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Recent content by Brian Ross

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    Giving FreeCAD a Try

    Everett, if you want to model gears, you will have to add the Gears workbench. Under the tools menu there is an AddIn Manager. When you open that look for the fcgears add in. Once you have added that and restarted FreeCad you should have a Gears workbench in the Workbenches drop down. From there...
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    Small Machine Screw Tapping Issue

    The chart I have lists 7/64 as the diameter of #4 screws.
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    Knee mill X- axis power feed repair ?

    I had the same issue a couple of years ago. If it is like the one I have, you can disassemble the unit without removing it from the mill. But, if I remember correctly, you have to pretty well remove everything to get at the potentiometer. I ended up replacing the pot and the unit has worked fine...
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    FreeCad Stuff

    Shawn, that is starting to look pretty good. If you want to make copies of features in your model look at the mirror and transform functions. For the four pads, you could have made just one and then mirrored it once about the XZ plane and then mirror that about the YZ plane. You would end up...
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    FreeCad Stuff

    As you said parts that could be disassembled I'd make separate models for them. So, I'd make a bracket that holds the two wheels as a model, one of the two wheels (if they are the same) as another and the platen as a third. Make sure to include the mounting features (e.g., bolt holes) on each...
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    FreeCad Stuff

    A couple of comments on your questions. FreeCAD doesn't allow a body to have multiple non-connected parts. That is why you get an error if you try to pad a new sketch that is not connected to the main body. As you have done, you have to create a new body, create a sketch and then pad it. You...
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    Go to stores for tooling in Canada?

    I received an order of some small electronics parts from AliExpress the other day. I opted for an additional charge to use the AliExpress preferred shipper (about $5.00 instead of free or a couple of dollars). The package arrived in a week and most of that time was getting from Vancouver to...
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    FreeCad Stuff

    FreeCAD does have a Path workbench that has had a lot of development over the past year. It is apparently quite good but I haven't looked at it since I have no CNC machines.
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    ER-32 Collet Blocks

    David, you aren't really missing anything. With the tightening nut in the rear, the collet blocks are much more compact especially in the case of the hex block. I was able to make both the square and hex blocks from 2" x 2" material. In all of the commercially available ER-32 collet blocks I...
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    FreeCad Stuff

    There are often many ways to achieve what you want to do in FreeCAD. I don't think there is any "best" way it's more a matter of personal preference. I prefer using the Part Design workbench because I like the fact that the drawing is built up from fully constrained sketches that are then padded...
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    ER-32 Collet Blocks

    Don, the collet blocks work fine. I don't use them often but are pretty handy when needed. Stefan didn't make a video of this project, it was just a posting with some sketches on his website. I see that the project is no longer on his website. I did a search and did find a German version of the...
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    WTB-7-10in Metal Lathe

    I got an e-mail from Busy Bee Tools this morning regarding their scratch and dent sale. They have a 7x12 lathe in Calgary for $699. I din't read what was wrong with it but it may be worth a look...
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    CAD Forum intro

    Dabbler, you should try FreeCad V0.19. It is a development version that has been available since last fall. There are lots of improvements especially to the part design and tech draw workbenches.
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    Bicycle bottom bracket spindle material choice.

    Yes, it was a through hole type for a Campagnolo hub. I couldn't find anything locally to replace it because it is an odd combination of a metric shaft size with imperial threads. So I picked up some stock and made it. I've probably ridden about 3000 km on it, so it seems to be ok.
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    Bicycle bottom bracket spindle material choice.

    I made a new wheel axle for my road bike a few years ago. I used 4140 htsr and don't recall much difficulty in drilling, turning and threading it. I would have used carbide for turning and HSS for threading and drilling. So it can be done with tools you likely have.
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