Unique Solenoid Engine - Curved Spoke Flywheel

[cfellows]

I've never been a fan of curved spoke flywheels.  Many of them are poorly desiged and look a bit gawdy.  However, the curved, 5-spoke flywheel designed by Phil Duclos and featured in the second issue of Projects in Metal is beautifully proportioned.  I've always figured someday I'd find an appropriate project for his flywheel and I think the time has come.

The engine will be powered by 4 solenoids and I have a bit of work to do before settling on the final design.  However, I've been waiting for the arrival of a 45 degree chamfer cutter to redo the valve seats on my horizontal twin and decided I'd go ahead and fill the time by making the flywheel.





While Duclos's flywheel was a little over 5" diameter, mine is 3" diameter.  The rim is 5/16" thick and the center hub is 7/16".  I drew it up in Microsoft Visio, saved it as a DXF file, then loaded it into CamBam to set up the tool paths.  I turned the profiles on my lathe, then used MACH3 and my CNC mill to cut out the spokes.  The machine work took my about 2 hours from start to finish.

I'll continue the design work but probably won't make anymore parts until I finish up the Horizontal Twin.

Chuck

[cwelkie]

I think you got the proportions just right Chuck - very nice.
Charlie

[crueby]

Perfection!

Are the arcs in the spokes circular, or do they change radius farther out? Wondering if they are possible to do with a non cnc setup?

[10KPete]

Very nice, Chuck. Well proportioned and very graceful.   

Pete

[larry1]

Looking Good, Chuch.  larry1

[rudydubya]

Really nice, Chuck.  Very nice proportions indeed.  Is it aluminum or steel?

Regards,
Rudy

[zeeprogrammer]

Very good work. The flywheel looks great!

[cfellows]

Thanks, all, for the comments.  Rudy, the flywheel is made from brass.  Guess the color is a little off in this picture.  Crueby, all the arcs are circular.  The original design was featured in the second issue of Projects in Metal.  Included was a drawing of a fixture which could be used on a rotary table to cut the spokes.

Chuck

[Allen Smithee]

Are the leading and trailing edges of each spoke different radii or the same radii with a different arc-centre?

AS

[Don1966]

nice work on the flywheel Chuck and interested in see the rest of your work when you get back to it. Electric engines always interest me.

Don

[cfellows]

Thanks, Don.  Allen, the leading and trailing radii are the same.  Here is a drawing of the flywheel with dimensions.



This is scaled down from Phil Duclos original dimensions for a 5.25" flywheel, so some of the dimensions aren't too pretty (kind of odd).  Hope this helps...

Chuck

[sshire]

That is one sweet flywheel. Just beautiful!

[Don1966]

Hi Allen, I had also posted a Cad drawing of the original Duclos flywheel here......http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,4601.0.html

Don

[b.lindsey]

As others have already said, the flywheel looks very elegant Chuck. Will be interesting to see where this build goes with the solenoid engine. I hope things are still going well for you healthwise also.

Bill

[Dave Otto]

Yes that's a beauty; nice work Chuck!

Dave