I recently bought a few machinist chests full of tools and other goodies. I'm not a machinist myself, but I'm familiar with a lot of the tools associated with the trade. This piece is a smooth solid steel cylinder with four equal spaced holes bored completely through it. It measures approximately 5.5" long and 2.25" diameter. Weighs almost 4-1/2 lbs. The end has stamped "Feb. 48 Eddie Champ." The other end is identical minus the engraving.
I suspect it might be a cylindrical square, but I've not seen examples quite like this. It came with a plastic sleeve.
13 Comments
octoshrimpy@sh.itjust.works · 36 pts · 1y
It's a 4-barrel 10mm socket shooter.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 14 pts · 1y
Hahahahahahahaha.
At least that would explain where they all go!
Doublythumbs@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
The thought did cross my mind early on.
Morphit@feddit.uk · 23 pts · 1y
I think it's a cylindrical square. It can be set on one end on a surface plate to find 90°. Because it can be rotated, it can be checked for error. I think they're often made by apprentice machinists, hence the name and date stamped in it.
Example commercial version: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/06504302?item=06504302
Example use of one with a surface gauge as a squareness comparator: https://youtu.be/53q6kVX9gjM?t=1244
Glemek@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
I'm pretty sure it is a cylindrical square and was someone's shop project in tradeschool or as an apprentice, or just from a slow day.
Fermion@feddit.nl · 5 pts · 1y
https://accuthermal.com/shop/
Could it be an insert for calibrating temperature probes?
Bgugi@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
That was actually my first guess, but they're usually bored blind. Also those would be some GIRTHY probes, lol.
Trex202@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
My first thought is that it's not necessarily a tool for machining and possibly a school project or a piece for a machine. Maybe Eddy Champ is the student's name. It looks like it has a divot to center on a lathe.
RandomUser@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
towerful@programming.dev · 1 pts · 1y
Shaping metal would need a more substantial central bearing, I assume.
Unless the bearings are on some sort of plates that lock into the 4 holes seen
Doublythumbs@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Thank you everyone for your responses. I think I'm going to agree with the posts that this is a cylindrical square. And most likely shop made. The four holes may have had a obscure use specific to the shop.
Glemek@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
The 4 through holes I would guess are mainly intended for weight reduction and to make the heat treament go a bit smoother, but also have a side benefit that you could run a bolt through them in order to attach it to a larger more complicated fixturing setup.
tal@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 1y
There's an "Ed Champ" here that sounds like he's done part fabrication. Maybe try asking him? He'd probably get a kick out of it if he's Eddie.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-champ-202022154
tal@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 1y
I'd add that if I had to make a guess, he was apparently involved with creating spring-making machines, forming wire, and that seems like a good guess as to the relevant job he was at. I don't know how those spring coils are made, but I wonder if they involve jamming wire down a hole about that size.
hits Google Images
They do have some components on them that look similar to what you've got there:
https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+making+machine&tbs=imgo%3A1&udm=2
Like:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yYTgiAMSTNA
Or:
https://www.instructables.com/Spring-Making-Wire-Bending-Machine/?amp_page=true