This article describes how I made two round disks on my lathe out of sheet metal that was too thin to be held in a lathe chuck. I also could not use a mandrel because one of the disks was not going to have a hole drilled through its center. The two disks were made from .073-inch thick aluminum sheet metal and are about 5-inches in diameter. … Read the rest
Forums and Discussion Groups for Machinists
The problem with being an amateur/home/hobbyist machinist is that you may be self-taught. There are some good web sites, videos and books that you can learn from, but sooner or later you are probably going to have a question you would like to have answered by someone who (you hope) really knows what they are talking about. … Read the rest
MIT TechTV Machine Shop Videos
Here is a great resource for new machinists that almost seems like a secret because I have never seen it mentioned on any of the discussion groups or forums I belong to.
In 1995 the director of MIT’s machine shop for the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (Robotics Group) made ten videos, totaling more than seven hours, that teach students how to use machine tools. … Read the rest
Professor McCabe’s Free Plans
Professor Nial McCabe teaches Engineering Technology at the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ. He has a web site with a large collection of engine plans that can be powered by compressed air or steam, plus a few other projects like the pin vise in the picture
The engines are not fancy and I don’t think they are intended to be. … Read the rest