Author Topic: Travis Steam Engine No. 3  (Read 6316 times)

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« on: June 01, 2017, 10:37:07 PM »
Hello to all,

Got started on my newest design steam engine today and built all three connecting rods from brass flat bar. I am calling this Steam Engine No.3, it is my third original design. As I get further into this project I will make some short videos of the progress and post them to my Youtube channel.

The engine specifications are:

Style: Steam Engine, simplex, open bottom
Number of cylinders: 3
Bore: 1-inch
Stroke: 1-1/4"
Connecting Rods: brass, machined from flat bar
Valves: Six, machined from 1/4" brass round rod, single opening, spring loaded
Cam: Six eccentric lobes brass, gear driven off crankshaft, mounted on s/s ball bearings
Idler Gear Mount: brass bar stock
Engine Body: brass bar stock
Head: brass bar stock
Valve Chamber: brass bar stock
Crankshaft: steel, 120 degree each journal, mounted on s/s ball bearings
End Plates and Base: aluminum flat bar, machined to shape
Flywheel: brass casting 3" OD, altered with extended output shaft
Steam and Exhaust plumbing: brass pipe and fittings
Hardware: stainless
Thomas

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2017, 01:37:42 AM »
You are off to a good start Thomas. Just a wild guess, but I am betting you must love brass too :)

Bill

Offline Flyboy Jim

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2017, 04:03:44 AM »
Good start Thomas.  :ThumbsUp:

Since you've already started a build thread here, please consider adding to it as you go along. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would enjoy seeing your design evolve.

Jim

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Sherline 5400 Mill
"You can do small things on big machines, but you can do small things on small machines".

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2017, 09:00:18 AM »
You are off to a good start Thomas. Just a wild guess, but I am betting you must love brass too :)

Bill

Hi Bill,

Yep, I do like brass. I like working with it and I like the appearance it gives to a machine.
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2017, 09:02:40 AM »
Good start Thomas.  :ThumbsUp:

Since you've already started a build thread here, please consider adding to it as you go along. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would enjoy seeing your design evolve.

Jim

Hey Jim,

I will add photos and information here as I progress.
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2017, 10:48:51 PM »
Hey everyone,

OK, got all six of the brass valves machined today and I decided to put the connecting rods back in the lathe and turn the shafts down to completely round. Makes them a lot lighter and I think they look better.
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2017, 05:41:42 PM »
Hello all,

Slow but sure I am getting there. Finished machining all three of the Pistons today. I am waiting on a chucking reamer to finish the cylinder bores before I install the connecting rods, wrist pins to the pistons. I want to match each piston to each cylinder and then stamp a number on it to correspond with the con-rods.

I machined the pistons in a different sequence this time and ( both lathe and mill ) and wrapped each piston with some blue tape before the final steps so as to protect them from any marks while being held in place. It worked!
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2017, 11:13:45 PM »
Hello to all,

I have been really busy the last couple of days working on the 3-cylinder steam engine. I have completed the Crankshaft, the 6-Valve Cam and the Engine Block. I made a short video on each part and have uploaded it to YouTube.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPtrxwKNkwU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPtrxwKNkwU</a>
Thomas

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2017, 11:39:43 PM »
That's some good progress Thomas. Thanks for posting the video.

Bill

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2017, 10:18:06 AM »
That's some good progress Thomas. Thanks for posting the video.

Bill

Thanks Bill, sure hope the rest of the build goes as planned.
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2017, 05:50:48 PM »
Hi everyone,

OK several long days in the shop and got the Head and the Valve Chamber completed. Made from brass flat bar with a lot of precise drilling, both pieces turned out real good.

Again I made a short video of the parts and attached below.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdSG3RaHCo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdSG3RaHCo</a>
« Last Edit: June 11, 2017, 04:44:53 PM by Ye-Ole Steam Dude »
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2017, 04:44:09 PM »
Hello everyone,

More work completed on the 3-cylinder steam engine and it is actually beginning to look like something. I have mixed feelings now about polishing the brass, I like the “natural” look against the blue paint.

I have made another short video showing the end plates, base and a test assembly:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlxORjY38-o" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlxORjY38-o</a>
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2017, 11:35:04 PM »
Hello to all,

Got the engine assembled and she runs just fine.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3I-EQMYqNU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3I-EQMYqNU</a>
Thomas

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2017, 11:41:25 PM »
Nice!  Congratulations Thomas.


-Bob
Proud Member of MEM

My Engine Videos on YouTube-
http://www.youtube.com/user/Notch90usa/videos

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2017, 12:08:15 AM »
That was a quick build Thomas, But it looks and runs beautifully!!

Bill

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #15 on: June 13, 2017, 01:26:40 AM »
Nice!  Congratulations Thomas.


-Bob

Thank you Bob,
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #16 on: June 13, 2017, 01:29:38 AM »
That was a quick build Thomas, But it looks and runs beautifully!!

Bill

Hi Bill,

Lots of long days in the shop, 1:am till 5:pm. Got started on this project and just could not stop.

Thanks and have a great day,
Thomas

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #17 on: June 16, 2017, 11:42:14 PM »
Hello all,

I have had several people ask me what the finished weight was on this little engine, so I took it to the Post Office and had them put it on their scale. It came in at 8-pounds and 3-ounces, that brass is heavy.
Thomas

Offline Steamer5

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #18 on: June 17, 2017, 03:30:07 AM »
Hi Thomas,
 Great build! Bet you got some strange looks when you dropped the engine on the counter at the Post Office! Would of given them something to talk about for the rest of the day!

Cheers Kerrin
Get excited and make something!

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Travis Steam Engine No. 3
« Reply #19 on: June 17, 2017, 10:21:39 AM »
Hi Thomas,
 Great build! Bet you got some strange looks when you dropped the engine on the counter at the Post Office! Would of given them something to talk about for the rest of the day!

Cheers Kerrin

G' day Kerrin,

Well that is almost what happened. The Post Master stopped waiting on a customer at the window and asked me, "what is that thing". When I told him what it was and why I wanted it weighted, he and several other customers began asking me all kinds of questions. I was there for about 15 minutes before he actually weighted it for me. I told him about my Youtube Channel and several of the people took their smart phones and began viewing. Seems like everybody loves old steam engines.

have a great day,
Thomas

 

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