Bitza Version of Bill's Rotary Beam Engine

[bwal]

G'Day,

I've started on Bill's Rotary Beam Engine.  The plans I have are in imperial so I've converted them to metric as best as I can - I laminated the plans and wrote the metric conversions in texta next to the imperial measurements.

I've gathered up the material I have on hand and ordered some in.

My version will be bit of a bitza, the majority of the engine will be metric and some will be in imperial.  It not only depends on what material I have or can get (at reasonable cost or time) but also with what tooling I have.

Photo 1 shows the base cut to size and drilled and counterbored with the crank disc well (already a small deviation - I didn't have a endmill big enough for the disc). The bearing block is also cut to size and waiting drilling and boring.

The other photo shows my milling machine, a Hercus OLM mill.  Small but handy.

Ben.

[crueby]

Excellent, love beam engines!


 

[b.lindsey]

Nice start Ben. Looking forward to following your progress. As I recall, I did the recess for the crankdisc with a boring head. Even if I had one the sherline couldn't handle that large an endmill.

Bill

[bwal]

Hi,

I managed to do some work yesterday in the shed (after doing the dishes, the laundry, mowing the lawns and dropping off the kids at school). 

I drilled the mounting holes on the pedestal base, unfortunately I misread the plans and drilled and tapped slightly out of place.  Never mind, I found another piece of aluminium and started again.   I drilled and tapped the holes in the correct positions.

I than decided to drill the hole through the length of the base for the 3/16" axle. I have 3/16" drill rod in the mail, along with a NOS 3/16" chucking reamer.  The postie is yet to deliver either! And today being Friday means I probably won't get much done until Monday.  The work is being held in the 4 jaw chuck so I may just take it out of the lathe and start on another piece.

Ben.

[bwal]

Still plugging away. 

The bearing pedestal is just about complete bare the tapped holes for the beam stand and polishing.

The cylinder is done but I don't have any screws/bolts small enough to fit so I've drilled four 1/16" holes and I'll simply pin it with 1/16 brass rod and loctite.

The piston is done as well.

Just started the beam stand.  Tracking along nicely.  I use the layout method most of the time, today I witness punched some of the lines as well (the metho was washing off my blue texta and layout lines!).

I've had a few near misses IRT to mixing up my imperial to metric conversions.  Not done incorrectly but reading the wrong dimension for the cut.

Ben.

ps Hopefully my picture will come out the right way up!

[b.lindsey]

Still coming along Ben. Looks good so far 

Bill

[bwal]

Hi,

I was finishing off the beam stand and stuffed it.  Everything was going well until I drilled the beam pivot hole (I thinks what it is).  Looking at the photo even the layout lines are off.  I'm not sure if I'll do another one made from brass rectangle or try and fix the aluminium one.

Ben.

[b.lindsey]

Still following along Ben. Sorry about the little mishap though...but it happens to all of us at times. Hang in there

Bill

[Kim]

Bummer
That's never any fun.  But I can relate!

Can you plug the hole and re-drill?

Kim

[bwal]

G'Day,

Made some progress over the last couple of days.

Fixed the Beam stand pivot, it now has a brass bearing. I milled out a larger hole and than loctited a brass piece with a 3 mm diam hole into it.  Once the loctite set I than milled out the middle section. 

I made the crank disc out of 1" stainless steel.  I had 1" brass bar, I should of used that (I still might). 

The beam stand will fixed to the base with 2.4 mm (3/32") brass pins and loctite as will the cylinder.

It looks like I'll have to use M3 bolts for the Beam Pin & Crankpin as I can't find any 1/8" brass hex locally.  I'll try the local hobby store as they may have some.

I'll probably start the flywheel next week. I have a 1.8 m x 63 mm Diam bar of 1214 leaded steel which I've never used, I'm keen to use it but it'll require some effort!

Ben.

ps, I uploaded the photo's sideways this time hoping they'll come out horizontal but I think my computer or the forum system may be turning the photo's to fit in screen.

[10KPete]

There 'ya go! Looks like it was designed that way. And who's sayin' it wasn't???

 

 

Pete

[b.lindsey]

Nice save Ben. Is there not a screw size that will work for the cylinder base?

Bill

[bwal]

There probably would be a small screw.  I'll have a think about using some (I have heaps of old GJ kits with self tappers). I like pinning things together (along with peening as well).

I was looking at the photo of the crankdisc well, I don't like it. I'll have to do something about it.

Ben.

[bwal]

Hi,
 
Just finished the flywheel. Made from leftover brass I had.


I'm a bit worried about drilling out the axel (being it drill rod and deep).  I have a 1/16" long series drill coming from the UK soon.  I'll probably do some practice runs on some spare drill rod.

I need to get a hurry along the Test starts on Thursday!

Cheerio.

[b.lindsey]

You are making some good progress Ben. Looks like the links are about the only parts left to make

Bill

[bwal]

Hi,

Did the connecting rod for the crank disc.  I don't have any soldering equipment at home so had to make do with expoy resin.  Not sure how it will go.  I won't be running it on steam so may hold up. 

Ben.

[b.lindsey]

Time will tell Ben. Those pockets in the ends are not deep, but they may hold. You could always make one from  solid bar stock too. Still following along.

Bill

[bwal]

Made a couple of snafu's today.

Started work on the links.  I had to cut up some 1/4" brass plate to make it square.

I made the bottom link first without any problems.  When I made it I remember thinking to myself I should drill the holes first before milling out the slot.

Next I started on the upper link, I drilled out the 1/16" holes and milled out the first slot, I turned it upside down and spun it around holding the milled slot in the vice and pop I broke it.

Not happy. I then looked at the the upper link and its bent as well. Really not happy now.  I start again on the links tomorrow.

Ben.

[b.lindsey]

Ben, while the legs aren't super strong, the slots in the upper link are at right angles, so even in the vise you should be bearing against metal across the vise opening. Maybe try using shorter parallels so the part sits deeper in the vise, especially if using an end mill to machine the slot. Hope the second time goes better for you.

Bill

[bwal]

HI,

Finished the links.  I don't know what I was thinking, I must have been pre-occupied. I was holding the piece wrong. Anyway did it.  I'm not happy with the connecting rod so I'm going to cut a 7 BA thread on it and tap the discs.

Ben.

[b.lindsey]

Getting closer now Ben and looks good!! Still following along.

Bill

[bwal]

 HI,

I'm still working on the beam engine.... The Ashes Series (Cricket for all the non believers) started, I had to go back to work for a couple of weeks, then the Xmas parties started, then I did some other work stuff etc.. etc..

I've also been held up on the linkages.  I tried tapped a  9 BA thread on some oversized brass with some varied results.  Finally got one attempt to work but not really up to scratch.  I'm thinking of buying some 1.8 mm brass from the UK but that will add a couple of weeks to the project.

Merry Christmas
Ben.

[Jo]

The Ashes Series (Cricket for all the non believers) started,

It looks like the Aussies are trying to give the Brits a "white" Xmas with another whitewash   

Jo

[bwal]

Hi,

Still struggling along.  I bought some soldering stuff and this is my first attempt in soldering in a loonngg time....


I think it's going to take me some practice.

Ben

[b.lindsey]

That doesn't look bad Ben. Soft solder should be sufficient for that application too. The main thing is that they are perpendicular. You should be getting close now 

Bill

[bwal]

Hi,

I've put the build on hold for awhile.  I hit a brick wall with the linkages and soft soldering them. So re-arranged the shed for awhile and made a drawbar for the mill and now making another one.  Soon the tick in the back of my head will get the better of me and I'll finish the beam engine.

Ben