Bits and Pieces

The first meeting of the month is ' Bits and Pieces' where members bring along items of they have made or talk about some item of interest.

The seems to be no limit to the variety of items brought to these meeting. There can be anything from completed locomotives to the smallest of drills (0.004").

Here is a selection of items brought to recent meetings.

Here is the chassis for an Isle of Man Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 in 5" gauge. This is the first model for that builder and is based on a design and casting from New Zealand.

 

Here is fine example of a grasshopper escapement produced by one of the club's more prolific clock makers.

 

This is the 1st set of offset bevel gears for a 5" Gauge Climax Logging Loco which run like silk. Now he has to make another 7 sets!

Cab for a 'Speedy'

 

Demonstration of a model steam hammer

 

A worm and wheel produced by the self generating method where the worm cutter turns the wheel blank gradually achieving the full depth of the gear tooth. During this process the maker found that the cutter and wheel started to bind. This was solved by reversing the wheel which freed the cut gave a good final result.

 

The range of items at 'Bits and Pieces' is very broad. Here is an'Ordinary' bicycle made by a member who is also a keen cyclist.

 

Not all items are models. This piece of equipment was used in a laboratory to demonstrate various principles of heat engines. It no longer functions because the seal on the main power piston has failed. Spares are no longer available and replacement is proving difficult because there is no crosshead so the piston rocks during the stroke and, as always with hot air engines, seals have to be perfect and friction is not allowed.

Model of steam plant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some very strange items indeed

 

 

 

 

Hot air feed to propane burner for metal melting

 

Interesting drive mechanism

 

Gas burner with radiant pins

 

 

 

 

This milling attachment is not fastend to the bed of the lathe but to the base of a magnetic chuck. When the magnetic chuck is activated the milling head is held down very firmly to the iron top of a marking out table on which the lathe is mounte. The advantage of this method is the freedom it gives in positioning the head in relation to the workpiece.

 

If you have questions about any of these items please call 01565 650 763