As part of my therapy from arthroscopic surgery...I did do some work in the shop.
However, no prescription pain killers were involved (during shop time).
But I did play some music...a little '3 Dog Night'... ;D
Upper left is a spacer. This is used to mount the boiler to the cabin. Sorry...I forgot to include a coin for scale. The spacer is .20 OD, .13 ID, and .08 thick. I dropped it once. It is now embedded in a hunk of blue tack.
Next to that is the steam dome cover. That was a fun piece. But I was just a little off with the slitting saw.
Next is the 'orifice' safety valve'. Also fun and a better job with the slitting saw.
For those two pieces I took a piece of aluminum, tapped it 1/4-28, slit it, and used it to hold the pieces during slitting.
Next are two bushings. they're identical...one is for the steam dome and the other for the chimney. I used a 1/4-28 tap from a kit that includes dies better suited for cleaning up threads rather than making new ones. I think I'm going to go look for better taps too.
Next is the boiler mount stud. I do so enjoy working with brass.
Now comes the connector for a bicycle hand pump. It's used when testing the boiler for pressure. For this I used a 5C collet in a collet block. Marv's and Tel's earlier advice about mounting and using a stop was very helpful. (By the way...I think it was you Trout that talked about the 5C collet block...the wrench that came with my mill worked fine for tightening the collars).
However, it's actually the 2nd try. On the first try I milled off part of the collar. That would have been okay...still useful since it's not part of the final engine. But then I milled the side too far. Again still useful but I was discouraged and decided a second go would be good practice.
The next part is the filler tube. I was pretty happy with this..but it went awry just as I was almost done (a familiar story I'm sure). It might be difficult to see but there's a bit of chatter on the inside. It didn't help that I used a counter-sink that was some 30 years old and had been used to...well... you don't want to know...you'd kick me out.
In the center is a handrail stud with a 0-80 pre-made nut on one end. I'd never made a thread that small before. I was feeling pretty good until I ripped off the end of the next stud. In trying to get the piece of brass out I ruined the die. One thing I noticed is that by having the part sticking out further, I could feel the twist in the metal and back up. The rod is only 1/16 diameter. On the next part though it was held closer to the chuck...I couldn't feel the twist...and simply twisted it off. Having said that, I don't think I had the rod end at the right diameter for threading with the die.
Lastly, the two handrails. Kind/sorta happy there. The holes are not exactly centered though. And the bigger issue is I used a v-block to hold the part for drilling the hole in the end of the piece. As I am too often wont to do...I tightened the vise too much and crushed the rails. You can't tell from the pic...the dents are underneath. The ends were hand-filed.
For the most part...fairly easy parts. I'm working on two more sheet metal parts for the cab.
The score so far is 25 good pieces and two for the 'wall of learning'. And if you're keeping score, I only mentioned the one 'wall of learning' piece. We won't speak about the other. Mainly cause I can't remember what I did...but it's sitting here staring at me.
And now a personal note...well...two personal notes...
Dean...."nyah"
Vernon...didn't you get a lathe recently?
Now...where I'd put that Vicodin?
:-\
