An unfinished Stuart 10h Mk I

[Sanjay F]

The slide valve needed tweaking as it was uneven and causing issues against the port, new packing and gaskets all round and hooray, she's a running!! 

Needs the valve chest machining, the cylinder bolts tidying up, a lick of paint and a boxbed. This was an extra as can been seen from the advert below - I could try Stuart's and see if they'll do me one for 2 Shillings and 9 pence?   

So in light of this not being available I'm going 3d printed in metal, my mate has drawn up the STL file and its basically a scaled down version of a Stuart no.9 boxbed with a lip around the edge. Will print it in plastic to make sure it looks right before sending it off for final metal printing

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFYCM-uWQjY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFYCM-uWQjY</a>

[Jasonb]

You might want to modify that file so there are some partial spot faces on the rear two fixings. Also iy looks like he has drawn it solid rather than hollow, less print material usually results in a lower cost. personally I'd fillet the internal and roundover the external corners a little to get the cast look.

Having said that the sanded and painted the plastic one would probably do the job. Or you could probably make ne for less than the cost of a metal print. Piece of approx 2 x 1 flat ali and a 3mm plate fixed to the bottom then just JBWeld on some round par into pockets for teh four fixing bosses. Not hard to taper the sides or cut the curved ends of the main block.

[Sanjay F]

Thanks Jason, I'll give your suggestions a go as I want to get it as near as possible to the origninal casting. The STL file is the rough version, still has a few changes to go. What thickness should remain if the piece were filleted as you have suggested? Would 3mm all round be sufficient to not cause any structural issues?

I know the plastic one would look okay, but I'm a bit too traditionalist to have the 'old lady' perched on anything but metal 

[Jasonb]

I would think 3mm wall thickness would be fine.

0.5mm external radii and 1mm internal should give the right look.

[Sanjay F]

Brilliant, thanks - I'll upload the file once its been modified and printed in plastic and hopefully others can make use of it in future 

[Jasonb]

STP files can be more useful as they can alsp be altered in CAD whereas STL are really better suited to just 3D printing.

[Sanjay F]

My friend an I 3-d printed the base in plastic and tweaked it until we got it right, the final file was sent off to China and arrived 2 days ago. I drilled the mounting holes on the metal version and gave it a lick of paint and the Original 10h is now mounted on her old design, but newly printed base.

I think it looks pretty close to the one in Black & White picture, but maybe cost a little more than advertised

[Michael S.]

It's really well done.

Better than my welded-together metal plate base for the Stuart 9.

Michael

[Sanjay F]

Just out of interest the boxbed for the current 10h is £26 plus VAT so £31 then add on postage. The 3d printed version was also £26 plus £19 postage all the way from China!

A boxbed for Stuart no.9 is is currently £100 including the VAT

HOWEVER
My opinion, which I hope is shared by others, is that we definitley should not be 3d printing existing parts which can be bought from our suppliers, after all we want them to stay in business for us and future generations.

[Jasonb]

Even if those future generations end up skint

It's a pitty they don't tend to offer the 3D prints in iron and brass/bronze, I assume that one is aluminium.

Best not look at my thread on another forum about a V-twin wobbler for the beginner, slightly larger than the Stuart but at 1/3rd the cost.

[Sanjay F]

Yes, subtley, different as it's your own design, but I follow what you're saying.........

Every day I see a Chinese copy/version of a Stuart or other manufacturers design so my thoughts about keeping these guys in business might all be in vain!

Anyone want a 10v or v-twin oscillator for that matter! 

[Jasonb]

This one  looks a lot like one I designed and posted a thread on about a year ago.

https://www.okmomodel.com/OKMO-Model-Dynamo-Motor-For-Steam-Engine-Model-DIY-Project-Part-FD-6-p6441384.html

[Sanjay F]

I've seen those on eBay for £83; it would have been nice for them to ask and give you percentage; chance would be a fine thing!