Making a fixed steady

[ronan]

Did you consider using a repair sleeve ? Never used them myself, wondered if it would work in your case ?


https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Products-Speedi-Sleeves/c4747_5335/index.html

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Did you consider using a repair sleeve ? Never used them myself, wondered if it would work in your case ?


https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Products-Speedi-Sleeves/c4747_5335/index.html

I did consider making one . Pulley bore isn't critical as I haven't made it yet so il make one to suit.
I need a steady so it's worth the effort. Have a few stalled projects requiring one.

I started modding a cheap mini mill one last year but cracked the casting. They sell for stupid money for my lathe.
Last one I saw was 180. I only paid 230 for the lathe.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

2 become 1
Welded and milled inside and out.

Forgot to lock the bed before milling the first slot. Made a mess. Will build it up and mill again later.

Lined up for the final slot.
Il remove the bolt and clamp it down somehow before removing it.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Grabbed a little time to drag out my £0.99p hacksaw visible in the first pick and trimmed down the apron to suit.
Want it to slot between the exsisting apron so I can work as close as possible to the steady.
Il leave the headstock side as is to increase contact area.

Need to weld an remill one of the slots. Forgot to lock the table and the backlash opened it up a little too much.

Learning everytime I use the mill.

Secured in the 3 jaw now while I work out heights.

Not proud of it. Know I can do better next time around but I've never pretended to be a machinist.

 

[Seadog]

For a chippy I think you've done a fantastic job.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

For a chippy I think you done a fantastic job.

Cheers Graham.

Still undecided how to mount it to the old apron.
Thinking about bolting a block to the top of it then bolting through the steady into the block.
I can drill and tap a second set of holes 1/2" up then. That way it's a quick change between lathe center heights.
Think that's a better option than having a separate riser plate to lift it.

May still chop the back off the old apron just for looks.
Il take a flap disk to it and round all the sharp edges off before painting for a little camouflage.

Going to have to make up some new fingers too.
Didn't see the point in limiting myself to a 2" hole as the donor steady was but gives me a pattern to copy and mod.
Should be fine to get the motor shaft skimmed and your bandsaw cutting wood again.

The original motor is salvageable but far too much work to replace the insulation right now.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

It's also served to show up some issues with the mill to rectify.

Will pull the tables off again once this is done before I start machining a stepper motor mount for the rotary table.

Then I may be ready to venture into gear cutting,

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Need to grab some grinding disks to tidy up the lower cut out tomorrow and round off the corners

Il secure them together with a couple of sunken cap heads to give it a mechanical fix before welding next weekend.
Waiting on some nickel rods. In the meantime I better see if I'm any good with an arc welder (only been 20years)and do some homework on ci welding.

Have enough of the apron left to make a second for the L if it's required and a small piece left over which i may make into a center height gauge.

Not quite what I had in mind for fixing initially.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

And standing under its own weight.

Il drill for securing bolt and modify the original to my beds tslot tomorrow. Won't take much.
Stock for new fingers should be here midweek so il get those made up at some point. Il utilise both sets. Saves me making new adjustment screws for them.

If I get an early finish this week il attack it with a grinding disk and flap disk and round off the corners.

 

[brightspark]

not that it matters 2 much are you making it opening or just keeping it solid

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

not that it matters 2 much are you making it opening or just keeping it solid

I was and still might in the future.

As its 2 plates welded I can grind the weld out of the bevels and make a stepped hinge and lock later easily enough.

For now. Will do the job. If fitting becomes a ballache il do the above.

All that and I'm going to need it for 30 seconds to spot a new center on the motor shaft.
Still spurred me on to making it.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Another job for the future.
Traveling steady. Should be a bit easier.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Job I initially set out to do completed.

Steady still needs finishing but at least I can get the bandsaw underway now.
Now to make a new pulley to fit.