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In the year 2027... [MEM competition/challenge - should we have one?]

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AdeV:
(title to be imagined to the tune of "In the year 2525" by Zager and Evans)

In July 2027, Model Engine Maker will - almost unbelievably - be 15 years old. 15! And yet, it only feels like yesterday... Oh, yesterday (damnit, stop quoting old songs!)

Anyway - this got me to thinking....

How does the membership feel about having a "challenge build"? i.e. some kind of set of rules by which to build a small engine, with various judging criteria, the winner to get, I dunno, life membership? :lol:

Whether you are, or are not, interested in such a thing - either as a participant, as a spectactor, or even if you fancy being a judge, part of the jury, or the executioner - er, I mean the prize giver - please vote above so I can gauge the level of interest.

The actual rules of the competition will be thrashed out if there seems to be interest in such a thing; but I'm thinking something along the lines of:
- Must be made on manual machines (no CNC) - or maybe categories, if there's sufficient interest
- Must be a compressed air engine (no IC engines or flame lickers) - to keep the complexity down (again, maybe categories, if it seems like a popular idea)
- Any number of cylinders
- A way of connecting it to a load (I think some kind of power test would be part of the judging)

Dunno, those are just some random thoughts. What do you think? Feel free to add ideas & suggestions below!

Jasonb:
Although I can appreciate the manual machines only rule should the playing field also be leveled up by saying all entries must be scratch built as it would make life easier if say bought in cylinder and flywheel castings were used, infact easier than cutting the same items on a CNC.

As for a load test, that could handicap those with small machines and budgets as a big engine should produce more power than something small also those with a small compressor are not going to be able to produce such high pressures and revs.

crueby:

--- Quote from: Jasonb on December 22, 2025, 08:50:45 PM ---Although I can appreciate the manual machines only rule should the playing field also be leveled up by saying all entries must be scratch built as it would make life easier if say bought in cylinder and flywheel castings were used, infact easier than cutting the same items on a CNC.

As for a load test, that could handicap those with small machines and budgets as a big engine should produce more power than something small also those with a small compressor are not going to be able to produce such high pressures and revs.

--- End quote ---
So that would be bar stock built, no castings? I'd like that, since that is how I build anyway!   :)

What about a one-design engine, everyone building the same thing? Or let everyone design their own?

vtsteam:
I like it!

I vote for castings being okay, with the proviso that if you are going to use them, you would have to design and make your own, and you would have to do it for the contest, not just cast some pattern you already had, and you would have to show your process. You could also use plumbing fittings -- some of which were cast (my avatar engine is made completely from plumbing fittings)

I think the max displacement should be set, if you are going to give some consideration to power produced. Could be multi-cylinder, but must adhere to the disp. max.

Mike R:
Well, I may be able to submit a model started in 2017 as it may actually be completed by 2027 or maybe not...
As for CNC, its merits / advantages over manual in building a one-off example are not huge and should not in my opinion rule out eligibility (I don't have a  manual mill) - I can scrap just as much or more as the manual guys!

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