What is this cylindrical metal thing found with machinist tools?
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.
It's a 4-barrel 10mm socket shooter.
Hahahahahahahaha.
At least that would explain where they all go!
The thought did cross my mind early on.
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
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.
https://accuthermal.com/shop/
Could it be an insert for calibrating temperature probes?
That was actually my first guess, but they're usually bored blind. Also those would be some GIRTHY probes, lol.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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