Elmer's #24 Beam Engine

[EricB]

After a break and much pondering I finished the clevis end of the connecting rod and rounded the end of the piston rod support.

[EricB]

Made scrap today.

In the plans, the linkage that connects the piston rod to the beam is like a bicycle chain link. It shows two pins soldered to a strap on one side, and the other strap fixed with pins. I'm not too fond of that so I set out to make an "H" shaped link from one piece of brass. I almost got there too when the endmill pulled the part from the vise. It will still work, but I'll make another one slightly different.

I also started the bottom end of the connecting rod and finished the top of the main column to size. Not a total waste of time today.

Eric

[Admiral_dk]

We have all been there and it is not a nice feeling when it happens 
I'm sure you will create a new and better one 

Per 

[EricB]

We have all been there and it is not a nice feeling when it happens 
I'm sure you will create a new and better one 

Per 

Thanks!

It was too plain looking anyway. My original idea was more like the clevis I made for the top end of connecting rod. The flat "H" link makes the beam look off balance.

Eric

[EricB]

Beam linkage take two.

I wanted to make it look like two clevises joined in the center. It still needs a bit of cleaning up and the ends rounded, but this is the look I was going for.

Eric

[crueby]

Thats looking good!

[EricB]

Thats looking good!

Thanks!

Every part should be a work of art right?

Here is the finished link. Used the same setup as the connecting rod end. I also rounded the bottom end of the connecting rod.

Eric

[bent]

That looks great!   

[EricB]

That looks great!   

Thanks!

The engine is a "simple" design, but I'm trying to make it interesting to look at wherever I can. The two uprights for the valve linkage are basically the same as the plan for the beam linkage, so I'm trying to figure how to make those more exciting.

Eric

[EricB]

Finished the eccentric strap. I had a length of 3/32" brass rod cut to the approximate length and threaded to fit the big end. The small end started out easy enough. Turned a rough sized piece, soldered in the rod, and finished to size and shape on the mill. So far so good, until I went to finish the rod to length. I found out the difference between the 260 and 360 brass alloys. 360 brass will turn, 260 brass will not. The 260 rod I was using broke right off flush with the chuck.

For take two I removed the small end and soldered a new length of rod, cut it to length with a hand saw, and threaded to fit the big end.

Lesson learned, all brass isn't created equal. I probably should have known that by now. Maybe not. After all, I turned the small end of the connecting rod and the valve spool to size without any extra support, but those are both 360.

[crueby]

Yeah, 260 is sticky, a lot like turning copper. Most flat sheet brass is 260 as well. 353 brass sheet is great but pricier than360.

[Sanjay F]

All looking very nice Eric, I'm following along 

[EricB]

Thanks for the comments!

For something so small, this one is taking me a while to finish. Yesterday I made all the jam nuts for the eccentric strap, connecting rod, and piston rod support. Doesn't seem like much but it took the afternoon.

Today I finally got up the nerve to drill the passages into the cylinder. Used another tool I was told I would never need, the sensitive drill. I rather like it.

Up next is the valve linkage. I'm still thinking about how to make it look more interesting.

Eric

[EricB]

Made the air fitting and tiny plugs for the extra access holes and soldered it all together. Had to ream the valve bore again. I think this part is finally done.

Eric

[bent]

Excellent progress, looking good!