Engines > Your Own Design
Chris's Slew-Crowd Engines
crueby:
Got all eight cylinders profiled on the outside, then started drilling/boring the holes. I am taking these out just partway, will finish boring the cylinders to final size after the steam chests are silver soldered on. That will clean off any scale left from the soldering, plus ensure that the heating did not distort anything. Not sure if thats really needed, but its the way I've been doing them for a while now and it works out very well. I also take a final light cut on the end and drill the hole patterns for the mounting bolts in the same chucking, ensuring that everything is concentric. The outer ends will be the ends against the crosshead guide on the engine.
Here is the first one being bored out:
On the final pair, which happen to be the longest cylinders, I had to switch to a larger boring bar partway through since the 3/8" one I started with started ringing when extended out from the tool holder that far - these last ones are just under 2" long, and I wanted to bore just past that. Learned on previous projects that I could only extend the boring bars out so far for each diameter bar before it would start to vibrate and ring, giving a rough surface. I am only drilling/boring slightly past the end of where the cylinder itself is, to leave the extra used to hold in the chuck as a usable piece after it is cut off.
I have one more to bore out, then will start making the steam chest bases to solder on to the cylinders to complete the 'casting'. Got some ideas on how to cut the flat on the bases to fit the cylinders...
samc88:
Interesting project Chris, looking forward to seeing them all come together
crueby:
The shop elves inspecting their new beer steins... HEY! They are cylinders you guys! Clean that back out! :Jester:
Kim:
That's a great start, Chris! All 8 cylinders cut to shape. Not too shabby for a weekend's work! :Lol: :ThumbsUp: :popcorn:
Kim
crueby:
--- Quote from: Kim on December 08, 2025, 06:43:52 pm ---That's a great start, Chris! All 8 cylinders cut to shape. Not too shabby for a weekend's work! :Lol: :ThumbsUp: :popcorn:
Kim
--- End quote ---
Thanks Kim! I do love spinning brass in the lathe, cuts so nice, no hot chips or curls. Still lots to do on the cylinders, far from done though.
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