Workshop Talk - Worm Gear Hobbing a Pulley for driving accessories for Model or Toy Steam Engines

Workshop Talk - Worm Gear Hobbing a Pulley for driving accessories for Model or Toy Steam Engines
This worked out really well for a first attempt, I've been wanting to try this for ages to stop belt slippage on pulleys and drive wheels when running accessories off steam engines under load.
It’s a great hobby and pastime working on your metal lathe or metal milling machine making parts for toy steam engines, Model Steam Engines, Stirling Engines, Flame Gulper and Flame Licker Engines in your workshop modding and modifying things.
/ @steamengines-jim
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[@lancekennedy3712]

What an absolutely brilliant idea. so that's how Wilesco does that to their factory drive wheels! Cheers Lance

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thank you very much for your comment - Cheers Jim

[@eegg6954]

I actually wondered how those grooves were made. Fantastically clever.

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

So did I, I'm happy that I can duplicate the process - Cheers Jim

[@SteamDreamDE]

Excellent idea ... and well performed! 👍👍👍

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

I'm really happy to be able to now duplicate Wilesco drive pulleys. Cheers Jim

[@ypaulbrown]

well done, gives me some great ideas......Paul in Florida, USA

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks Paul, I'd really like to see what you come up with - Cheers Jim

[@paralleler]

Cool, thank you sir!

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Very nicely done sir. I have seen sone people not speaking English doing this and thought it is a method worth remembering. Great job

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks, its something I've always wondered how the toy steam manufactures did it to their commercially sold drive pulleys. I'm very happy now that I am able to duplicate it. - Cheers Jim

[@lancekennedy3712]

@@SteamEngines-Jim I've wondered for ages of this was done, I always thought it was like knurling, this is very clever.

[@nobbysworkshop]

Splendid idea Jim. Thanks for sharing. Similar effect to knurling. Cheers Nobby

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks Nobby I was really happy how this this turned out. I will be able to use this now for all the drive pulleys I make and retro 'fit' it to older ones I've made. As always - Cheers Jim

[@Xynudu]

Good job. Something I must try. Cheers Rob

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks Rob stoked that I finally got around to this and happy that its surprisingly a fairly simple operation. I made up some more different sized jigs and hobbed some more ali ad brass drive wheels yesterday afternoon. - Cheers Jim

[@RetroSteamTech]

Thanks for showing this Jim, It's not a technique that I had seen before, seems to work a treat. My only suggestion would be that if you have a collet chuck hold the tap in a collet rather than a 3-jaw. Cheers, Alan.

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks Alan, yes I have a collet chuck and a large assorted size of chucks but its a pita to remove the chuck for such a simple operation as this. There's not much pressure at all against the tap. I made up some more different sized jigs and hobbed some more ali ad brass drive wheels yesterday afternoon. I'm really stoked to be able to now hob flywheels like Wilsesco does. Its surprisingly simple to do. Cheers Jim

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing 👍 😊

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks Craig much appreciated - Cheers Jim

[@Bardsbrothersrailroad]

Thanks for the video Jim! When I get a lathe I’ll have to look at doing that!
Stephen

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

G'day Stephen I reckon it would be pretty easy to replicate the process on a bench drill if you made up a jig.

[@Bardsbrothersrailroad]

@@SteamEngines-Jim Hey Jim! Thanks for the reply! Yeah I’ll have to get a lathe just because I want to make some pulleys. Stephen

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

@@Bardsbrothersrailroad Stephen a lathe will be the best thing you ever purchase, you won't know how you survived without one. It doesn't have to be a big one.

[@lancekennedy3712]

@@SteamEngines-Jim I really would like to get a lathe as well!!!

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

@@lancekennedy3712 Best tool you will ever own - Cheers Jim

[@MrFactotum]

great idea Jim
iv'e hobbed a worm gear that way before many times, but never thought of its use on pulleys
i will put that in the memory bank
regards
Kev

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Hi Kev I'm really happy how well this method worked and how relatively simple it was using a tap in the 3 jaw chuck. I made up some more different sized jigs and hobbed some more ali ad brass drive wheels yesterday afternoon. - Cheers Jim

[@scada4321]

I like the idea you have however the sheaves on a pully are smooth for a reason: The sides provide a smooth surface for the belt to come in contact with. With all surfaces dry, the belt should have no problem transmitting power to or from that pulley. Any rough surface (i.e. the procedure you're applying here) will cause undue wear to belts like these. Spring belts, because they are heat treated steel, would probably wear the sheave out fairly quickly. Since we are talking model steam, to force a pulley with this much torque, I can't see a use for.

[@SteamEngines-Jim]

Thanks for your comment but I disagree, many toy model steam engines such as the massive line of Wilesco steam engines come from the German factory with the drive pulleys already hobbed and they supply spring belts. I've always wondered how the steam engine manufactures hobbed their flywheels and wished to be able to do it....now I know and can replicate it - Cheers Jim

[@lancekennedy3712]

@@SteamEngines-Jim Absolutely.....exactly how Wilesco does it and using a spring drive band like Wilesco sells it means that the spring coils fit each groove in the drive pulley so there will be zero slippage.....so cool seeing how this is done - Thanks Lance