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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
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    UK
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    Default Help me make a rotating rod / pole thing...

    Morning all, I have been challenged to build something "arty", I'll do my best to describe it and what help I need (all measurements are approximates).

    Imagine a 4ft high concrete pillar.
    At the top there is a 3 inch hole in the centre, about 3 inches deep.
    In that hole is a freely rotating metal disc with 3 x 1cm holes in the top.
    Coming out of each of those holes is a 1cm metal rod, about 24 inches long.
    The bottom half of the rod is fixed in to the disc, which rotates in the concrete hole.
    Half way along the rod is a joint with the top half of the rod rotating around some bearings.

    The idea is that the three fixed rods rotate around the hole in the concrete pillar and the top half of the rods rotates around the bottom half.

    (have I described this OK?)

    I think I can do the bottom bit, the metal disc which rotates in the top of the pillar with 3 rods protruding out of it.

    So, my question is, how do I make a 2ft long 1cm metal rod which spins for the top half only?


    Oh and it's got to look reasonably good as it's arty...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    34
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    1,075

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by somersetpaul View Post
    So, my question is, how do I make a 2ft long 1cm metal rod which spins for the top half only?
    Make one half of the rod with a 5mm spigot, the other half with a mating hole (a 5mm H7 reamer should give you a nice running fit) and pop one of these in between https://www.ebay.com.au/i/262667219648?chn=ps

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default

    Hi somersetpaul.
    First up welcome to the Forum.

    Perhaps if you gave us an idea of what sort of metalworking tools you have available to you. How much metal work experience do you have?

    That will help members answer your question better.

    Grahame

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
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    UK
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    Default

    OK good questions...... very little knowledge and experience (but reasonably handy with my hands) and only the basics (no lathe, etc) but do have access to some basic tools if needed

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    melbourne australia
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    3,228

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    Make one half of the rod with a 5mm spigot, the other half with a mating hole (a 5mm H7 reamer should give you a nice running fit) and pop one of these in between https://www.ebay.com.au/i/262667219648?chn=ps
    How would he stop them coming apart?
    Chris

  6. #6
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    Default

    My understanding is that the bottom half is supported, so...gravity.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    melbourne australia
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    Default

    I would call that an inadequate level of retention. How about your idea but with a groove in the male part to accommodate a small SS grub screw?
    Chris

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Default

    Something like this. Going to hard without a lathe though.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Chris

  9. #9
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    My understanding is that the bottom half is supported, so...gravity.
    That's the way I read it,as well. The rods are all standing vertical.

    Without acess to a lathe, I can't see another way of drilling the hole in the rods or turning the spigot on the mating piece.


    However we have a wide range of members, some of them, seemingly, able to create the impossible out of nothing.

    Failing that, I suggest you quickly become friends with a lathe owner. A small machine shop could do the work, but I suspect the project may be affected by budget??

    Before you do anything price the reamer and availability that elanjacobs mentioned.

    Regarding reamers- the reamer is necessary to obtain a smooth precision fit in the hole surface between spigot and hole. There are machine reamers-for use on the lathe or a hand reamer used by hand.
    The spigot can turned smooth but the hole needs to be reamed.

    There are so many variables which can complicate the project. Some of them can be discounted if you can fully describe the function of the project and what the unit is expected to do.

    Grahame

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    melbourne australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Failing that, I suggest you quickly become friends with a lathe owner.
    He's in the UK, so BaronJ sounds like his man!
    Chris

  11. #11
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by jack620 View Post
    He's in the UK, so BaronJ sounds like his man!
    BaronJ said he was off on holidays, two days back. Apart from that BaronJ lives 400 plus road miles away from from somersetpaul, assuming of course that Paul does live in Somerset.

    Grahame

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
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    UK
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jack620 View Post
    something like this. Going to hard without a lathe though.

    this /\

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    UK
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    Default

    Thanks for the replies all, very helpful (and daunting)

    It's to "copy" a piece of art which my misses loves but we could never afford.

    Stuart Stockwell Sculpture

    I will do something different with the leaves and the pillar, but the rotating mechanism is mesmerising to watch.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Apart from that BaronJ lives 400 plus road miles away from from somersetpaul
    Helluva lot closer than Oz.

    Paul,
    I'm intrigued about the need for the upper pieces of rod to be able to rotate. Why is that? Can you draw a sketch of the piece of artwork, photograph the sketch and post it here for us? Will it be displayed where people can touch it?

    You could also try posting your question here: https://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com

    It's a model engineering forum, but there are a lot of UK based members who might be able to help you.
    Chris

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    UK
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    Default

    I am trying to make something resembling this..

    Stuart Stockwell Sculpture

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