MES SURFACE GRINDER
THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SURFACE GRINDER WAS MARKETED BY THE COMPANY "MODEL ENGINEERING SERVICES" RUN BY THE FAMOUS MODEL ENGINEER IVAN LAW. IT`S A COMBINED VERTICAL AND "SWING" GRINDER. VERY FEW OF THESE WERE SOLD AND IVAN TOLD ME THAT THE REASON WAS THAT THE MAGNETIC CHUCKS COST MORE THAN THE KIT OF PARTS WHEN THE MACHINE WAS LAUNCHED DURING THE 1980`S
MES SUPPLIED PARTLY MACHINED KITS OF PARTS ONLY AND THE AIM WAS THAT THE PURCHASER WOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE MACHINES USING A 3.5 INCH LATHE.
THE COMPROMISES THAT IVAN HAD TO MAKE IN THE DESIGN WERE THAT THERE IS NO "Y" AXIS AND THE GRINDING WHEEL WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE. THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE OVERCOME AND I WILL LOOK INTO THIS WHEN I CAN STRIP THE MACHINE DOWN FOR INSPECTION. I`VE ALREADY NOTICED THAT ALL THE GIB STRIP ADJUSTING BOLTS HAVE BEEN SHEARED OFF, WHICH MEANS THAT THE MACHINE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE HANDS OF A BEGINNER, ALSO THE GIB STRIP ITSELF HAS DISAPPEARED!
i EXPECT THAT SOME OF YOU ARE ASKING YOURSELVES WHY I`M BUYING ANOTHER SURFACE GRINDER WHEN I ALREADY HAVE THE EAGLE. THE ANSWER IS THAT I`M BUYING IN SMALLER MACHINES FOR THE FUTURE WHEN I HAVE TO DOWNSIZE MY WORKSHOP. I`TS IMPORTANT TO BUY THESE RARE MACHINES WHEN THEY COME ON THE MARKET SO THAT ONE HAS IT WHEN IT`S NEEDED.
MES SUPPLIED PARTLY MACHINED KITS OF PARTS ONLY AND THE AIM WAS THAT THE PURCHASER WOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE MACHINES USING A 3.5 INCH LATHE.
THE COMPROMISES THAT IVAN HAD TO MAKE IN THE DESIGN WERE THAT THERE IS NO "Y" AXIS AND THE GRINDING WHEEL WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE. THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE OVERCOME AND I WILL LOOK INTO THIS WHEN I CAN STRIP THE MACHINE DOWN FOR INSPECTION. I`VE ALREADY NOTICED THAT ALL THE GIB STRIP ADJUSTING BOLTS HAVE BEEN SHEARED OFF, WHICH MEANS THAT THE MACHINE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE HANDS OF A BEGINNER, ALSO THE GIB STRIP ITSELF HAS DISAPPEARED!
i EXPECT THAT SOME OF YOU ARE ASKING YOURSELVES WHY I`M BUYING ANOTHER SURFACE GRINDER WHEN I ALREADY HAVE THE EAGLE. THE ANSWER IS THAT I`M BUYING IN SMALLER MACHINES FOR THE FUTURE WHEN I HAVE TO DOWNSIZE MY WORKSHOP. I`TS IMPORTANT TO BUY THESE RARE MACHINES WHEN THEY COME ON THE MARKET SO THAT ONE HAS IT WHEN IT`S NEEDED.
TECHNICAL DETAILS AND EXPLANATION
THE DESIGN OF THE BED IS INTERESTING AS IT COMPRISES THE HEAVY BASE JUST LIGHTLY MILLED ACROSS ITS BOTTOM AND TOP FACES. THE MILD STEEL FLAT BAR STOCK TABLE GUIDE IS AT THE FRONT AND IS ATTACHED TO THE BASE BY ADHESIVE AND THREE COUNTERSUNK MACHINE SCREWS. THE TABLE IS ALIGNED BY A GIB STRIP ADJUSTED BY FIVE 2BA SCREWS DRILLED AND TAPPED THROUGH THE TABLE GUIDE THAT HOLDS IT AGAINST A FLAT BAR ATTACHED TO THE TABLE.
THE OTHER FLAT BAR ON THE BED IS FOR TABLE SUPPORT ONLY AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRECISION ALIGNED WITH THE TABLE GUIDE.
THE COLUMN FOR RAISING AND LOWERING OF THE GRINDING HEAD ASSEMBLY IS 2.5 INCHES DIAMETER AS USED ON THE DORE WESTBURY MILLS, ALSO MANUFACTURED BY MES.THIS COLUMN HAS A SLOT SCREW CUT ON IT`S OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND USES A COLLAR WITH A TOOTH THAT ENGAGES WITH THE SLOT SO THAT THE COLLAR CAN BE ROTATED AROUND THE COLUMN FOR ROUGH HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT.
THE OTHER FLAT BAR ON THE BED IS FOR TABLE SUPPORT ONLY AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRECISION ALIGNED WITH THE TABLE GUIDE.
THE COLUMN FOR RAISING AND LOWERING OF THE GRINDING HEAD ASSEMBLY IS 2.5 INCHES DIAMETER AS USED ON THE DORE WESTBURY MILLS, ALSO MANUFACTURED BY MES.THIS COLUMN HAS A SLOT SCREW CUT ON IT`S OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND USES A COLLAR WITH A TOOTH THAT ENGAGES WITH THE SLOT SO THAT THE COLLAR CAN BE ROTATED AROUND THE COLUMN FOR ROUGH HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT.
ABOVE TWO VIEWS OF THE ASSEMBLED MACHINE. THE MAX CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STONE AND THE TABLE IS 10 INCHES ( 250 mm ). MAX CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STONE AND THE CHUCK IS 7 INCHES ( 178 mm ).
THE MAX LENGTH THAT CAN BE FULLY GROUND ON THE X AXIS ( THAT IS THE STONE PASSES OVER THE WORKPIECE COMPLETELY AT EITHER END ) IS 5 INCHES ( 127 mm ). THE MAX WIDTH WITH THE STONE SUPPLIED IS 5 INCHES ( 127 mm ).
THE MAX LENGTH THAT CAN BE FULLY GROUND ON THE X AXIS ( THAT IS THE STONE PASSES OVER THE WORKPIECE COMPLETELY AT EITHER END ) IS 5 INCHES ( 127 mm ). THE MAX WIDTH WITH THE STONE SUPPLIED IS 5 INCHES ( 127 mm ).
ABOVE LEFT, A VIEW OF THE BASE, WHERE THE PINION AND CAPSTAN THAT MOVES THE TABLE VIA THE RACK MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TABLE IS SHOWN, ABOVE RIGHT IS THE GRINDING HEAD ASSEMBLY. AT THE BACK OF THE MOTOR IS THE BRACKET THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE COLUMN. ALSO CAN BE SEEN IS THE FINE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE DOWN FEED VIA THE HANDWHEEL SHOWN ON THE UPPER RIGHT HAND SIDE
ABOVE LEFT, A LARGER PHOTO OF THE TABLE UNDERSIDE SHOWING THE VERY LIGHT MARKING ON THE SLIDE AREAS WHICH MEANS THAT THIS MACHINE HAS SEEN LITTLE ACTION. ABOVE RIGHT THE 5 INCHES BY 10 INCHES MAGNETIC TABLE WHICH, DUE TO IT`S WEIGHT, KEEPS THE TABLE IN CONTACT WITH THE BASE WITHOUT HAVING TO USE DOVETAIL SLIDES. A GENIAL SOLUTION WHICH MEANS THAT, SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY TO OVERHAUL THE SLIDES, THIS CAN BE CARRIED OUT BY A NORMAL SURFACE GRINDER AT LOW COST.
ABOVE ARE TOP AND BOTTOM VIEWS OF THE CUP GRINDING WHEEL 5 INCHES DIAMETER GLUED INTO THE STEEL HUB. THIS IS MOUNTED ON THE MOTOR SHAFT AND LOCKED IN POSITION BY TWO 2BA GRUB SCREWS CLAMPING IN THE MOTOR SHAFT KEYWAY.
IN PROGRESS