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3D printed beam engine

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A7er:
I'm building a model beam engine of my own design, in other words, it might not work. When I say work, being 3D printed it won't run under steam or air, but it might turn by hand or electric motor. I've drawn it in a CAD programme called SolidEdge, and will print it on my Ender3. I've made it up as I went along with the occasional glance at model and real engines featured online. But I need a bit more info. It's the eccentric rod that operates the valve gear. I'm not sure where the valve should be in relation to the piston stroke. As drawn the piston is in the middle of it's travel. Where should the valve rod be? I would appreciate all comments. All the components will be printed separately so the thing should turn! If nothing else it will make a good ornament when it's painted. I will clad the cylinder in thin wood, stained and varnished.





Thanks, Lee

Admiral_dk:
The Eccentric is usually about 90 degrees out of phase with the Crank - if both are on the same plane.
As this type of model usually has the Rod and Valve connection to the Eccentric 90 degrees apart to start with (so to speak) - should give you a 90 degree lead of the Valve to the Piston ....
If you make this one 180 out of phase (270 instead of 90) - just reverse the Electric Motor - and things will look right  ;)  ;D

Per             :cheers:

A7er:
Thanks Per.
Lee

Jasonb:
The usual way I suggest people set up one of my engine designs is to set the high point of the eccentric 120deg ahead of the crank when rotating in the direction you want the engine to run. If your linkage goes through a bell crank then you will likely have to make that 120deg behind the crank. As most engines tend to have some "Lap" you need the angle to be greater than 90deg otherwise the valve will not open early enough

Not that it matters without air or steam ;)

A7er:
Thanks Jason.
I just want it to look right. Realistically, as you say, because it isn't steam or air powered, it doesn't really matter. It doesn't even have a piston, just the piston rod sliding up and down.
Lee

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