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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by awemawson on Today at 09:54:02 AM »
Today's Tasks: Clear the bench, Invert Tool Disk on Trolley to inspect the Curvic Coupling and dust seal, Lift body of Tool Turret onto newly cleared bench.

How hard can it be! Well I was about to start and we were hit by another power cut. Two hours later I could start. Strategically placed dust bin at the end of the bench and a hand brush cruelly applied solved the bench clearing (with a few item saved!)

Re-arranging the lifting strap turning the tool disk over onto wooden cribbing was relatively simple:

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Lifting the body of the Tool Turret was a bit messy due to it's shape but up it went - getting it high enough to sit on the bench was slightly complicated by to boom of the crane fouling the bench lighting but manually swinging the load away from vertical got it there, but I must say the rigging was decidedly dodgy  :bugeye:

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Once on the bench it was a case of using levers to get it on a firm base and I could move the crane out of the way and start inspecting it.

It rotated reasonably freely which is more than the one currently in the lathe will do, AND it will move outwards to lock the curvic coupling AND back again. Features missing from the other one.

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So why am I not going to use this body! Well it's casting is cracked and it lacks the powered tooling features, so this is simply an education lesson for me before attacking the other turret.

But that's enough for today, I'll hope to continue tomorrow.
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Member Videos / All Metal 5 Cylinder Radial Aeroplane Engine Demonstration Model Build
« Last post by Jim Dobson on November 07, 2026, 10:01:31 PM »
All Metal 5 Cylinder Radial Aeroplane Engine Demonstration Model Build
This is something a little different for me.
Radial Engines have always completely fascinated me. Man's ingenuity to engineer and machine such complicated engines so long ago with the tooling they had available at the time is just incredible.
They made them up to an incredible 18 cylinders with them arranged in two banks of 9, how did they time these? How did all those parts move in harmony at extreme speeds? It honestly just blows me away. 
As I said a little different for me, not a steam engine, not a hit & miss engine it's a non-working cut away but I enjoyed every minute building it.
Anyone every had anything to do with radial engines?
Has anyone got any ideas how I could mod this so that a small red LED could 'fire' when the piston is at the top stroke and in the order that a radial engine fires?

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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by tom osselton on November 07, 2026, 04:52:56 PM »
I?ve got the same thing it works good maybe not too good for on ears though I?ll still use a drill bit.
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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by kayzed1 on November 07, 2026, 03:48:00 PM »
had a few things from them with out problems..
lyn/
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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by John Rudd on November 07, 2026, 12:24:55 PM »
 Not wishing to hijack Andrew?s thread?.What?s your experience of Aliexpress? Any good?
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Member Videos / Re: My week this week, my workshop videos!
« Last post by hermetic on November 07, 2026, 10:50:47 AM »
Hi folks,

We start to wind up field work for the year, make a start on fixing the poly tunnel door, and on Wednesday, for my sins, I help to fit a new vinyl roof to an aircraft hangar! Nobody died so that was a good outcome! The 2cv tractor is rescued from the healing weeds, and soon its back to the nice warm workshop! video goes live at 4-00pm BST.

Phil, in damp but not cold East Yorkshire!

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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by Muzzerboy on November 07, 2026, 07:28:57 AM »
I got one of these recently. Wifi camera that fits into @5mm holes, with built-in led light, works with your phone and only a tenner or so. I'm not stupid enough to use it for its alleged purpose but it's ideal for examining deep, narrow bores like yours.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009894988752.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.58.13a51802c6uM3r
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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by awemawson on November 07, 2026, 07:27:12 AM »
The bolts arrived at last: First task reduce t he last few threads as suggested by Mike, but how to hold them. Normally I'd take a suitable nut and saw cut to make it into a split collet - but no 7/16 UNF nuts. Ah but I do have a 7/16 UNF Die - naughty but it'll work:

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Now we need 'pushers' as the hole is deeper than the bolt thread:

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So screw them in and see if they work - answer YES!! though I have to make progressively longer pushers.

We have lift off:

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That's enough excitement for one day - I have to go to Heathfield and buy some sheep wormer !


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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by awemawson on November 06, 2026, 08:26:59 AM »
Very sensible suggestion Mike. Similarly I'll make my packer pieces a loose fit in case the ends bell over.
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New from Old / Re: The Sequel - Oh Blimey I bought a CNC Lathe (Beaver TC 20)
« Last post by smiffy on November 06, 2026, 06:01:05 AM »
Before using the bolts it might pay to reduce the last couple of threads to the root diameter in case when tightening the bolts
the last threads are damaged and  expand into the taped hole making them difficult to remove. I speak with experience of this  happening .  Mike
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