USS MONITOR SIDE LEVER ENGINE

[wce4]

wce4,
Not entirely off topic...I have been treated very well at the local VA.
Hope your visit is not too serious.

Alan

Problem with the old ticker, but doing fine now. I am back in the shop as of today, thank you for your concern. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.
Now back to machining. Where did I leave.........

 

[wce4]

Part #16 -CYLINDER x 2 completed
Out of 2 pieces aluminum round stock two cylinders were found to be hiding inside.
A lot of machining went into fabricating the cylinders, it was exhilarating to see them materialize. (I know 'I'm a weird person. But to me I would rather be here in my shop then to be at the VFW post listening to war stories or watching the **** tube)

And they line up to the cylinder mounting plate.

 

[wce4]

On this cool and rainy day in central Florida completed part #
17-RH-CYLINDER OUTER COVER
18-RH-CYLINDER INNER COVER
19-LH-CYLINDER INNER COVER
20-LH-CYLINDER OUTER COVER

 

[wce4]

Another fine day in the shop today 60deg F. / 15.55deg C in central Florida completed part #
21-STEAM CHEST x 2
22-STEAM CHEST COVER x 2

 

[wce4]

Hex from Round in 7 easy steps.

Round stock extend from chuck to show details.

Part #07-FRONT ROCKER SHAFT BEARING BASE x 2 85% completed
Part #09-REAR ROCKER SHAFT BEARING BASE x 2 90% completed
Part # 23-STEAM INLET GLAND x 2 completed Modified to suit model builder ( me)
Part # 24-PISTON ROD GLAND x 2 completed
Part # 25-VALVE ROD GLAND x 2 completed





That completes 95% of parts on sheet 8 of 14 (Waiting on chucking reamer to finish 100%) in the mean time onto the next part sheet 9 of 14.

 

[ajoeiam]

Hex from Round in 7 easy steps.
View attachment 152700
Round stock extend from chuck to show details.
View attachment 152701
Part #07-FRONT ROCKER SHAFT BEARING BASE x 2 85% completed
Part #09-REAR ROCKER SHAFT BEARING BASE x 2 90% completed
Part # 23-STEAM INLET GLAND x 2 completed Modified to suit model builder ( me)
Part # 24-PISTON ROD GLAND x 2 completed
Part # 25-VALVE ROD GLAND x 2 completed
View attachment 152702
View attachment 152703

View attachment 152704

That completes 95% of parts on sheet 8 of 14 (Waiting on chucking reamer to finish 100%) in the mean time onto the next part sheet 9 of 14.

Had opportunity to watch a very nice CNC lathe 'turn' a nonagon (no kidding - - - and seriously interesting!).
Still have the whatsit around somewhere (it was something to show off the capabilities).

 

[wce4]

Had opportunity to watch a very nice CNC lathe 'turn' a nonagon (no kidding - - - and seriously interesting!).
Still have the whatsit around somewhere (it was something to show off the capabilities).

non·a·gon noun a plane figure with nine straight sides and nine angles.

 

[wce4]

Today's Update :

Part # 29-MAIN CRANK SHAFT x 2 completed
Part # 30-INNER FLYWHEEL x 1 completed
Part # 35-ROCKER SHAFT x 2 completed

 

[GreenTwin]

"Nonagon", LOL, I thought you guys were making a joke, like that famous alloy "nocutium".
I have an 8" round piece of nocutium; carbide won't begin to cut it.
Doorstop or boat anchor material.

.

 

[wce4]

"Nonagon", LOL, I thought you guys were making a joke, like that famous alloy "nocutium".
I have an 8" round piece of nocutium; carbide won't begin to cut it.
Doorstop or boat anchor material.

.

"nocutium", slang for thin gray iron without ferrosilicon added ?

 

[GreenTwin]

"nocutium", slang for thin gray iron without ferrosilicon added ?

Exactly; I ruined a new portaband blade on some thin iron without ferro; basically tool steel.

.

 

[wce4]

Haze gray and underway !
Well it's not really haze gray and definitely not underway but, the dye bottle reads color gray.
Part # 28-STEAM CHEST OUTRIGGER x 2 completed
Part # 31-FLYWHEEL INSERT x 1 completed and press fitted into Part # 30
Part # 57-VALVE ROCKER x 2 completed

Ok I admit it, I cheated in making part 57-VALVE ROCKER. I wanted to see if my homebrew CNC works.

And it does

 

[timo_gross]

Haze gray and underway !
Well it's not really haze gray and definitely not underway but, the dye bottle reads color gray.
Part # 28-STEAM CHEST OUTRIGGER x 2 completed
Part # 31-FLYWHEEL INSERT x 1 completed and press fitted into Part # 30
Part # 57-VALVE ROCKER x 2 completed
View attachment 153529
View attachment 153532
Ok I admit it, I cheated in making part 57-VALVE ROCKER. I wanted to see if my homebrew CNC works.

View attachment 153531View attachment 153533
And it does
View attachment 153534

It sounds like a lot of vibration, something is not as per "rule book"...
but still not cheating (I think), you work with what you have!

I decided to buy a 2nd hand scroll saw long time ago, which I rarely use. (should search for it, and re-commission) Later I learned that a reasonable cheap Laser is only about 50 000 USD without suction system for the toxic fumes...

I would have ordered it (the shown part, not the laser cutter) possibly from the "Laser Uncle" .

Two more parts done, .....

Greetings Timo

 

[wce4]

It sounds like a lot of vibration, something is not as per "rule book"...
but still not cheating (I think), you work with what you have!

I decided to buy a 2nd hand scroll saw long time ago, which I rarely use. (should search for it, and re-commission) Later I learned that a reasonable cheap Laser is only about 50 000 USD without suction system for the toxic fumes...

I would have ordered it (the shown part, not the laser cutter) possibly from the "Laser Uncle" .

Two more parts done, .....

Greetings Timo

The CNC is a work in progress. I also have a 100 watt laser water cooled/ w suction system in my shop that I refurbished for my daughter to use. It is good for cutting wood, acrylic, gaskets material sheet, thin aluminum sheet and for engraving those items plus glass. I will post a picture of it when I get to the shop.

 

[wce4]

Just a quick update, I have not give up on this build. I had to take another unscheduled vacation from the work shop.

 

[wce4]

Wish I could say third time's a charm but it took four fails to finally accomplish in making Part # 37-PISTON ROCKER ARM x 2.

 

[wce4]

We are on a roll today ! No wasted bar stock this time.
Part #38-VIBRATING ARM X 2 completed



Part # 44-PISTON ROD END X 2 completed

 

[Richard Hed]

We are on a roll today ! No wasted bar stock this time.
Part #38-VIBRATING ARM X 2 completed

View attachment 158910

Part # 44-PISTON ROD END X 2 completed

View attachment 158911

I'm curious, is this the same plan that Mark Dunalot was making?

 

[wce4]

I'm curious, is this the same plan that Mark Dunalot was making?

Sorry Richard, It is not the same plans as Mark was using. The engine he was building is a lot more sophisticated than the engine I am trying to accomplish. You can find the dwgs I am using at https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/USS_Monitor_imperial.html. They are free for personal use if you would like to have a set for yourself. There is also a metric version available.

 

[wce4]

Easy Day today,
Part # 36-ROCKER SHAFT FRONT SPACER X 2 plus
Part #50-ROCKER SHAFT REAR RH SPACER and
Part #51-ROCKER SHAFT REAR LH SPACER completed



Overall it was a very productive and enjoying week in the shop excluding the problem with the South Bend lathe.