Stuart Beam Engine in Diorama

[b.lindsey]

John, will your videographer friend be documenting this one as well?

Bill

[crueby]

The gallery really sets it off, love it!

....

There is a backstory to the third photo... 

So the next diorama is King Tut's chariot shop?! 

[Marlyn Spyke Maul]

John this is a fascinating thread / build !

[J.L.]

Thank you all for the positive comments.

Not to worry Tom, the strips will be here next week.

Bill, yes, I will be contacting Michael soon about videotaping - if I get the friction drive system working 

When I was hanging the industrial lights in the machine shop, I was able to drop them down on conduit about a foot because the ceiling height was over 12' high. But the height under the gallery is only a little over 7 1/2' high.

I used the dollhouse lights again that were, I suppose, intended to hang down on chain over the dining room table. But this time, I shortened them up as much as possible to give headroom under the gallery.

[J.L.]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the comment about the gallery. I am looking forward to seeing that beam slowly working through the opening.

But when operating, some may wish to see more of the engine's operation and remove the gallery floor temporarily.

What do you do with it? It can not be set down on a flat surface without compromising the stairs, lights or the stairwell walls. 

The answer was to make a separate cradle where the gallery floor could be docked. The cradle will also be handy when working on the railings around the beam opening.

[J.L.]

I removed the south wall to work on a cabinet under the stairs.
Cans of grease and oil must have been stored somewhere, and here was a logical spot.
Solder wire was used to make the oil containers look as though they had rolled edges at the top and bottom of their tin tops and bottoms.

Vintage labels were reduced in a printer to fit them.

[10KPete]

 

 

Pete

[b.lindsey]

Perfect place for it John. As always, very nicely done!!

Bill

[simplyloco]

It strikes me that I could build the most accurately made beam engine in the world, but it wouldn't look anywhere near as good as yours!
John

[wagnmkr]

John ... it just keeps getting better!

Tom

[J.L.]

Thanks Tom.

Hi John. Thank you , but you must remember that I did not fabricate all the parts of this engine. Tom turned the flywheel, bored the cylinder and made the pillow blocks.

 
And I had the help of a machine shop here and there.

Your engine is fantastic from your own hands. I admire your machining skills.

John

[J.L.]

The friction drive system is developing. A lot of missteps were made in the planning, but things are progressing now.

The first picture shows the diorama upended so that work can be done under the base of the model.

Originally, I was going to use a commercially made sewing machine friction pulley to drive the flywheel. You can see in photo two that the flywheel pit has been opened to expose the flywheel's rim. But I decided the commercial pulley was too small.

I made my own friction pulley using Pau Ferro hardwood with a brass boss and rubber 0-rings.

The brass bearings I made earlier were binding when screwed to the wood surrounding the frame of the diorama. So here we are with new pillow blocks and ball bearings! They will be mounted directly onto the Corian base.

The trick now will be to mount the assembly so that minor adjustments can be made to make the friction pulley bear against the flywheel.

[J.L.]

Mounting the pillow blocks has taken some fussing. I want the friction pulley axle to run free and effortlessly in its ball bearings when mounted. Then the pillow block mounting bolts will be loosened and the shaft pressed forward to make contact with the flywheel.

To achieve this, slotted holes have been milled into the pillow block mounting lugs.

While upended, I thought I would also show a picture of the air line with its quik disconnect from underneath. If this all works out, it will not be needed. 

[b.lindsey]

So John, maybe I am missing something....where is the friction going to come from if the friction wheel is running in the ball bearing pillow blocks? Is there some way to add drag to the shaft or what?

Bill

[Noitoen]

I think the wheel is stuck to the shaft. the bearings are on the pillow blocks.