| Approach: Imagine the crankshaft straightened, then turn in a centre lathe, the main problem would then be one of vibration. Solution on a lathe would be a travelling steady, therefore we need three fixed steadies. Problem: fixed steadies are as the name implies, fixed. When placed on a cast journal that is going to be machined the constant need for adjustment would increase cycle time dramatically. The solution to this problem was to manufacture three fixed steadies with sprung loaded followers that were set in a 60 degree 'Vee' in each of the steadies. This also overcame the problem of starting to machine totally unsupported as the followers would compensate for the reducing diameter whilst cutting was taking place. |
