MP&C Shop Projects

[xtremek]

What size hat do you wear? It must be huge to house all the brain to come up with these solutions.

 

[MP&C]

7-3/8

 

[MP&C]

Got the rear brake line installed on the frame..

Been tripping over the 8’ linear slide on the Lennox for the past couple months, time to knock out these Biederman skirts so we can break the linear slide down. This will likely be the last Metalshaping done on this machine before it goes out the door and the replacement comes in.

These two bends were done in the magnetic brake, the final fold for the U-shape is done in the Lennox using these dies..

Comparison

Here's the folding process...

Next we took them to a local machine shop, Triton Defense, to hem the U-shape. They used a knife blade in the press brake.

The only thing left for these is to fold the top flange for bolting to the underside of the cab, fit, and paint.

 

[larry4406]

Nice job as always Robert.

This statement is intriguing:

...Been tripping over the 8’ linear slide on the Lennox for the past couple months, time to knock out these Biederman skirts so we can break the linear slide down. This will likely be the last Metalshaping done on this machine before it goes out the door and the replacement comes in....

What will be the Lennox's replacement?

 

[MP&C]

If all goes well, a larger Lennox

 

[jjeffries]

Stupid question #57: for the dies you make for the machine hammering tools, do you have to use "tool grade" steel? Would mild steel be too soft? Thanks, John/Connecticut

 

[MP&C]

Most of those I made are oil hardening 4140 steel. If it's something that is a more generic die (beading, etc) that will more than likely be used multiple times again, I'm more inclined to harden. But for the one time things, sometimes I harden them, sometimes not. 19 gauge sheet tends to give before the 3/4 thick stuff.

 

[MP&C]

Well after about 12 years, the Lennox TE150 is leaving the building. When we did the 35 Chevy louvers for Cody Walls, it hinted then of it's limitations. Simply put, not enough throat capacity with some of the automotive panels.


I bought this from Northwest Airlines and picked it up from their then recently closed DC-9 maintenance facility at the Hartsfield Atlanta airport. They had shut down the operation and moved maintenance overseas. This and a 100 ton drop press was the last that remained in an otherwise vacant building.


I've found another metalshaper that has a larger machine, but doesn't really use it for the capacity. So after negotiating the terms, he will be using this for the (mainly) motorcycle fabrications, where I will have more capacity for larger automotive panels.

 

[xtremek]

Not deep enough? Wow, that looks like at least 24" deep. But I get it

 

[MP&C]

This one has 42" throat, the "new" one has 48" throat.

 

[gofastwclass]

Pretty cool. Interested to see what you can accomplish with the larger machine.

 

[jjeffries]

Airliner maintenance being shipped overseas: bummer on many levels. John

 

[TimeWarpF100]

You have my permission to build a larger shop for more equipment! LOL
Would be fun to hang around just to watch n learn. Makes my head hurt just thinking about all the cool stuff you can do. I have a hard time operating a push broom n shovel

 

[MP&C]

Randy, your accomplishments suggest otherwise...


Good thing I got a tilt bed trailer last year, it came in handy.. As well as borrowing some piano moving jacks..


With rain in the forecast for Friday, we loaded up the TE150 Thursday night and left it inside. All ready for the 2+ hour drive to it's new home on Saturday..

With our "trade-in" situated next to the newsed machine, you get a hint to the comparison in size. What you don't see is what is used on the inside. The TE150 uses 1/2" thick steel plate on the sides, the TE250 uses 1-1/4" thick steel plate. Quite a difference, and easily noticed when moving..

Winch helps with the uphill movement..

We made another stop and also picked up a small spinning lathe, a Model 18 DuaLathe, and a larger 3 phase converter. The motor size on the Lennox jumps from 1.5 hp to 5hp on the new one, and my present converter is a bit undersized for the occasion. All backed in the shop for the unloading ceremonies..

Some square pads were cut out of horse mat for mounting, and 3/4" anchors sunk into the concrete..

….and let's not forget the requisite safety warning label..

Still need to wire in the three phase converter, but glad all the moving is complete.

 

[TimeWarpF100]

What’s appropriate Weight on new one?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[MP&C]

I’ve read it’s just shy of 4000 pounds. You could tell the difference in the two pulling it.

 

[Duke55]

I’ve read it’s just shy of 4000 pounds. You could tell the difference in the two pulling it.

I wouldn’t have guessed 4000 pounds. That’s crazy. Looks like it is in great condition.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gofastwclass]

Very cool!
I love the sticker. Haha

 

[RADcustom]

Will all of your old dies you've made fit this new machine?

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Good deal, can't wait to see you use it and see the results.

 

[xtremek]

That's HUGE. Way cool.

 

[MP&C]

Will all of your old dies you've made fit this new machine?

Yes, I had looked at a Pullmax machine about three weeks ago but it would have needed all new dies. This Lennox uses same size tooling, so all my dies are still good to go.

 

[ford33]

I don't know how you could improve on your already excellent work.

 

[MP&C]

Thanks, but there is always room for improvement..


Had some room left on the trailer this weekend after picking up the new Lennox, so we made another stop for this small spinning lathe.. Still need to get it set up......

 

[jjeffries]

I will look forward to seeing how that spinning lathe is used. Is it for making discs, like the spun hubcaps used on old Rolls-Royce's etc? Thanks, John

 

[MP&C]

John, should be able to use it for a multitude of parts, headlight buckets, hubcaps, tail light housings, etc...



Finished up the fuel lines at the tank, bending and flaring..

test fit to the pump.....

Helpful hint of the day, copper line works well for trial runs...

Side stepped the area above the third member with the fuel line in case of extreme movement... the Adel clamps floating there will attach to the underside of the floor brace.

 

[gofastwclass]

Excellent work Robert, I love the details.

 

[zmotorsports]

Great job on the fuel lines Robert. I have to ask though, where were the fitting nuts in the first picture? I couldn't see them and was going to make mention that you forgot something but then they magically appeared in the last couple of pictures where they are connected.

 

[Yarz]

You can just see them at the top of the first picture. They've got to be special nuts to go around those bends and looks like they use that extra insert piece too.

 

[zmotorsports]

You can just see them at the top of the first picture. They've got to be special nuts to go around those bends and looks like they use that extra insert piece too.

Okay, I see them now, thanks Yarz. They were back against the Adel clamps, I thought those were other fittings then after looking again I can see that they are in fact the flare nuts. I'm surprised they made it around those bends.

 

[MP&C]

The flaring sleeves against the flare will not tolerate any bends, it must be absolutely straight. The nuts are a bit larger than the stainless tubing as they go over the flaring sleeves, so they easily pass over the corners.

 

[MP&C]

Well our progress on the wagon is hard to show, other than a pile of sanded paint residue on the floor.. So let's look at the sample louvers just completed, these are rotated 15 degrees..

The new 3 phase converter is wired in, and it sure is nice not having to swap plugs anymore.. this one has three outputs.

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice phase converter but I especially like your clamp assortment and storage Robert.

 

[larry4406]

Nice phase converter but I especially like your clamp assortment and storage Robert.

I agree! I like those wall cabinets as well. Robert I think you said you got those wall cabinets from McMaster Carr perhaps?

 

[MP&C]

Mike, thanks, I'm just over 100 on the Vise Grip collection.

Larry, you are correct, I have this version with the peg board on the doors...

https://www.mcmaster.com/5041t15

 

[RADcustom]

Interesting louver design, I don't recall ever seeing any like that.
Definitely a nice vise grip collection.
What is the other little motor for?

 

[MP&C]

That's the old three phase generator. I didn't want the new one there, harder to get to start/stop switches, so I left it. As a backup plan, it can be rewired in about 5 minutes.

 

[MP&C]

Busy weekend! Saturday we got the power window mechanisms cut to length, and installed for the rear windows. We found some 1/4-20 x 1" standoffs about perfect for spacing the vertical part where it needed to be for locating the window track centered in the opening..

Lock nuts used to keep the spacer from spinning during attachment...

1/4-20 Rivnut added to secure the top..

Track is pretty well centered....

Also made a bracket for the Diacro No. 1A bender so we can use it in our universal stands..

Sunday was the Coming Out Car Show put on by the Southern Knights Rod and Custom Car Club. We got Brad to bring his car out for the event. It's like a magnet, he was answering questions all day. We had some metal fabrications on display, and I enjoyed talking to many people about their projects, welding processes, and our fabrication capabilities.

*photo credit Mike Tunney, Old Liners Car Club

 

[NASTYZEN]

Way cool Robert! Short sleeves to boot! It's like January here,ice storm 250,000 people without power.

 

[nonhog]

I think you should rename.
McCartney Custom and Paint!