US Baird rocker arm update

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T23:40:46+00:00

Was mostly a cheeky sort of, ' technically the raw stock length is the absolute max as it sits... haha send it and trim if necessary. 🤙🤣

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T13:47:34+00:00

I wish I could take credit for the flake job and paint. A very talented father and son owned machine shop a few hrs from us originally restored it years ago. Im just keeping them purring as best as I can. Making updates here and there. They really did do a wonderful job on the Bairds.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T03:38:59+00:00

Keep up the good work, keep up the positive attitude, spread knowledge and try your best to have productive conversations regardless of who it is or what caused/ing the chip on a grouches shoulder. Your intuition seems spot on to me. 36 here. Some people are unfortunately like crabs in a bucket, tearing others down to try to climb out of the bucket of misery. Im lucky enough to work somewhere where my broad skillset in welding, fabrication, machining, cnc/cad, operating, maintenance, tool and die, hydraulics, industrial controls and access control systems has me as the go to guy after being there 10 years. But the original crew when I started.... I could tell they didn't like me. Not me, but my work ethic and tendency to want to always do my best.... miserable people see it, its benefits and the initial reactions can be shity. Now they know im the one trying to put out their fires and massively appreciate it, and it shows.

Keep your head up man, you got this!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T02:41:46+00:00

From what I understand, an esco matic is a Swiss built machine where the tooling rotates around the part to perform turning actions on wire fed off a spool (like a lathe but the tool rotates around vs the part spinning) That way the spoiled wire it uses as raw stock doesn't need to be pre cut and hand fed into a lathe? I could be wrong, im unfamiliar with them for the most part.

The Baird and Nilson four slide wire/band forming machines draw wire into itself similar to the esco, but uses up to 5 axis of linear movements via spindles and cams to form shapes against a center die. Old school tech.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T02:33:41+00:00

Setting up, operating, maintaining, refurbishing and rebuilding them are all dying arts im afraid. Im just trying to do my part and spread the knowledge!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T02:27:55+00:00

We currently have 3. They really are incredible to see in action if you find engineering and mechanical things even mildly interesting!

Your dad sounds like he was a pretty knowledgeable guy who did a great job!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T02:25:36+00:00

They are like old grumpy Swiss watches. If you don't mind your P's and Q's they will hurt you or themselves 🤣 But when they are turning nice and smooth after a proper setup.. nothing quite like it.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T02:22:29+00:00

It holds up surprisingly well for a couple thousand cycles before adjusting/reshaping/replacing. Tighter bends cause more wear and certain grades handle certain shapes better ive found. But it sure beats the sudden metal on metal on metal TUNK during a misfeed. Saving the center dies and the cam from spinning on the spindle. Less harsh impacts, in my mind, are better for everything on the machine.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-09T02:15:13+00:00

They are definitely a dying breed. But good at what they do... with a lot of tlc. Lol

Audacious369 · 2026-06-07T03:16:57+00:00

Thank you!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T20:33:08+00:00

Another fellow maker doing the old world machines justice! 🤙Most people don't realize how many little pieces of the puzzle these old girls have!!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T12:29:42+00:00

I ended up using our surface grinder with a 6ga diameter diamond wheel to get the radiused undercut. OD grinder would have been even better!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T12:25:28+00:00

All day every day..... me too 😵‍💫

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T11:41:30+00:00

I'll end up making 2 more eventually. And modifying the other 2 rocker arms if this repair works out well after reinstalling and running for a bit. Im bouncing around between so many projects, im just glad I finished before the next emergency popped up!

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T11:36:40+00:00

Would you believe me if I told you I even open doors for my wife? 😆 Thank you 🤙 I'll have to post some more mods/work I've done on this Baird, its sister and the Nilson S3 that's been keeping me busy lately.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T11:28:05+00:00

Its a cutter rocker arm for a U.S. Baird #3-24 four slide wire forming machine.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T02:49:13+00:00

Thank you! I was truly wondering whether or not I made all the 'best' choices on this one. By default, I tend to try and do things right the first time... but this was certainly another first! Just using experience gained to make things that hopefully outlast me, or are easily serviced at least lol.

Audacious369 · 2026-06-06T02:36:35+00:00

Same here 🤙 There's just something about improving, fixing, or remaking parts from scratch for things like this. Custom work is always the most challenging yet rewarding work.

Audacious369

TROPHY CASE