this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2025
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What is this thing?

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What is this cylindrical metal thing found with machinist tools? (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 days ago by Doublythumbs to c/whatisthisthing
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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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[–] [email protected] 34 points 5 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago

Hahahahahahahaha.

At least that would explain where they all go!

[–] Doublythumbs 1 points 5 days ago

The thought did cross my mind early on.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

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 3 points 5 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 3 points 5 days 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 2 points 4 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 5 points 5 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago

https://accuthermal.com/shop/

Could it be an insert for calibrating temperature probes?

[–] RandomUser 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Roller out of a machine for shaping sheet metal?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days 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

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days 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