Hi,
I'm interested first in machining a ball vise for engraving, and more
ambitiously, making my own rose engine.

I'm a freshman in college now, and we have a machine shop. I took an
intro class, in which we made a crude flashlight out of aluminum. Mine
wasn't perfect, but it covered all the basic skills. My point being
that I'm not that experienced yet at machining, although I do at least
have basic experience, and additionally the shop managers can help me
with what I don't know how to do.

The ball vise is just that: a hemisphere on bottom sits in a plastic
ring. The hemisphere at top has two jaws forming a vise. A left and
right-hand-threaded screw opens and closes the jaws, which ride in a
t-slot. Ball bearings inside let the two hemispheres rotate where they
meet. They are built from 4" diameter, useful only for small jewelry,
to 6.5" (the size I have drawn plans for, although I feel I could adapt
them to other dimensions), to as much as 8-3/4" diameter, for rifles,
swords, or for example, someone who used such a large vise to engrave
all the parts on a watchmaker's lathe.

For what I want to do, I will need a larger vise. 4" diameter can
almost be found as scrap, a length of 6" diameter mild steel rod will
cost $66 from the campus machine shop (@ $1.10/lb, I believe), and a
length of 8" diameter mild steel will cost $212. The solid mild steel
rod stock used to machine the two hemispheres will be the single
greatest cost, although of course I realize other parts (bearings,
threaded rod, the smaller rod stock for the jaws) could add $20-$60.
That's a lot of money to play with; worth every penny for a quality
vice, but if I screw up machining a $200 chunk of steel that would
suck. What is your advice? Start with the 4" vice, then jump to the
8" vice if that works out? Maybe start with another totally different
simpler machining project first, (i.e., sharpening jig, or pointing jig
for sculpture, I had in mind)?

As another option, a friend recommended possibly using a large
hemispherical cap used in plumbing to save cost and machining time (I
wouldn't have to machine out the inside nor, more importantly, need to
used the cnc lathe to turn a rod into a perfect hemisphere, which is a
lot of material to remove. My friend, a dentist, proposed to then
precisely cast the cavity in dental stone and press the bearings into
that, and mount an old lathe chuck on top (which he already has) as the
vise on top. Is this worth a shot? It would certainly be easier and
cheaper. On the other hand, a lathe chuck is not the same as a
parallel jaw vise, I don't trust that the dental stone won't crack
under the stresses of chasing, and finally that the fact that this
easier design is not the standard might mean something.




Regarding the rose engine: I want to build the engraver's ball vise
over January, it is something that I am doing now, so the question of
the rose engine is less important to me. The rose engine is for the
more distant future, summer at soonest but probably years away;
depending on just what the logistics are?

So anyway, it is a machine used for fine mechanical engraving,
fairly simple in principle. A shaft both turns in bronze bearings and
can move linearally back and forth in them. Along the shaft is mounted
a series of "rosesettes," bronze plates with contoured perimeters. At
the far right is a chuck to hold the work, and to the right of that a
moderately complex vise holding the graver. A "rubber" rides on the
rosettes, held against them with powerful springs, and is linked by a
shaft to the vise/graver. In this manner, as the shaft turns, the
contour of the given rosette the rubber is riding on pushes it back and
forth in a pattern, and as the work turns (being on the same shaft with
the rosettes), the rocking motion of the graver dictated by the rosette
engraves a pattern.

This should give a general description of it. I have some cruder
drawings, an understand of how it works, some photos. I could possibly
design my own. Also, it's possible that the Society of Ornamental
Turners may have plans, and a machinery dealer 2 hrs away does have
some antiques (well, all existing rose engines are antiques now) to
study as well, so if I go ahead with it I think I can find or develop
solid plans.

If I buy one, it will be a minimum of $2000 for a fixer-upper. There
is a short supply, they were last made in the early 20th century and
not in the same volumes as more general bandsaws or metal lathes;
they're a specialty machine. Thus in looking for the past few months,
there are a couple on the market that aren't fixer-uppers but are
closer to $4000. They weight around $600 lbs, needed, despite the tiny
scale of the work being done, to prevent someone walking too heavily
along the floor upstairs giving you tiny blips in your work. The more
weight, the more absorpsive of vibrations and the cleaner the work.
The design isn't the most complex, less so than a typical metal lathe,
although still quite complex, certainly much, much more so than the
ball vise. And that's also a lot of weight, which should give some
indication of just how much machining would be involved. A good
portion of that will be in the cast iron stands included in these
machines.

Maybe from this information, you could very roughly estimate for me
just what sort of project I would be getting myself into? For even
$4000, is the amount of machining this might involve just too much? I
could probably afford the steel, but could not afford the $4000, not
yet, although maybe 5 years down the road when I'm out of college and
have a real job. If it's going to take 800 hrs of machining, I would
rather wait the 5 years, but if it might be feasible to build, in a
reasonable amount of time...?




thanks for your advice!
-Bernard Arnest

"Bernard Arnest" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,
I'm interested first in machining a ball vise for engraving, and more
ambitiously, making my own rose engine.

I'm a freshman in college now, and we have a machine shop. I took an
intro class, in which we made a crude flashlight out of aluminum. Mine
wasn't perfect, but it covered all the basic skills. My point being
that I'm not that experienced yet at machining, although I do at least
have basic experience, and additionally the shop managers can help me
with what I don't know how to do.

At your level, any project will be either crude, or only an exercise. I
don't mean that to be condescending in any respect, but you should have
reasonable expectations before spending 100+ hours on a vice.

I had to do extensive bench work during my apprenticeship and having a nice
bench vice which runs smoothly and works *correctly* was crucial. While it
would be reasonably simple to create a vice which resembles a professionally
built ball vice, building one that feels and functions correctly is probably
beyond your capabilities right now.

I built a small bench vice (fits in your hand) during the first year of my
tool and die apprenticeship. It works well with little backlash, virtually
zero sideways slop and smooth action. It took 60 hours and I had some ~1,500
hours experience on the machines when I started, if that gives you an idea.
(I can send you a photo if you're interested)

If you do decide to build the vice, I would recommend you build the one you
want the first time. While larger work pieces do take more time to machine,
this extra time is trivial compared to the time required to machine a
slightly smaller piece of the same design.

HTH.

Regards,

Robin

Bernard Arnest wrote:



If I buy one, it will be a minimum of $2000 for a fixer-upper. There
is a short supply, they were last made in the early 20th century and
not in the same volumes as more general bandsaws or metal lathes;
they're a specialty machine. Thus in looking for the past few months,
there are a couple on the market that aren't fixer-uppers but are
closer to $4000. They weight around $600 lbs, needed, despite the tiny
scale of the work being done, to prevent someone walking too heavily
along the floor upstairs giving you tiny blips in your work. The more
weight, the more absorpsive of vibrations and the cleaner the work.
The design isn't the most complex, less so than a typical metal lathe,
although still quite complex, certainly much, much more so than the
ball vise. And that's also a lot of weight, which should give some
indication of just how much machining would be involved. A good
portion of that will be in the cast iron stands included in these
machines.

There are plenty of used ones to be found. Several of them he

http://goldmachinery.com/machinery/a...ineturning.htm



Maybe from this information, you could very roughly estimate for me
just what sort of project I would be getting myself into? For even
$4000, is the amount of machining this might involve just too much? I
could probably afford the steel, but could not afford the $4000, not
yet, although maybe 5 years down the road when I'm out of college and
have a real job. If it's going to take 800 hrs of machining, I would
rather wait the 5 years, but if it might be feasible to build, in a
reasonable amount of time...?

Unless you have experience in mold making for cast iron casting and
extensive machining experience to produce the various "rosettes" for the
rose barrel, I suggest you forget about making a machine like this
yourself.

Take a look at this page for some introductory information about these
machines and their workings (http://www.rgmwatches.com/engine.html)
This page includes some videos.

And take a look here for a sampling of patterns
http://www.rgmwatches.com/engine99.html

Almost every one of these pattern requires it's own rosette. All
rosettes produce more than one pattern and almost infinite variations
are possible.

Until you develop an intimate understanding of the construction of these
machines and how they work, forget about making your own. So I strongly
suggest that you save your money and buy one.

Oh, and before I forget, there are two kinds of engine turning machines,
"rotary" and "straight line".

Check out the work of Dale Chase for some exceptional work in wood, jade
and metal with an engine turning lathe. http://www.makerofboxes.com/

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

....
Hi,
I'm interested first in machining ...

I'm a freshman in college now, and we have a machine shop. ...


Here's the two key points in your note.

Congratulations on your interest. This interest can take you as far as you'd
like to go. Make it a career, or a life long hobby.

Second, take advantage of this machine shop NOW. You've got a well equipped
shop AND someone to mentor you. You may not get an opportunity like this
again. Make something, anything, and learn all you can.

As to your vice project, sounds like fun. I'd plan on the first one for
practice. You ain't a machinist till you screw up, and you will. Then make
one again - it will come out real nice.

Karl

Karl Townsend wrote:
...

Hi,
I'm interested first in machining ...


I'm a freshman in college now, and we have a machine shop. ...



Here's the two key points in your note.

Congratulations on your interest. This interest can take you as far as you'd
like to go. Make it a career, or a life long hobby.

Second, take advantage of this machine shop NOW. You've got a well equipped
shop AND someone to mentor you. You may not get an opportunity like this
again. Make something, anything, and learn all you can.

As to your vice project, sounds like fun. I'd plan on the first one for
practice. You ain't a machinist till you screw up, and you will. Then make
one again - it will come out real nice.

Karl

Well said, Karl. That's excellent advice. Don't be too disheartened when
you do screw up. Figure out what you did wrong and treat it as a
learning experience. Also, many of the instructors in college machine
shops are real experts, and they'll be pleased to help anyone who shows
a little extra interest.

Chris

I would suggest you consider going to some thrift stores and seeing if
you can buy a bowling ball.
They are fairly easy to cut and are useful for things as camera mounts,
telescope mounts, and mounts for a vise.

I don't want to discourage you from learrning to machine things, just
suggest you consider seeing if there are things that can be modified to
speed things along.

Dan

Bernard,
I have a friend in St.Louis that has two of the Rose machines you have
described. He has made some very interesting modifications to them that
allow him to actually carve the rosettes in wood. He motrorized the
cutting head. Just incredible. He makes his own "program" plates out of
plexiglass. If you live near STL I'd be glad to put you in touch with
him. BTW, the bowling ball is a great idea. Also, I see large stainless
or chrome spheres at the junk yard all the time. They come out of large
ball valves. Good luck!
-Mike

On 21 Dec 2005 19:54:43 -0800, "Bernard Arnest"
wrote:

I'm interested first in machining a ball vise for engraving,

Never make anything you can get from a scrapyard. It'll be cheaper, and
it'll probably be better.

Ball vices are around. More commonly you can find a ball clamp, and a
vice, and introduce them yourself.

If you do want to make a ball vice, then don't try making the ball.
Balls come from ball factories - they're a pain to make, there's a trade
in them, so go find one. Besides which, the idea of buying steel for
over $/lb makes me faint. If you ever do need something big and hefty
(an armourer's anvil stake for instance) then this is why the good Ford
gave us scrapyards, and he gave the scrapyards heavy crankshafts and
gave us angle grinders. It's a sin to buy new steel just to machine away
most of it.

more ambitiously, making my own rose engine.

That's insanely ambitious. So before you do it, you really do need to
make a few simple projects first, like the odd Difference Engine or two.
I don't want to discourage you, but it really will be quicker and easier
if you begin by making some moderately complex things first - you'll
simply be _quicker_ with a bit of practice.

There's also the issue that all you've seen first is lathe turning. So
at the moment, every problem looks like a turning problem. This is a
very inefficient way to work - why turn a ball from bar when you could
cast it instead? Why machine from solid for something you can fabricate
by welding? The more techniques you learn, the more avenues you have
for how to make something.

As far as making the complex cammy parts of a rose engine, then I'd look
very hard at CNC, quite possibly CNC milling on a rotary table. You dont
have to make a "CNC rose engine" (although the idea is tempting), but
certainly CNC is a good way to make some of the complex parts.