These small steam engine parts videos are great, seems lots of channels do the model making side but barely any go into things like check valves, ball valves, and gauges like this channel does. Very cool, thankyou!!

@Lukers_tinkering

3 ай бұрын

I'll make a video on clacks (or check valves) at some point for you guys. There's a few tricks to get them to seal first time (not hammering a ball, that's cheating!). Thanks for watching...

Luker, I have watched a few of your YT videos, so well explained, but you get my SUB for this one, even from a "Kiwi" Lekker.

@Lukers_tinkering

7 күн бұрын

👍Those valves were primarily used on my Ballaarat, a nice little loco I designed and built from your region...

Excellent tips, thanks

Your videos are very clever and educational. Thankyou

@Lukers_tinkering

3 ай бұрын

Glad you like them! I hope they are reaching the guys with limited resources and tooling that have a passion for making things! These video's were initially for the youngsters new to ME with limited funds.

Very clever.

Very nice work. Interesting. Thanks

@Lukers_tinkering

3 ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Setting the top slide to the taper angle with an indicator is a good way to get you "CLOSE" to an accurate angle. To prove what I mean, at about the 8:20 mark as your moving the top slide along the taper you can see the indicator needle swinging back and forth. What your seeing is the non optional clearance between the two parts of the top slide that allows it to move. Each time you turn the hand crank it moves the slide from side to side. No it's not much, a few thou. But it's present and directly affects the most carefully set angle. Visualize how the top slide is affected once the actual cutting loads start. The front edge of the top slide closest to the part being taper turned is pushed towards the operator to the limit of the available clearance. At the opposite end the top slide pivots with that clearance and that end will usually pivot in the opposite direction. The whole upper part of any top slide is literally twisting to a slightly less accurate angle. Depending on the part that may not be enough to matter, but it certainly would for items like Morse Taper tool shanks. And that's for a male taper. Now visualize how an internal taper is cut with something like a boring bar. The cutting loads are in an opposite direction and will help pull the front of the top side towards the part. And again in the opposite direction at the other end. It's for that reason male and female tapers won't exactly match even when being cut using the exact same taper angle setting on that top slide. Yes they will be very close, but a slight compensating adjustment is always needed after checking the exact fit with something like Hi Spot Blue or even a sharpie marked taper. And everything I've mentioned is for an almost new and with hardly worn top slide dovetails. Extra wear within the top slide dovetails makes the effect and inaccuracy much worse.

@Lukers_tinkering

3 ай бұрын

Hi Pete, that deflection was due to the quick change not properly tightened, you'll see a break in the video where I corrected that. I cut it out because its not important for the subject, lots of things going on when filming a setup like this! I don't want to debate accuracy because there's more to just the taper when cutting live steam taper valves (the one in the video uses M2 locknuts), but using this method is so accurate that steam valves seal perfectly, not sure how much more accurate is needed. I wouldn't machine Morse taper shanks on the taper slide, simply because the travel won't be enough on most lathes, and machining a uniform surface with those small hand wheels standing over the lathe is difficult, the tailstock offset method is preferred. When I set male and female tapers using this method I get very close to perfect engagement >90% is what I typically aim for, checked with mechanics blue. I did this the other day with a MT3 no16 collet holder I made for myself (in this case it was full length). If you're not getting this with your machine I would do a few checks, or maybe spend a little time getting to know your machine, they all have their quirks!

nice technique. but hammer the poor top slide with a spanner like that......oooooh no. thats ho my machines previous owner left me with a lot of dings.

@Lukers_tinkering

3 ай бұрын

To true! I should have added that any tapping with tools should be done at the furthest point, and holding the spanner stiffly, so that very little 'impact force' is required. Difficult to explain this... I personally don't have any marks on any of my tooling because I am careful. Good point though I'll add that in a video somewhere!

Thanks for the tip Learned something I never knew.

@Lukers_tinkering

3 ай бұрын

No problem!