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georgjorge

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2016
Messages
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Location
Germany
I am working on my 5"-A3_Switcher since retierement in 2008. This forum I found by chance looking through the net. At the time beeing I am working on the gear on page 114 of Kozo`s book. To get an impression here some photos:

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Wow. That is looking really great and I'm looking forward to next instalment. Thanks for sharing.
 
So, tell us a little about your background, and how you acquired your obvious skills. Looks like that you have spent some time in the hobby, if not in the machinist's trade!

Regards, TC
 
Hello,
I am a communication engineer. When I retired, I built up a mechanical workshop and started to learn how to build mecanical parts. The Pennsylvania A3 Switcher book by Kozo Hiraoko is my guide line for learning. This guy made a fantastic tutorial on mecanics.
The reason is, that I promised to my children to build a live steam garden locomotive, years ago. Now, my children are grown up so I will fullfill my promise to my grandchildren.
Last year, I realised, that my skills milling complicated parts are still limited. Therefore, I converted my Super X3 mill into a CNC-version (see the picture). Now it is easy to make e.g. the expansion link or trunnion plate, etc.
You can see a cube with 3 knobs (well, you see 2 only, the other hidden). With this knobs I am able to control the mill manually. There are no other handles and I don`t need them. The mill can be controlled more accurate than by handles, in my view.
The only part, I didn`d make is the boiler. The boiler is made out of stainless steel by a work shop. Because of the size (5") it is out out my skills and the neccessary welding tools.

Ok, that`s it for today.

Saludos from Old Germany
Jorge

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ipad_2016_09_22_A3_Schwinge_Schwingenstange 011r.jpg


ipad_2016_09_22_A3_Schwinge_Schwingenstange 015r.jpg
 
Hello,

some more photos about the reverse shaft and the reach rod. Some pins are provisionally replaced by screws.

The eccentric rod shall be determined on the actual assembly for correct valve gear movement. Therefore you see an adjustable dummy eccentric rod in the valve gear.

Saludos

Jorge

ipad_2016_10_20_ 010r.jpg


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Very Nice. I also like your CNC conversion: To me, the "Box with Handles" seems more intuitive than the typical pendant.

I'd like to see some more pictures of your shop.

--ShopShoe
 
Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, I don`t have any pictures of my mechanical workshop. It is nothing breath taking, it is a small cellar room 2,4m x 4,4m. Big enough to house another lathe, drilling machine and varius grinders.

Saludos

Jorge
 
Now, I will start with the hand pump for the tender and later the automatic pump driven by an axel.
The following pictures are:
- raw material milled to the necessary sizes.
- drilling jig
- pump parts put together before soldering
- soldering station
- main body soldered
- grinding drilling bit
- boring valve seat
- hand pump body soldered and all boreholes
- fabricating suction valve seat
- suction valve seat with screen

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All parts of the hand pump are fabricated.

All parts are put together:

Final installation into the tender:


Could anybody give an idea how to mix text and pictures here in the forum. There is a list of attached files, but I don`t know how to insert describstions inbetween?

Saludos

Jorge

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All parts of the hand pump are fabricated.

All parts are put together:

Final installation into the tender:


Could anybody give an idea how to mix text and pictures here in the forum. There is a list of attached files, but I don`t know how to insert describstions inbetween?

Saludos

Jorge

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Hello,

in the meantime I succeeded to almost finish my project. Here some pictures:
IMG_3739r.jpg
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The last step is underway to install a ceramic gas burner. For this I need some investigation how to build one.
And here the whole train:

IMG_3748r.jpg
 
found a round ceramic burner for a 3" boiler - the nozzle has something between 0.4 and 0.7mm diameter, just the size a propane kitchen stove would use (or a 3D-printer.... :)
and another one I had forgotten (kudos to Ernest Glaser) plus a gas regulator which might come in handy
 

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  • Ceramic Burner from copper stop end pipe fittings.pdf
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  • Gas Pressure Regulator.pdf
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  • Gastank.jpg
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Last edited:
Hi Peter,
thank you for the information about building a ceramic burner. This will definitly help me. As gas tank I am using a comercially offered one for camping usage. It is build in the first wagon for the operator:

IMG_3442r.jpg


At the time beeing I am constructing a track in my garden. Here is my template to elecro-weld the rails:
IMG_3776r.jpg

And here, how I made the bended tracks:

IMG_3784R.jpg


The switch is made in a similar way:

IMG_4138r.jpg


The switch heart was done on my CNC mill:

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To change the direction was fabricated in a very simple way to keep it simple:
IMG_4192r.jpg


Here the complete switch unpainted:

IMG_4191r.jpg

That´s all for today.

Saludos


Georgjorge
 

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