[metalworkz]

Well I do precision sheet metal for an occupation so I am used to holding fairly tight tolerances with my work, but you can get good results just keeping the dimensions of the patterns within a fraction of an inch(say within 1/32" ) measuring with a tape measure or scale. Keep in mind the shrinkage rate for aluminum which Dave Gingery teaches in his book(about 1/8" per foot f I remember right) For me to make it easier to figure the sizes of the pattern parts with a scale factor and multiply the sizes by that factor, and although you can make a shrink rule equivalent to use when you measure I just found it easier to work with the scale factor. [12.125 divided by 12=1.0104] and that is the factor you can use to figure the sizes with shrinkage included. Another thing that may help checking the dimensions is a set of calipers, but that will be more evident when you get to the metal machining etc.
I have all the patterns for the 3 machines stored in boxes, and I had thought of making a set of drawings for them all in a .dxf format so they could be CNC machined but am not sure if that would be OK with the Gingery's or if anyone would even be interested. Probably the people with a CNC would not be so interested in manual machines but for myself they do come in handy for simple machining.

[aarggh]

I have all the patterns for the 3 machines stored in boxes, and I had thought of making a set of drawings for them all in a .dxf format so they could be CNC machined but am not sure if that would be OK with the Gingery's or if anyone would even be interested. Probably the people with a CNC would not be so interested in manual machines but for myself they do come in handy for simple machining.

Hell yeah there'd be lot's of people interested in that Wes! I would also suspect that there possibly may not be any issues with the Gingery's, as anybody who was interested in them would already have the books! I know I bought the separate volumes, and then last xmas got the whole set in a beautifully bound volume off the missus. I suppose even if they were only made available to book owners?

I love my cnc machine, but there's still something about manual machines, especially a shaper, that is something to behold. I have longed after a shaper for years, and plan to build the Gingery one when possible.

I actually picked up a fairly heavy duty Festo linear actuator off a mate very similar to the link below, that I thought would be perfect for a Gingery lathe type build.

FESTO PNEUMATIC LINEAR ACTUATOR DGPL-25-418PPVA NNB , Concepts Industrial Online

cheers, Ian

[AxelFoley]

Hell yeah there'd be lot's of people interested in that Wes! I would also suspect that there possibly may not be any issues with the Gingery's, as anybody who was interested in them would already have the books! I know I bought the separate volumes, and then last xmas got the whole set in a beautifully bound volume off the missus. I suppose even if they were only made available to book owners?

I love my cnc machine, but there's still something about manual machines, especially a shaper, that is something to behold. I have longed after a shaper for years, and plan to build the Gingery one when possible.

I actually picked up a fairly heavy duty Festo linear actuator off a mate very similar to the link below, that I thought would be perfect for a Gingery lathe type build.

FESTO PNEUMATIC LINEAR ACTUATOR DGPL-25-418PPVA NNB , Concepts Industrial Online

cheers, Ian

Seconded. I would be highly interested.

[metalworkz]

Ian, here is a pic of my Gingery metal shaper. It is basically all done per the book except some of the brackets etc. that is opted to make from scraps I had to avoid the time of casting. I have not begun to tap into the capabilities of a shaper but am sure when I have the need it will get it done. I like the automatic feed and it frees me up to do some other things while it is running.
Attachment 261996
Attachment 261994

[AxelFoley]

That looks beautiful. I was wondering whether I would bother with the shaper but I figure I might as well get it done too. I will have a lot of spare aluminum left over.

[aarggh]

What a fantastic job Wes!

I don't know what it is but out of all the machines and tools available, I think the shaper, even though it's outdated now, is the most fascinating machine for me. I could really enjoy just chilling in the workshop with a beer, watching the shaper just grind away!

I'm thinking that when I finally get around to one, I might make it a little smaller scale, as it's the action of it working that I love, not actually getting machining done so much.

If I build it small enough, it can have pride of place right next to my miniature Manson lathe!

cheers, Ian

[AxelFoley]

aarggh: Here is a video that is right up your alley then: