Machinist Hammer - Part 1 

Thanks!

Thanks Scott!

Thank you!

Thanks you very much!

Thanks!

I got my tool post from Shars. Thanks for watching!

Don't stop now, your only half way done! :) Thanks for watching!

Thanks! Logan Model 200

Thank you!

Thanks! (sand paper haha)

Yep! Thanks again!

It is a 10” Logan

Build Fix Create thank you. By the way, amazing item and techniques. Thanks for sharing

Thanks for watching! A few people have suggested the bearing idea. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt i just don't have any that small right now. I think the issue is more the shaft binding in the brass bushing if the sideways force from a steep incline angle is greater than the force of the shaft being pushed backwards. (more than a 45 degree angle). Then the shaft binds in place.

Build Fix Create Thanks for the explanation. I understand better now. It’s a lateral binding issue.

Thank you sir!

Thanks! The end of the stylus is just rounded over. It doesn't really get caught up due to friction, it binds in the brass bushing if the sideways force is greater than the force pushing it backwards. Aka more than a 45 degree angle. As for the carriage lock - firstly I'm not machinist so keep that in mind haha. I am in the habit of locking my carriage if i face something and want it to be as smooth and square as possible. Sometimes it will move the whole carriage ever so slightly and the cut wont be square if there is high tool pressure.

Thank you. I love the concept of the follower... would a different bushing/bearing make a difference? And... Perhaps you don't make your living as a machinist, and... you ARE a machinist.

Thank you for the good explanation! I think I'll be locking the carriage on my Sheldon 10"

I'm not sure if a linear bearing or something would help. I think a real hydraulic tracer has a sensor of sorts that senses the pattern and any increase in the pressure on the sensor will cause the hydraulic pressure to decrease. Essentially it is doing this constantly and therefore only follows the pattern with very light pressure and not the actual cutting force pressure. I could be totally wrong but that's how I picture it haha. Maybe in homemade tracer version 2! And thanks! I would be proud to be called any kind of machinist, youtube or hobby or anything.

Thanks for the suggestion! I know a few people have suggested this, and I may try it in the future. I just haven't gotten around to ordering any tiny bearing. I think the biggest problem is that the 3/8" shaft will bind in the brass bushing if there is too much sideways force. I'm sure a bearing wouldn't hurt anything, just not so sure if its the limiting factor

Ebay item 132033822314 2*6*2.5mm roller bearings ~$5 with shipping.

Unfortunately my tracer doesn't have much in common with Keith's. His hydraulic tracer and others like it have some fancy valving that adjusts the position of the cross slide based on the stylus following a pattern. I believe the stylus follows the pattern with a relatively light pressure, if the stylus pressure increases from a curve in the pattern then the valves adjust the fluid going to the cross slide and move it back, hence lowering the stylus pressure back to its preferred level and moving the cutting tool at the same time to copy the pattern (cut the work to match). Therefore it can follow steep inclines in the pattern because it is automatically retracted hydraulically. The pressure pushing the stylus into the pattern and the tool into the work piece are not the same. In mine, this is exactly how it works. 6psi forwards pressure on mine pushes the tool into the work and stylus into the pattern at the same time. There is a solid link between them. In order to retract the pattern must resist this pressure and the air valve will bleed off excess above the set pressure (approx 6 psi). If the pattern incline is too steep, it is not an issue of friction between the stylus and pattern, the pattern exerts more lateral force on the stylus than it does "backwards" force. This lateral force causes the stylus shaft to bind in the brass support bushing and to a lesser extent in the air cylinder itself.

Thank you!

Cant hurt to ask! haha