Simple, but fun little project.

[Wheat47]

Don't know what really happened, but I got started building some brass/aluminum tops.
The brass "wheel" is about 3" in diameter. This one took me about a month to build. (Too cold in shop,
what and where are the materials, what tooling do I need and where is it.) You know how it goes, the first one is a bugger, after that they get easy(ier)!! I started another one this afternoon. I was in the shop maybe 2 hours and its half done. Changed my build pattern/process/order, tightened up my clearances and such. By the way, the new ones are loose/slip fit with Loc-Tite. (Blue or red, whichever is handiest.)
I drilled a shallow hole where the pint would be and glued in a 1/4" steel ball. It seems to spin longer that way. Read about one a guy built,
about the same pattern. He started it spinning with a Dremel tool (20,000RPM or so). Supposedly, it ran over 30 hours!!
A quick fun build and makes a good gift for friends. Jon K

 

[SmithDoor]

Don't know what really happened, but I got started building some brass/aluminum tops.
The brass "wheel" is about 3" in diameter. This one took me about a month to build. (Too cold in shop,
what and where are the materials, what tooling do I need and where is it.) You know how it goes, the first one is a bugger, after that they get easy(ier)!! I started another one this afternoon. I was in the shop maybe 2 hours and its half done. Changed my build pattern/process/order, tightened up my clearances and such. By the way, the new ones are loose/slip fit with Loc-Tite. (Blue or red, whichever is handiest.)
I drilled a shallow hole where the pint would be and glued in a 1/4" steel ball. It seems to spin longer that way. Read about one a guy built,
about the same pattern. He started it spinning with a Dremel tool (20,000RPM or so). Supposedly, it ran over 30 hours!!
A quick fun build and makes a good gift for friends. Jon K
View attachment 164332

Little projects are aways fun to do .
It would nice page full fun projects .
Because my help and temperature I just did pocket
size sundial mostly using a Cad and excel. The case is off a old cellphone

Dave

 

[Wheat47]

Little projects are aways fun to do .
It would nice page full fun projects .
Because my help and temperature I just did pocket
size sundial mostly using a Cad and excel. The case is off a old cellphone

Dave

Sometimes it's nice to stop and do a small project (or two) in the middle of a big project, just for a change of pace
and a sense of accomplishment.
Jon

 

[Mark_1984]

Nice and shiny! A great little weekend project! Just needs a polished stainless steel dish for it to run in? That should help with a nice long run time.

 

[Larry G.]

Several years ago when there was a dedicated Sherline Lathe project website, people were developing tops with the aim of the longest "run time" . Sapphire balls are readily available for use as contact points, bearings, and other precision applications. Someone used one with a top and achieved excellent results.

 

[Wheat47]

Several years ago when there was a dedicated Sherline Lathe project website, people were developing tops with the aim of the longest "run time" . Sapphire balls are readily available for use as contact points, bearings, and other precision applications. Someone used one with a top and achieved excellent results.

The disc in mine is aluminum. Found a guy nearby that uses a LOT of aluminum in his fabrication business and he'll sell the drops
for $1.50/lb. Nice assortment of goodies. nothing too big, but big enough for me. I got a piece of aluminum shaft/rod that was 3"
in diameter and about 6" long. I just parted off a piece about 1/4" thick for the disc. I scrounged some big bushings for the brass rim.
I made my tops with a 1/4" steel ball bearing for the contact point. Doing some research, I found a guy made a top about the size of mine, maybe a bit bigger. He spun it with a Dremel to start it around 20,000 RPM (Yes, 20,000RPM!!!).
He put a drop of some high dollar oil on the ball first. He ran his on a mirror. Supposedly it ran over 30 hours.
Mine aren't that good........yet. LOL. If I can find that site again, I'll post the addy here.