Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: Jim on October 30, 2024, 05:23:35 pm

Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2024, 11:07:55 pm
Never seen that vid Bruce, I must search for it.
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: St Paul Steam on October 30, 2024, 10:03:53 pm
I have usually bought the casting trees myself in the past. The problems I see with a jig is that the individual pieces aren't completely uniform,  thus requiring individual shaping to fit a jig. They are a pita to do & I usually ruin a few from each batch. I usually do most of one type part at a time( & I hate doing them).ai think tubal cain (Mr. Pete) did a video on machining these that I adhered to pretty well.
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2024, 08:21:26 pm
(Attachment Link)

I've made a duplicate of this fixture that I use in the lathe. It's a round held in the chuck, so everything is centered and it's relative quick to face, drill & tap the plumbing bits in this fashion.

The attachment has drawings for the fixture PM uses for the valves, at least that's what I was told.

What a fantastic jig....thank you!
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Stoker on October 30, 2024, 08:13:42 pm
NICE!!!
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: krypto31337 on October 30, 2024, 07:20:18 pm
Found a pic.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Steamburns on October 30, 2024, 07:02:53 pm
I am just glad that PMR sells already machined fixings to allow folks that don’t have a lathe or room for one, the ability to make things. 

In the near future I might look into learning some basic machining skills so I can do just bare bones stuff, but full blown machining is skill learned over years and years and years.

Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: krypto31337 on October 30, 2024, 07:00:39 pm
[attachimg=2]

I've made a duplicate of this fixture that I use in the lathe. It's a round held in the chuck, so everything is centered and it's relative quick to face, drill & tap the plumbing bits in this fashion.

The attachment has drawings for the fixture PM uses for the valves, at least that's what I was told.
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2024, 06:58:15 pm
Sometimes I've just drilled them for brazing in copper pipe, looks quite nice the copper and brass together.
Title: Re: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Stoker on October 30, 2024, 06:29:24 pm
It certainly takes some patience with the set-ups, but it definitely saves quite a bit of money doing it yourself. Also, it allows for some choice in diameters and thread sizes that may not be stock from PMR.

All good practice I'd say!
Title: PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2024, 05:23:35 pm
PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings

I always buy the casting trees from PMR of their unmachined pipe fittings in their different sizes as
it works out a lot cheaper for me than buying their pre machined ones.
There's a LOT of work in machining just one, they must have some pretty good jigs at the factory where they
can quickly turn out many many of these in bulk numbers.

[attachimg=1]