The metalwork team held a meeting on 22 Jan 2023. Here is a summary of what was discussed:
- Update from space meeting on 11 Jan (lease, financial overview)
- Risk assessments
- New format provided by board. Fairly quick to complete (c. 20 mins)
- Still some left to do for metalwork
- Metalwork team may meet in coming weeks to review RAs in person.
- Training
- Need to find +1 lathe trainer and +1 mill trainer. Kevin has volunteered for lathe and Mike H for mill. Mike to liaise with Kevin to train him up, and Mike/Stephen/Mark to set date for mill training.
- After risk assessments on bandsaw/angle grinder/bench grinder, will determine if training is necessary on these.
- Welding extraction
- We are in a position to request funding here (potentially c. £2k)
- Mike to put together some costs
- Have sold 3-phase TIG (£50 — was not working anyway)
- Mike will also sell large MIG welder
- Other welders will be removed from space temporarily to prevent unauthorised use
- Proposed new equipment
- Shotblast cabinet
- Smallest is c. £215
- Requires a certain amount of airflow
- Richard to examine state of current compressor for rust/condition and spec. If new compressor is required, could be another £3/400
- 3-in-1 sheet metal machine (sell existing folder to fund this?)
- Not priority, as mostly useful for welding/fabrication
- Quick change tool post for Warco
- Would probably not allow interchangeability between lathes due to different centre height
- Mark to look at costs (e.g. selection here)
- Speak to Michael (lathe owner) to check if he’s happy
- DRO for metal mill
- Cost may be around £350-£400 (example)
- DRO would make mill vastly more useable
- Mike to put together purchase proposal via board. If this fails, revert to pledge drive via users.
- Drill press table quick release clamp
- Very affordable. Mike to do micro-proposal.
- Bandsaw repeatedly has issues.
- Richard has identified some issues + parts to replace.
- Once we have new parts, perform service and setup from scratch as per manual
- If problems persist, look into replacement saw
- Heavy duty work bench, to replace the racking in the middle of the room (racking would be used elsewhere, it’s just not sturdy as a workbench).
- Mark to look at bolt-together options incl. costs.
- Mike to bid on this bench in Salford for c. £50-£100
- Shotblast cabinet
- Luke’s pedestal grinder
- Given size and possible costs/time involved to get this running, we decided against this.
If anyone has any questions, comments, or suggestion on the above, please do let us know.