Steam Plant -1st Industrial Revolution

[RobC]

My steam plant diorama was inspired by the 1st Industrial Revolution and has been mechanically completed last year.  Still some work to do around the control cabinet in the rear of the model however  this is where it will stay for some time as its mechanically complete.    When I get some more time and $$,  plan on creating a workshop (PM research machine models of Lathe and Mill) which will connect along side the plant -to be driven from the shaft line.    The other more ambitious thought was for the model to power a miniature weaving loom however that would be a large project as I have no experience with how they operate.  The 7" LCD plays a video of how steam changed manufacturing and depicts the 1st Industrial revolution whilst the electronics and monitoring shows the bridge across to the 3&4th Industrial revolution of electronic control and optimisation..    The LCD screen will eventually show data from the plant.    The electronics measures steam pressure, flue temperature, engine speed, generator Watts / volts and will control the steam valve.  An electronic adjustable "load" will be able to adjust the power demand and thus create a load for the engine.   A yet to be installed servo will control the steam valve based upon engine speed or desired generator load..  The model is run from a RaspberryPi & arduino.    I was surprised that when running the generator provided ~10V and I used some load resistors for a 1A current which from memory the steam valve was 100% open.

BTW.   This model sits in the  house and the family think it looks like a train station.   Doh !

[steam guy willy]

Hi This looks really good and is a great diorama that shows how things are working together  some complicated electronics as well to show all the later achievements of the following centuries, lovely workmanship and quite compact 
Willy

[Roger B]

That is a splendid model and    a fine mix of old and new

[paul gough]

A very attractive mechanical ensemble, hope you can continue to grow your 19th century industrial empire and share some of your methods with us. Textile machinery is indeed complex, but what an intriguing thing it would be to see a mule and loom operating in miniature. You might find “The Imperial Cyclopedia of Machinery, 1856”, a helpful resource. It covers the machinery of The Great Exhibition and includes many etchings of different types of textile machinery, eg hackling machine, throstle, mule and loom, as well as workshop machinery, stationary engines, locomotives and marine engines etc. Regards, Paul Gough.

[RobC]

Paul, looked up that book.   Looks like an old world almanac - very cool

Think I need to find someone who knows how a loom works ,  as others have done a diorama of a workshop before as weaving a few coloured cottons would be very unique and in keeping with the period

[ShopShoe]

Several Episodes of "The Woodwright's Shop" from PBS involved hand operated looms, but detail the operation and use the correct names for the parts. If you search for "Woodwright Shop Loom" you will find them. The host of the show, Roy Underhill, researches, demonstrates and teaches historical woodworking and craft techniques.

This should get you started.....

ShopShoe

[wagnmkr]

I am familiar with how a loom works and I have several in the house. When I stopped machining because of health, I took up spinning and weaving.

I looked at making a diorama with a mechanical loom in it but found in such a small size, it would be impossible to make all the tiny parts strong enough to actually work. A manual loom in miniature has ben done and made to work as they are a fairly simple machine and have stayed pretty much the same for hundreds of years.

 

[wagnmkr]

 might want to take a look through this project that was done by John Madill. He was a member here until his passing a few years ago.

https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,7920.0.html

[RobC]

might want to take a look through this project that was done by John Madill. He was a member here until his passing a few years ago.

https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,7920.0.html

What a wonderful diorama JL made,  hope its appreciated  by his family and becomes an heirloom .