What is this thing?

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What is this cylindrical metal thing found with machinist tools? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by Doublythumbs@lemmy.world to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

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[–] octoshrimpy@sh.itjust.works 36 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It's a 4-barrel 10mm socket shooter.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 13 points 1 month ago

Hahahahahahahaha.

At least that would explain where they all go!

[–] Doublythumbs@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

The thought did cross my mind early on.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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

Automation Engineer

Hobart Brothers LLC

Oct 2023 - Present 1 yr 5 mos

Troy, Ohio, United States

Systems Integration Director

Navus, Inc.

Aug 2015 - Oct 2023 8 yrs 3 mos

Staff Engineer

Myers Spring Co., Inc

Jan 2014 - Aug 2015 1 yr 8 mos

Designed, developed and programmed automated wire-forming equipment

Engineered spring grinding and wire-form tooling

Developed proficiency and trained operators on state-of-the-art spring end grinding equipment

Updated plant-wide manually controlled processes to improve equipment power efficiency and create automated control solutions

Automation Engineer

A. Raymond Tinnerman Manufacturing, Inc.

Apr 1999 - Jan 2014 14 yrs 10 mos

Engineered electrical control systems for automated assembly equipment and process control

Developed PLC and HMI applications using Rockwell Automation products

Integrated machine vision inspection systems for high-speed sorting equipment

Installed and programmed Fanuc 6-axis robotic welders and Epson SCARA robots

Developed electrical schematics with AutoCAD

Updated machinery to improve overall equipment efficiency and operator safety

Electrician

Whallon Machinery, Inc.

Apr 1996 - Apr 1999 3 yrs 1 mo

Fabricated electrical control panels for automated material handling systems

Installed conduit and wired systems per customer's specifications

Engaged in initial machine start-up and testing

Engineering Technician

Indiana Department of Transportation

Dec 1992 - Aug 1996 3 yrs 9 mos

Operated and maintained mobile highway surface deflection testing equipment

Analyzed test data and reported to engineering department

Worked independently and coordinated support personnel

Education

Purdue University

Bachelor of Science - BS Aviation Technology

1987 - 1992

[–] tal@lemmy.today 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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

[–] Trex202@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] Fermion@feddit.nl 5 points 1 month ago

https://accuthermal.com/shop/

Could it be an insert for calibrating temperature probes?

[–] RandomUser@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Roller out of a machine for shaping sheet metal?

[–] towerful@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

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 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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 1 points 1 month ago

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.