Thread: Wickman OPG Optical Grinder.

Phil,
It may be a cousin of the ones we had at Telecalemit. They were used for grinding profiles on wheels so that they could then use them for grinding HSS tools for the 6 spindle automatics. If you can find a company that still uses automatics like that, they may be interested in it particularly if you can tickle it up a bit for them.
I would guess they did it by putting a trace of the profile on some drawiing film and then used a diamond dressing point to shape the wheel until it matched the desired profile in the screen. I still have some old HSS with some of these odd profiles ground into them.

Michael

Hi Phil,

What interesting piece of kit.

Now that would just be silly as a tool and cutter grinder... really it would.... wouldn't it?
And a bit of a waste.

Stuart

Come on Stuart.... You know you want it.... And you will be helping out the "Help RC pay for the expensive forklift fund"

Well of course I want it, I'm trying to talk myself out of it..... and you're not helping

What would something like that weigh Phil?
I assume its no more than a couple of hp?


Stuart

Developed in the 1950's by a Wickman engineer names Harold Bagley, an ex neighbour of mine. Initially for developed for tooling on Wickman Multi and Single Spindle Automatics, then for all precision forming tools and Threading Tools.
A brilliant bloke who later assisted Wickman Scrivener in developing the plunge feed profile Centreless Grinders.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Well of course I want it, I'm trying to talk myself out of it..... and you're not helping

What would something like that weigh Phil?
I assume its no more than a couple of hp?


Stuart

I figure a few cents change out of 1t. That red fork of mine is rated at 2,000 lbs. It just handles it. I'll have to look a bit deeper, but I dont expect it requires much power. It came over on a single axle 6 x 4 trailer. It has some interesting features, like the spindle, and some of the slides look like they could make up and X-Y table.

Its worth about $160 as scrap, seems a shame to do that. One of the google hits was to one for sale at $4,500 USDish. But that was in India.

All I have into it is half a tank of Deisel and a few hours of graft. #### of a thing to get out. A carpeted workshop. I had to lift that out and skate it over carpet.

Its here for veiwing. I could even plug it in and see what it does.

Regards Phil.

Originally Posted by Machtool

Its worth about $160 as scrap, seems a shame to do that.

NO WAY.(Just dont tell the boss lol)

Hows Monday looking?

Stuart

It's a pity - ever since GQ moved to Queensland, Stuart has no one to compete with for this stuff.
Greg - come back! We need you to spur Stuart on!

Michael

Well I didnt buy a lathe last week* so I have a little wiggle room

Stuart

*well truthfully I was still ummming and it sold...... but that counts right?

Well if you are lucky Stuart, Phil currently has a spare Hembrug lathe, he might throw that in to sweeten the deal...

Hey! You guys be nice! I am iitching to get the Hembrug to its new home. As far as me coming back to Melbourne: never say never.

Greg

I saw one of these today, at an auction.
Very sad - had been outside in the weather for some time and was weeping rust.
Bill

Originally Posted by Greg Q

As far as me coming back to Melbourne: never say never.

Perfect, I'll look after the Hembrug until then

Grinding spindle molder blades? maybe...

Googling "profile knife grinder" comes up with a few hits.. what's a coburn grinding spindle when it's home?


369194_5bbd02b95a4f3607da1713a0d5577850.jpg

Way to cool a machine to pass up!...

Regards
Ray

PS... The Hembrug is still in town... interesting