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.

  • Morphit @feddit.ukEnglish
    17·
    4 days ago

    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.worldEnglish
      3·
      4 days ago

      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.

  • Doublythumbs@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    3·
    3 days ago

    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.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 days 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.

  • Trex202@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    4 days 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.

    • towerful@programming.devEnglish
      1·
      4 days 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

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    76·
    4 days ago

    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

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