Not An Engineer

Back on the tools (for a moment)

Added 2024-02-10 04:27:46 +0000 UTC

Almost finished editing the lathe video, just waiting on the final say on the sponsored segment, and to add the animations, so while I wait to hear back, I thought I'd get a head start on that cycloidal drive I can't seem to shut up about.

Took care of all the drilling and boring using a CNC program on the mill, and amazed at the consistency of the hole pattern. Was a bit worried about ending up with an oval.

I figured it would be quicker to cut the slug out of the centre of the main housing manually, without faffing about in CAM, so I took care of that, and a couple of reference surfaces on the od, with the help of some roughing endmills and the rotary table. This 4mm tool was absolutely punching above its weight, what a champion. I'll definitely be using this method to produce the faceplates, and any other circle-from-plate parts in the future.

Next step is to slice off the corners with the bandsaw (it's easy to forget how good those things are at removing stock), then I can put the whole thing in the four jaw on the lathe. The od and the flats around it will hopefully help to make sure that all the other features are on-axis with the roller seats, and I'll use the rollers themselves (8mm dowel pins) to dial it in.

But for now I've gotta get back to that video, which will be out here on patreon early next week. See you then!