Tuesday 18 October 2016

Lever guides

Ok, the weeks just fly by. I have been busy with this project but don't seem to have found the time to post the progress.

I'll start here:





















The latest batch of laser cut parts are two new ones, the stainless components that serve as bearing surface and lateral guidance for the bearings and a duplicate of the boiler flange as I was unhappy with the welding I did on the first one.

The first part is the bearing guide made from (roughly) 2mm 304 stainless. The slit is used to locate the bend line and to significantly weaken the part for bending as this would require a monster machine otherwise. Industrial origami! Prior to cleanup:



















The parts are held in the vice using a couple of pieces of brass shim to elevate the fold line to the correct distance above the edges of the jaws.



















A couple of taps with a heavy hammer using a scrap of aluminum to evenly spread the load and to avoid marring the surface and presto, instant folded parts without the $100k pneumatic press. 


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