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Large diameter aluminium tubing required

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springcrocus:
Large diameter aluminium tube
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, if not Jo can probably move it for me.

I'm trying to source a piece of large diameter thick-wall aluminium tube that I can machine all round and finish at 8" x 7.3/8" x 1.3/4" (200 x 190 x 45mm) or thereabouts for a quick project that I have started. I can get a piece of CDS2 steel tube from M-Machine that I could adapt but would prefer to find some aluminium if I can. It could even be something like a traction engine wheel casting or a flat-belt pulley that I could adapt. I've spent a few hours on the internet trying to find something suitable but am probably using the wrong search terms.

This is a screenshot of one of Julius De Waal's drawings of a revolving cylinder which he published on David Carpenter's Model Engineering Website and seemed an amusing little project to undertake. So far, I have made the cylinder, end caps, pistons and support pieces with the steam ports to drawing but the rest can be adapted to suit whatever materials I can find.



Can any of our UK members recommend a source for this material or come up with any bright ideas?

Regards, Steve

Jasonb:
Personally I would go with the steel, the extra weight will help a lot on a running engine, Julius never makes any of the engines he draws and just specs the easy option.

I usually go with M-machines steel tube, just had a couple of slices delivered in the week, one to add a larger rim to a cast flywheel, the other for a new fabrication.

fumopuc:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/184855921718?itmmeta=01J1MYW1RNY31XNE63ZWKQN5NV&hash=item2b0a458436:g:jicAAOSwg8Bj17wD&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwDydWEKs%2FMobJnrwaMfoO7yfxYfw9lFqEbw09AuGIyJcg8Jv4bsrJuiUjdZkUYvvztPcthyVvzPJfsLdmsRVZ6ACXr8vZAgCtBqAn%2BjndTytxFhsBBt%2FRofmFp1yMX8c5MF7ExMVWpbmbb3RbaXrSjAjX7f1Vupl6%2F3O6ydLXJSR02iY81sUvrEwkkiOKfvAfmi3EpAJKvt1qH3CuVWK%2FjL3CV6Rvqd%2BxmCg%2Bt6K3oLFbC1Z%2FGmcBC7C5btrFbtlcg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7yc8J6NZA

Jasonb:
They don't ship to the IK

It would be tempting to up the size slightly and use a couple of ploughing engine flywheel castings. might have a couple too many spokes but you could join them like it shows on the patent drawings with the fixings "C"

No doubt the original Rogers engine would have had CI flywheel halves. If you went with the steel tube option then you could silver solder the spokes into the tube and with some suitable fettling get it to look like a pair of castings. You would then be able to do away with the screws in the face of the flywheel. Unless you like the bling of his rendering.

springcrocus:
Hello Jason,
I think you are probably correct and steel tube being the way to go. I am aware of the shortcomings of Julius' drawings but it seems like an interesting project compared to some of the other non-loco steam engines. I definitely don't expect to get that level of shine on the flywheel.  ;D Cast iron could be an option but preclude any silver soldering, of course.

Achim, I've had a look to see if Ebay UK has similar but it's not available and, as Jason says, they don't ship to the UK.
Regards, Steve

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