Hank's Machine Shop

[ACL1504]

Larry,

The shop is looking fantastic. Love all the details.

Tom

[Larry C]

Tom thank you; appreciate your comments.

[Bernd]

So the machines are drill press, lathe and milling machine.  From the little bit of reading I've done on machine shops, that strikes me as 'minimal useful set' for general work.  But maybe Bernd could comment on that.

dave

Answering that question would take a few days of research. The number of machines and types depends on what the machineshop is building or repairing. A good example is the East Brad Top railroad facilities. I don't believe they have a mill. Why, beacuse they have planers and shapers. These two machine preceeded the milling machine. They were used right up to when the railroad shut down.

Here's a link to what they have in machines. These would be the basic machines used to build and repair railroad equipment.  LINK: https://oldeastie.com/Shops/

A machine shop contracting work of any kind would have a deversity of machines to do the job asked of them. Think of bascis, lathe, planer, shaper, grinder, drill press. Then into the 1920's, 30's, milling machines. Large bridge milling machines to replace the planers and small horizontal or verticles machines replacing the shapers. Also depends on what year you are modeling. That would narrow down the machines needed. Obviously you won't have a CNC machine in a 1900's machine shop.

That's about all I can add to this conversation. There are more machines that I don't even think they have models of. I did some searching but couldn't find what I'm looking for in pictures so you understand what the machine is and looks like. I bet nobody has heard of a "verticle lathe"? Hope it helps.

Bernd

Bernd

[deemery]

Bernd, are you thinking about something like this machine?  https://presse.surplex.com/pressreleases/precision-work-in-xxl-7-facts-about-vertical-turret-lathes-3300472  Apparently vertical lathes were widely used for large gears.

dave

[Larry C]

Bernd and Dave thanks for the info and links; interesting stuff.

[Bernd]

Bernd, are you thinking about something like this machine?  https://presse.surplex.com/pressreleases/precision-work-in-xxl-7-facts-about-vertical-turret-lathes-3300472  Apparently vertical lathes were widely used for large gears.

dave

Nope. That's just another tool. Yes that machine turns "gear blanks". It is not not made for gear cutting. Where I worked we had two of them. They bored out the large cradles for gear cutting machines. A fixture would hold the curved shape of the cradle so the internal bores could be turned.

Anothe interesting link is the "Vintage machines" site.

http://vintagemachinery.org/

It says it's not a secure site. I was there and  didn't run into any problems.

Bernd

[Larry C]

Bernd thanks for the link; I'll check it out.

[Larry C]

Moving right along:



The primary belt line is in with the shaft going through the stone wall outside to the right; this is where the steam engine, boiler, and water tank will reside. The milling machine's belt was pretty easy to install and make look right. The lather however was a different story. I didn't realize it when I was coloring/weathering it but the belt would NOT go under the cone pulley; no room was made for it to slide under when printed and that was rather disappointing. Looking at it I figured I'd have to make it "Look" like it did. Started on the front side getting one end of the belt right in the crack between the lathe and the pulley. Once that was glued in place then the belt went up and around the other cone pulley on the line then glued on the back of the machine the same way as the front. Presto, now the belt looks like it should. Also added a belt changer for the lathe and the milling machine.



Here's a little different view and hopefully those 2 posts will disappear during the next step in the build. Speaking of next steps, next will be to add a narrow wall along the front then tie the entire top of the Shop together before adding 2 cross beams over the entire width so I can remove those 2 posts. As always thanks for stopping by and for all your great comments and/or suggestions.

[deemery]

To pick a nit:  On the shaper, the cones are slightly misaligned.  The small pulley of the top cone should be directly over the large pulley of the lathe's cone.   And is there enough room for the full travel of the shaper front to back? 

Your approach with the lathe is the same as what I did with all my machines.  I looped the belt over the driveshaft pulley, then trimmed the bottom to cover as much as I could to the bottom of the machine pulley, on both sides.  So there's a gap that can't be seen at the bottom of each of my machine pulleys.  I had the advantage of access from all sides, since i didn't affix the walls until after the machines and belts were installed.

This is the kind of work that is both frustrating and rewarding, particularly as you think through and understand the shop and tool engineering.

dave

[PRR Modeler]

It looks superb Larry.

[Larry C]

Dave unfortunately the milling machine's pulleys are off just a hair. I had to glue the top cone to the shaft in order to get the belt on properly and was off a smidge but they are on the proper part of each pulley. good eye though.

Curt thank you so much.

[deemery]

What I did was set the machines, then glue (drop of CA) the shaft pulleys into position, to make sure they line up.  (I mention this for others contemplating the joy of a belt driven machine shop.  i learned A LOT from studying build threads by others.)

dave

[friscomike]

Larry, the machine shop looks fantastic.  The pulley wheels in the ceiling are amazing.  Nice work.  Have fun, mike

[Larry C]

Dave thanks for your input; I'm sure others will benefit.

Mike thanks so much; it's slowly getting there.

[Rick]

Larry, congratulations on getting the belt line, belts and pulleys installed.
I know it's not easy to do.
Looking good from where I'm sitting.