Rotary Valve Engine

[PaulR]

Going nicely now.

Yep and thanks for all the help, much appreciated. I'm thinking about a vertical slide versus the space requirement and cost of a mill, no rush though.

That’s running very nicely now Paul.  Well done.
Particularly satisfying when it is your own design, as it involves so much more learning.

Cheers, although Jason played a major part and it's really an adaptation of the mid 20th century 'scraps and solder' engine rather than my own design. That said it's been another good learning exercise and required some thought despite its simplicity.

[PaulR]

While waiting for some wood stain to dry on the base, I decided to remake the connecting rod as my filing was rubbish and the thickness of the present one isn't pleasing to the eye! Turned down some 6mm brass rod but I couldn't come up with a way to hold it in the 4 jaw or on the faceplate to flatten the ends so clamped it with some stock underneath to get it level with the clamp and filed some flats. Took two pieces of flat steel and glued the filed flat side to one and glued the other against the middle to to counteract the pressure of filing and guide the file. Filed it to thickness, disassembled, flipped over then took the first flats down to thickness. Came out pretty good and ready for some holes. I suppose the logical thing would be to do the holes first as I did with the flat rod but then I'd have to contend with filling the flats perpendicular to the holes which wouldn't be so easy.

[Jasonb]

Small items like that can be held in the tool post to be milled with a cutter spinning in the lathe.

[PaulR]

Small items like that can be held in the tool post to be milled with a cutter spinning in the lathe.

Yep, but I haven't got any end mills yet  Might have been easier to start with rectangular section bar but again I haven't got any the right size, still building up stock and equipment!

[PaulR]

Fitted the new con rod, made a little tubular spacer to slide onto the valve's crank pin as it has a slight tendency to wander inwards and finished making a simple base - it's a bit rough and ready but the machine is hardly exhibition standard 

Here are some final pics and two short videos. No idea what's next... need to get the thinking cap on!


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

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQQEt37GHD0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQQEt37GHD0</a>