Can this part be made with typical manual equipment?

[Pat Murray]

Kind of curious, Would it be better to cut all of the "front" side profile cuts on a lathe, drill, then bore the hole to correct size, Saw cut the slots (possibly even with bandsaw). Then return to the lathe & part off...?

I'm always a little concerned about running small or springy parts. They have a tendency to jump out of the chuck at the 99.9% complete stage... For this reason I'd try to part off last and keep as much of the stock attached as long as possible...?

I cut a 316ss camera housing 1 inch OD with O-ring grooves and a few relief cuts for a tiny underwater Camera and 28tpi external threads in similar fashion... After several attempts to chuck on the thin flexible part with no success, I decided to make all of the external cuts first then move to the ID and Part off last...

I'll try to find some pics...

Pat

 

[Jamie]

If it's what the client ordered, then deliver
exactly what they want.

First, you don't make any money, delivering an
item the client didn't order, even if you think
you can produce a better item.

Secondly, the part was designed and produced to
perform a given function, and thus the petals.
Most spring collars I've seen are made in simular
fashon. This allows the collar to be "snaped" into
the bore to the depth of the outer ledge, while
the petals provide the kenetic force to hold it
in place. As long as it serves the function it
was designed to do, why waste time trying to re
design it. Any spring subjected to half a millon
cycles will break. It's a given.

You also wouldn't want to spend the time redesign
ing it, time you'll never get paid. When you could
be using that time to deliver what the client
wants, and get paid for your time.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Jamie

 

[jim rozen]

"why waste time trying to redesign it."

Because it's a bad design from the start.
It fails in use at a predicable location
for a predictable reason.

He's not doing this to make money. It's
a favor.

You might say "all the more reason to just
get it out of the way" but my way of thinking
is that if I'm doing a favor job like that
then the entire package comes with. Me, myself
and I, with all the quirks.

One of the quirks is I don't like turning out
somebody else's goofups. Just rubs me the
wrong way.

I've turned jobs like that down in the past.

Jim

 

[Gary E]

jim rozen
"why waste time trying to redesign it."

Because it's a bad design from the start.

What makes you think you are an engineer that knows the loads and application of this or any part you are asked to make?

If you are an engineer, then you need to know those loads and a lot of other information, and all the etc, and you dont. If you decide to alter a design and it fails because you thought it might be better the way you made it, get ready to be sued out of your socks and out of biz. You dont know that it's not suposed to act exactly the way it is acting, do you?

 

[jim rozen]

What, breaking in use?

Jim

 

[Gary E]

Plenty of things are designed to break while in use..

Remember Outboard motor shear pins?
There are many more.

 

[Jamie]

Jim;

"What, breaking in use? "

I don't meen to break your bubble, but eventually
everything breaks, and everyone dies. It's just a
matter of "when".

The point is, do you know if the item broke during
it's first aplication or after being used for the
half millonth time? Plus what R&D have you done to
ensure that your improvements, actualy would be
able to increase it's longjevity while it performs
exactly the same function as the original?
To what Standard do you use to determine if the
existing item is inferior for it's use by design,
and requires improvements? What test have you
conducted to determine the cause of failure?

My car breaks down quite frequently, but I've
never had the urge to re-engineer it.

Jamie

 

[jim rozen]

"but eventually everything breaks,"

Remind me to never let you engineer anything for
me.

You're wise to stay away from your car BTW.

Seriously though it's pretty obvious that
this item is done wrong. The failure mode
is a classic.

Jim

 

[Engine Room Artificer]

I'd suggest a brief call to the guy whom this job is for asking him if he'd like it made the same for $X or better for $Y is prolly the best option at this juncture.

That keeps everybody happy I think (except possibly my partner)!

 

[chuckey]

Jamie, my car breaks down as well, but its not the same thing that causes every break down.
I don't think any one is going to get rich making replacement $20 parts unless the quantities are in the 1000s.
I would make a batch and spend some time with the customer trying to solve his problem in a more permanent way, if you are lucky you will then have a part to sell to all the other machine users at a premium price. Just my 2cents worth.
Frank

 

[art_deco_machine]

How about a wave spring around that part? Like the type that holds out a oil ring on a piston. Cut a groove for it, and put it around it. It wouldn't insert as easily since you would have to compress the spring a little to get it in the bore. It would be more reliable, I think.