Stuart Victoria
The Cylinder

In this setting the port face of the cylinder was machined taking the cylinder height down to the correct overall measurement and giving a datum face for further operations.

Next, the cylinder was clamped on an angle plate against the faceplate and set to run true as shown using the outer edge of the cylinder as a datum.
In this setting, half the amount to be removed from the cylinder length was machined from the end face.

The cylinder was reversed on the angle plate and clocked to run true once more.
The second end face was machined to take the cylinder to final thickness.
Also in this setting the bore was machined to final size. To reduce the risk of tool flex creating a tapered bore, repeated cuts were taken at the same final setting to make sure the cylinder was parallel.

A small cylinder hone was used in the lathe at a slow speed to remove machining marks from the cylinder bore.
With the lathe running the cylinder was continuously moved up and down the hone by hand; with liberal amounts of oil in the cylinder.

The purpose of the honing was to not only to remove machining marks but also introduce a fine, textured, cross-hatch pattern to the surface to help retain oil in the cylinder wall.

The rear end cover was machined in one setting.
Two steps were machined. One to match the cylinder flange diameter and another to match the bore.
The finished cylinder was used to check the fit of both diameters.

The chuck was transferred to the rotary table which was used to drill the 6 mounting holes at the correct PCD.

The part was reversed in the chuck and held out the correct amount by using a chuck backstop (just visible in the picture). This was just a short length of 12mm bar held in a collect chuck in the spindle and protruding the right amount.
The part was finished to final thickness and the domed centre was shaped using a boring tool.

The front cylinder cover casting was held in the 3 jaw chuck; a light centre drill mark in the front cover confirmed that the casting was relatively round. This would mean that clocking on the outside edge of the casting would result is a reasonably centred hole in the part.

Following this check, the front cover was mounted in the 4 jaw chuck, held by the boss, and set to run true.
It was also checked to be square on its front face as this face would be left unmachined.

Once set to run true the front cover was turned to a diameter to suit the cylinder casting, and to a thickness matching the rear cover.
A step was added to the back face to be a snug fit in the cylinder bore. Finally a central hole was drilled and reamed for the piston rod.
All operations were done in one setting to ensure concentricity.

The part was reversed the chuck and set to run true using the centre hole as a reference.
Once again, a backstop was used to hold the part forward of the chuck face whilst still ensuring it was held squarely.
The front boss was faced to take the front cover part to final thickness.

The chuck was transferred to the rotary table to drill the mounting holes at the correct PCD.
However this time care was taken to ensure the holes would leave the boss horizontal when the assembly would be mounted on the base.
This was done by clocking the boss and turning the chuck to find the widest point for the first hole. 

Once the cylinder covers were complete, they were used to transfer drill the location of the cover studs into the cylinder.
Likewise the steam chest was used to mark out the mounting studs for the chest and cover.
The front cover also had the gland mounting holes transfer drilled once the gland part had been manufactured.

Once the steam chest and piston had been machined the cylinder and valve parts were assembled with some oil, to check for a running fit and correct operation of the valve.
The compression was checked by covering both steam ports with one hand and then moving the piston with the valve in both the in and out direction.
Compression should be felt in one direction with the valve pushed in; and in the other direction with the valve pulled out.