Which engine for beginners?

[stevehuckss396]

Originally Posted by mog5858 thanks steve i will have to try and tack it down now that was the 07 one that u where at where was it heald at? u did not get any pic of it by any chance?

Yes it was this year. Sorry no pictures. Camera battery died after only 8 pictures. I remember it because the casting was extremely nice. There was no one behind the table to ask about it.

[harryn]

If I had the tools, I would give a try to a "free piston" engine. That gets rid of a lot of complexity right there.

[stevehuckss396]

How about a NON combustion engine. Runs on compressed Co2 or compressed air. Small part count and forgiving on fit. Try this web site for free plans. Its a cool little project and if the parts are too small, Double the size of everything and make a big one.


Plans are free

http://www.floridaame.org/GalleryPages/g1Non0125.htm
http://www.floridaame.org/GalleryPages/g1Non0132.htm

I also have plans for a 4 cylinder aircraft engine and a V8 automotive engine both based on the V1 but they are unproven. ( Did'nt build them yet)

[mikel]

Here's a carbon-based humanoid powered engine Non-IC, non-steam, non-air, non-CO2. From Home Shop Machinist May/June 2006.

Flywheel casting from PM Research

PM Research main flywheel casting page

A few pix of mine, turned out pretty nicely. I haven't had the chance to polish it up yet. Stock dimensions from the print.

One change I did was to make brass sleeves/bushings and use socket head cap screws for the pivot points instead of making the brass screw/bushing as called for in the print. I had about 4 weeks left in the semester after finishing my 2nd steam engine, so that was a lot simpler and faster since I wanted to finish this engine by the end of my shop class semester (this week).

Another minor change you can see in the 2nd picture was to use a set screw on the flywheel, this way you can experiment using different flywheels very easily. I used an 8-32 set screw, bit overkill but easy to find.

You might also consider using a bigger set screw on the small steel pivot/eccentric plate (or whatever it's called) on the other end of the flywheel axle. The 4-40 set screw takes a rather tiny allen wrench something like 0.050 that can get lost very easily. Though I'd check the larger hole diameter 1st to see that a bigger set screw would fit in the plate thickness. I don't remember if it was 1/8" or 1/4" ??







Here's a short video of it running.

My first steam engine model.

My 2nd steam engine model (PM Research wobbler/oscillator)

I would highly recommend getting a heavier flywheel than I used. Try a heavier brass one, or at least a larger diameter aluminum one. My engine runs very smoothly, there's very little play and no binding in the axles/joints and everything moves pretty freely. As expected, there are 2 dead spots in the linkage motion used. The flywheel momentum is what's supposed to get the linkage/motion past those dead spots. A heavier flywheel will help a LOT to power past those dead spots (finger lever all the way up and all the way down).

It's kinda fun to try to get a steady rhythm going in either direction. Takes a bit of practice. Incidentally, just pushing down on the lever is a single-acting engine, while pushing down/pulling up on the lever would be a double-acting engine/motion.

My shop instructor is planning on changing the beginning machine shop class project to this finger engine. It's much simpler to make than the C-clamp that's been the stock beginning project for decades. That'll allow more students to finish a project. He's planning on CNC-ing the flywheel so the students get an intro to CNC right off the bat. He'll CAD/CAM it, then have the students put in the aluminum plate and press the start button. I think that's a great idea !

Mike

[stevehuckss396]

Originally Posted by mikel Here's a carbon-based humanoid powered engine Non-IC, non-steam, non-air, non-CO2. From Home Shop Machinist May/June 2006. Mike

I played with one of those at the NAMES show. Alot harder than it looks if you want high speed. Nice Work!!

[IgorWojas]

What about webster engine? It looks easy

[stevehuckss396]

Originally Posted by stevehuckss396 Try this one. Uses cox cylinders and minimal parts. Only bad part is the tap is a bit pricy. But you could always get around that by cutting the threads on the lathe. I have the plans for the first and bought the kit for the second. Plan on building both after i finish the little Bugatti.

Could'nt wait. Had to build it!!

I did'nt use the hex for the crankcase. Used the hex for the intake until one of them came out of the lathe and flew across the room. Made a fancy prop mount. Other than that it is to Jerry's print.

[epineh]

That is a neat little engine stevehuckss, have you fired it up yet ? I would love to see/hear that thing running.

Russell.

[stevehuckss396]

Originally Posted by epineh That is a neat little engine stevehuckss, have you fired it up yet ? I would love to see/hear that thing running. Russell.

Not yet. Maybe sometime next week.