Author Topic: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing  (Read 3432 times)

Offline redhouseluv

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Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« on: May 25, 2025, 06:17:15 PM »
I have always like the Stuart BB engines; their shape looks very organic and from a certain period of time. Having waited patiently I finally got my hands on one but in terrible condition. It was completely seized, parts missing, the box bed broken and virtually every cylinder bolt was sheared.

I used several coats of Liquid Wrench on the poor old thing to eventually get it apart before the clean up began. I drilled out each sheared bolts and retapped the holes, made a new oiler in the style of the original, valve chest cover and managed to free up the crankshaft and piston assembly without damaging the BB after which it is named! I reassembled the engine with new gaskets and yarn, oiled it and struggled for quite a while with the timing, but eventually got it to run.

That would have been the end of this story had it not been for Jason's AJ Weed engine; I was fascinated by the 3d printing in metal and had a lightbulb moment. I took the measurements of the original boxbed and my friend put them into CAD software and we mirrored the good half to produce a whole. We then printed this out multiple times on the 3d printer refining as we went. Eventually we got to a satisfactory version after which we shipped of the .STL file to Craftcloud and 2 weeks later I received the newly printed base.

It looks great, but was tough to drill as I had ordered the Stainless 316 sandblasted finished, but you can see the results for yourself. This is has been my first foray into 3d printing and 3d printing in metal, but it does open up a lot of possibilities for not only making new engines, but repairing the old!

I have the .STL file which I intend to upload to GrabCAD or similar and hope someone can make use of it


https://youtube.com/shorts/hc2YO7hJm8s?feature=share
« Last Edit: May 26, 2025, 01:15:48 PM by redhouseluv »
Best regards

Sanjay

Offline redhouseluv

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2025, 06:17:56 PM »
continued....
« Last Edit: May 25, 2025, 06:23:27 PM by redhouseluv »
Best regards

Sanjay

Offline crueby

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2025, 06:29:33 PM »
Cool!  Great way to get a replacement for the  old engine, thats a complex part!  I had the same tough drilling issues with the excavator  bucket I had printed in steel, over time I'm sure  there will be more alloys available. 


 :popcorn:

Offline Michael S.

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2025, 06:42:10 PM »
A good version for steam engine repair.

I once saw this Stuart BB at an exhibition. A man from Great Britain was using this engine to power a gramophone.

Michael

Offline Jasonb

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2025, 06:43:40 PM »
That has come out very well, you would not know it was the same engine that looked so rough when you got it.

Offline Casting Iron

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2025, 12:43:00 AM »
Metal printed parts seem to be a viable option for engine parts, and much easier than casting them.
.

Offline crueby

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2025, 12:50:21 AM »
The  printed metal parts can still have some dimensions slightly off, amount varies with the technology  used, and still need some finish maching, but usually  much closer than cast parts. As the size of the part inreases, so does the cost, as you would expect due to more material and time to print.

Offline Krypto

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2025, 12:51:33 AM »
Wow, that was quite a restoration! Great use of new technology to repair the old.
My Workshop Blog:  https://doug.sdf.org/

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2025, 02:06:05 AM »
That is a really nice result.

Dave

Offline Jasonb

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #9 on: May 26, 2025, 07:32:57 AM »
You should really have done a No599 base and then you could have mounted your dynamo to the base as well :LittleDevil:

No688 to mount a pump

Offline redhouseluv

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2025, 11:18:12 AM »
Where did you get that drawing? I have seen those bases in old pictures and did wonder about them. They'd look great coupled with either the dynamo or the pump, for sure

I did a bit filing and drilling on the base which was 'interesting', but what is the material like to machine?
Best regards

Sanjay

Offline Roger B

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2025, 11:39:05 AM »
That's a good solution to restoring a rather attractive old engine  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp:  :wine1:
Best regards

Roger

Offline Jasonb

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2025, 01:27:50 PM »
Just a drawing I have collected over the years.

I did not find the 3D printed 316 difficult to machine, that was milling, boring and drilling and only felt the need for a bit harder pressure on the quill when drilling.

Building up a base from steel is also an option, my welding is not good but made something very similar for my Suart Lightweight from 3mm steel.






Offline redhouseluv

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Re: Stuart BB finished with 3D printing
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2025, 05:35:35 PM »
Oh that's very nice and yes, very similar in design
Best regards

Sanjay

 

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