and dies or toolholders for slitting saws and bits.

This loco is on hold at the moment whilst I'm doing some work on my IP Jane. I really want to get one of those rivet closers for putting all the rivets in the side of the tanks. This loco might have a little bit of a redesign too. I think it'd be nice to make the cab and spectacle plate lift right off for ease of use. It'd also be nice to be able to run with the back of the cab open too. So I might just have some angle corners rather than a closed in cab.

alan2525 · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Machining Project

GUTMACH · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:18 am Post subject: Machine Tools Needs

I will never have enough tools.

Forgot to mention, I also have a Harbor Freight bench mill with R8 spindle.

Regarding toolings....

http://www.statecollegecentral.com/metallathe/MLA21.html

Seriously considering getting this kit for the Atlas-Craftsman.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/

My first Go To site for anything machine tools related.

http://www.homeshopmachinist.net/

http://www.livesteam.net/

My primary machining reading reference sources.

Since you are interested in CNC machining, go to

[urlhttp://www.homeshopmachinist.net/?page=main.features.digitalmachinist[/url]

might be worth a look.

Wayde

GUTMACH · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:27 am Post subject: Roland Machine

Roland Machine, what a expensive puppy !

One of the machines that I am looking at, Tormach PCNC 1100, is around US$6800, which isn't bad.

What I REALLY want is a HAAS VF-4, which probably run me about US$50,000 (NOT going to happen !).

By the way, the Roland has engraving capabilities, doesn't it ? You could make your own builder/makers plates. Maybe even keyfobs for the steam freaks ?

All in all, Alan

Wayde
(The Riffs's "Monday Morning" playin' through iPod's headphones)