Jumbo Cretors Oscillator Casting Attempt

[CI]

As long as everyone is posting oscillator stuff, I am jumping in too.
This attempt was made about 10 years ago, and I was toying around with different flywheel types and sizes, with the intent of making an enlarged Cretors No.06 oscillating steam engine.

I modeled the original Cretors No.06, but wanted something larger, and since I was into making wood patterns at the time, I was just hacking out patterns without making a serious design.
Below are a few 3D models.
The twin is just a mock-up, and the functionality of it has not be figured out yet, since the cylinders have to be bolted in from both sides somehow.

I would like to revisit this engine one day, and make a better design, with 3D printed patterns.

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[CI]

Here are some patterns I was playing around with when I had my wood pattern shop set up.
Not a serious effort, but just trying some things, to see how they looked.
I was going to cast these parts, but got distracted by work or other things.
I was not really happy with how these patterns were turning out.

The intent was to cast the steam/exhaust passages.
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[CI]

More toying around with cylinder patterns for an oscillator.
Not really a serious effort; just trying some things.
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[CI]

I meandered around with the size/proportions of this engine, which is not a good way to do things.
I did not have much modeling experience at the time either, so basically just trying some pattern work, to see what I could make.
Not entirely wasted effort since I was learning how to make wood patterns, and more importantly having fun.

The first cylinder pattern looked too small, and this one ended up looking too large.
And yes, that is woodworking on a metal lathe; worked pretty well, especially after I mounted a router to the carriage.

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[CI]

More casual attempts at making some oversized Cretors-like patterns.

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[CI]

I was trying to get the various parts to look proportional, and was not having much luck.
Each revision of one part required revision of the other parts.
This is the sort of thing I work out first in 3D modeling now before I begin making patterns.

I originally intended to make all of my patterns in wood, including flywheels, and so I was working out methods that worked well as far as making wood patterns.
I learned that you don't necessarily want to try to machine some wood parts in a lathe, especially when the part gets roughed out, and there is not really a good way to grip them.
I had a flywheel rim almost finished, and was spinning the pattern at a relatively high speed in the lathe, and the tool bit snagged, and tossed the entire rim out in a rather dangerous way.
I added a router to the tool holder, and ended up turning the chuck by hand, and that was an infinitely better and more safe way to turn wood patterns in the lathe.

In the end I transitioned to 3D printed patterns, but I learned a lot when making these patterns, and I now I can make wood patterns if desired.
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[Sanjay F]

This is fascinating .......following along 

[crueby]

Some rather, um, interesting?  ways to use a lathe on wood...  I'll be  waiting way over that way...   




Looking to be a great engine!