'Made to Measure BMS

[silverfox]

does anyone know of someone who could supply BMS plate to the dimensions 1/8 x 4.25in x 40 in at least with one edge straight, but preferably both and parallel to boot
I got some from live Steam Services? but it had an edge like a dogs hind leg!. As a result, the depth is now less than the 4.25 reqd. so there goes those frames!

I have a Warco minor mill drill and tried to form an edge using some 'buttons' in the T slots but as one edge was off the other tended to magnify the error!
It would take three passes if i got 4.5 in width

Thanks

[freddo]

Why do you want to use BMS - it warps like blazes from the inbuilt stresses when you cut out the axle boxes etc - stick to black steel for the frames like most do.

Freddo

[alanstepney]

Whether you use BMS or black, unless it is a stock size (and frames rarely are) the steel stockholders will usually guillotine it, leaving one edge with a slight curve on it that has to be removed, thus taking it below the specified dimension. Unless, of course, you allow for that by ordering a slightly larger size, in which case, you still have some cleaning up to do.

Black has the disadvantage that the edges are not square, but is less likely to warp.

I always resort to hacksaw and file(s) for frames, rather than spend the (same) time setting up to machine them.

As for the set you already have, it would be unlucky to find dimensions that are crucial and cant be adjusted due to a small reduction in frame width.
I would look at them and the drawings, carefully and see how they can be saved.

[brozier]

Silverfox,

How much time/effort have you invested in the frames so far? As Alan says yo umay be able to save them.

Having spent all my free time for several months finishing Spencers frames (they were marked out and roughed out), I don't think I'd want to repeat that experience in a hurry.

It's something the no magazine or book ever mentions- making the frames is a long and tedious job and when you have finished all you have two bits of metal with a load of holes in it. Not very rewarding.

If you are building a well known model you may well find Model Engineers Laser have it already drawn out and could do you some Laser Cut frames fairly quickly. You can't get more made to measure than that!

Regards
Bryan

[cotswold]

May 5, 2008 6:28:54 GMT brozier said:

Silverfox,


.... It's something the no magazine or book ever mentions- making the frames is a long and tedious job and when you have finished all you have two bits of metal with a load of holes in it. Not very rewarding.

If you are building a well known model you may well find Model Engineers Laser have it already drawn out and could do you some Laser Cut frames fairly quickly. You can't get more made to measure than that! ....

I would second those remarks! Moreover there are quit a few firms who offer laser cut (or preferably water cut? - no hardening of the edges?) services these days.