''CORLISS'' build.HELLO ALL,

[lancelot]

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Hello all, here as promised are some shots of the set up that I had to use to machine the castings for the ''Corliss'' engine that I am building. As you may see Photo bucket is not playing ball, so hopefully if you click on each url the photo will appear, machining each individual casting was just within the limits of travel of the machine ''Chester Conquest'', the weeee, compared to some, handled the job extremely capably, still a bit of work to do on the castings before I can bolt them all together.
I found the casting dimensions to be considerably different from the drawings, this was as expected due to being fore warned by Peter...and hole pitches e/t/c had to be altered to suit.
All the best for now,
John.

[spurley]

Hi John

Looks great so far. I think I will have to pay you a visit and mess your workshop up a bit! It's far too tidy

See you tomorrow.

Cheers

Brian

[chameleonrob]

thats an interesting mod on the mill, I haven't seen one with two hand wheels on the X axis before, does it make using the mill easier, or just stop one arm getting stronger that the other?

rob

[lancelot]

Hi Rob,
No, it,s not a mod, it is very useful to have it built with two drive wheels,trying to turn it with one for the length of the table, short as it is, can be quite strenuous especially when a large lump of metal is on the bed ;D
All the best,
John.

[Myford Matt]

Is this a Southworth Corliss?

MM

[lancelot]

Hi M.M.
Yes, it is, re. my reference to ''Peter'' Southworth, before I decided to tackle this engine I recieved quite a lot of good advice form him in relation to the build, castings versa drawings, basically
that in most cases the drawing dimensions related to the castings are to be taken as a guide and adjusted where necessary which I have already had to do but is working out fine.
As I am sure can be seen from the photos this build is right on the limits of my mill, indeed I had to remove the limit stop for vertical travel to enable the largest casting to be machined on the ends.
Walter [GUGGER] was kind to put up shots of his handiwork, his encouragement spurred me into action.
All the best for now,
John.

[Jo]

Hi John,

Spreading rumours about me.... My neighbour brought the Bridgeport and I generously make sure that it still works for him. (Very, very nice man). In my own workshop I have a very capable Harrison and a Hobbymat mill.

Looking at your photo's your mill is about the same size as my hobbymat. Looking at the amount you have got done in the time you have had those castings: have you slept since they arrived? Or did you just move your bed into the workshop? ;D

I hope you have a nice sized lathe for the flywheel.

Jo

[lancelot]

Hello Joe,
I could certainly do with a bigger mill but sadly room and safety does not permit, as for sleep...I count castings and figure out drawings, that is enough to put anyone to sleep ;D
You may have seen where I drilled the ends of the castings for 1/4'' steel dowels to enable me use the clamping system, only method I could tkink of, they can be plugged or left as is.
Unfortunately my lathe will not handle the flywheel [10'' circ.] I may be able to mill the two halves for joining and bolt them together, but will need to obtain a much larger lathe to turn the diam. and faces. That will be next on the list after the outer shaft pedestal. I am doing all the heavy machining work on the ''Corliss'' and ''Coombes'' back to back so that I can then concentrate on the fiddly bits of both engines
All the best for now,
John.

[Jo]

John,

I like the dowels, a good way to overcome the narrow ness of the machine bed and once it is all bolted up most of them are hidden from view. That is one mean sized milling cutter for such a small machine.

You will have to ask nicely around your locality for someone with a reasonable sized lathe. I would offer the services of my Colchester Master but I suspect Hampshire may be a bit far to travel.

Did you also buy the air compressor castings?

Jo

[lancelot]

Hello Joe,
''Air Pump castings''... not yet, but I still may.
That is a 3/4'' end mill, the largest my collet system would take,other than investing in a ''face mill'' cutter which I did not tkink the machine would handle.
I do not feel I will have any real problem finding a lathe to handle the flywheel, as I am a member of M.E.S.N.I. [model engineers society of northern ireland] I am fairly certain I can find one.
All the best for now,
John.