Search found 47 matches

by jamespnelson
Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:04 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

Harold, Yes I do have a mill. Excellent suggestion. I was hoping to be able to locate all the holes at once on the lathe, then open them to finish on the mill (and avoid doing 6 repetitions of the operation). [/quote] Get creative and it won't be a big deal. Consider making a setup with several para...
by jamespnelson
Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:03 am
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

Question for the group: I'm turning the eccentrics, and wondering how folks have done this. I've turned the major diameter, then cut and finished the diameter to accommodate the straps. I used my 0.125 cut off tool To do this. I've also laid out my slots to cut off each eccentric (3 on this billet i...
by jamespnelson
Mon May 15, 2017 11:29 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

My cylinder castings arrived from Cattail Foundry this afternoon. Fortunately for my postal carrier, this is the last of the castings I need for my project (I think). They came out very nicely; kudos again to Emanuel King and his crew at the foundry. I had 4 made: there is a long lead time on these,...
by jamespnelson
Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:38 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Material for crosshead guides
Replies: 11
Views: 9738

Re: Material for crosshead guides

Brian, My cylinder frame isn't cast; Its built up steel (old style of Shay cylinder/crosshead that was cast as a unit) I couldn't think of a practical way to make it a casting, so I made it up out of several parts and TIG welded together. I had to improvise a bit, as I didn't want to make the crossh...
by jamespnelson
Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:32 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

Crossheads.jpg Finished the crossheads today. Making the deep pocket was tedious to say the least. I had the covers laser cut as a convenience (and it was 0.125" sheet like the crosshead guide parts, and it wasn't any extra). I tapped the piston rod hole 1/2" NF so i could make any as nee...
by jamespnelson
Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:01 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Material for crosshead guides
Replies: 11
Views: 9738

Re: Material for crosshead guides

I don't have the drawings or material specs for the guides. Looking at the photo, I was think that there were two components as you suggested; some sort of bracket assembly that bolted to the large casting, and the material that was the actual guide bolted into that. I'm thinking it was babbit, but ...
by jamespnelson
Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:55 am
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Material for crosshead guides
Replies: 11
Views: 9738

Re: Material for crosshead guides

It makes sense. I didn't think of the lateral forces from the angulation of the connecting rod on the guides.
by jamespnelson
Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:59 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Material for crosshead guides
Replies: 11
Views: 9738

Re: Material for crosshead guides

Thank you, I think it would be false economy to use brass for this application. I really only want to make the parts once!
by jamespnelson
Wed Apr 19, 2017 6:03 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Material for crosshead guides
Replies: 11
Views: 9738

Material for crosshead guides

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on material to use for the crosshead guides on my Shay project. The crossheads ride in a grooved guide on the prototype (see the attached photo). I'm planning on milling them out of some brass stock I have on hand, and since there is no weight borne by them...
by jamespnelson
Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:50 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

Got the crosshead/lower cylinder head assemblies welded up today. The prototype used a large casting for this, but I couldn't cipher how to duplicate it. I had the bottom and two side pieces cut with a laser so they would all be identical, and cut the round piece from a piece of 2-12" OD, .125 ...
by jamespnelson
Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:26 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

Cutting cylinder heads from a piece of 3-1/2" diameter stock today on my cheap< shameless (and free) horizontal band saw. I picked the metal up at my local scrap yard ($0.50/lb for steel), which ends up being less than a dollar a piece. Its an impressive Woodruff key; some sort of old shaft, I'...
by jamespnelson
Sun Mar 19, 2017 1:40 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)
Replies: 69
Views: 68228

Re: 2-1/2", 65 ton New Mexico Lumber Co Shay (Lima C/N 1762)

Completed the cylinder pattern today. Came out pretty well Here's a few pictures, and off to the foundry tomorrow.