The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Mini-Lathe 100 TPI Stacked Change Gear

    Before turning the PVC conduit to the proper diameter for the Shopvac hose adapter, I set up a 20-50-32-80 change gear train for a 100 TPI finish. While the urethane adhesive cured in the hose, I fed the BC gear pair into my change gear generator:

    Mini-lathe stacked change gears - 32-50T - solid model
    Mini-lathe stacked change gears – 32-50T – solid model

    It’s ready for the next time I cut something down to size:

    Mini-lathe 100 TPI change gears
    Mini-lathe 100 TPI change gears

    One reference suggests a 256 TPI finish for “general turning”, which works out to 20-80-20-80:

    Mini-lathe stacked change gears - 20-80T - solid model
    Mini-lathe stacked change gears – 20-80T – solid model

    That’s just crazy talk, because the BC washer overlaps the D gear teeth:

    Mini-lathe 256 TPI change gears
    Mini-lathe 256 TPI change gears

    If all else fails and I really need a 256 TPI finish, lathes are pretty good at making washers.