Twin Cylinder Steam Engine

Thanks for making the time to share the build and the pics. That's a very interesting rig you made/use to hold the dremel tool. A very good idea indeed!
 
KVT, the rings are made of grey cast iron which is readily available from most metal/iron suppliers in the USA. They are then heat treaded to provide the amount of spring resistance to the cylinder wall and the end gap clearance set. Finally, I run them over a piece fine emery paper on top of a piece of glass glued to a plywood base to achieve the side clearance in the ring grove.
In my opinion, using Meehanite cast iron would be great if I were building a full size steam engine to be used on a daily basis for some type of heavy work. In my case, a model steam engine will perform for a long time, (beyond my existance), with grey cast. I have also used viton o-rings in the past and they too will work just fine since the steam generated in a model boiler will not be super heated nor will the pressures exceed 100lbs. My wife is into knitting bigtime, so I have used graphite inpregnated yarn on occasions for rings, but doesn't last. I still use some of this for packing gland seals which seems to work out just fine. Since this is a hobby, anything that you can dream up to try is worth the effort, after all, isn't this how we got to where we are today.
Regards
 
Thanks for the info, The build looks great and should last like you said. It will be fun to watch
 
34-40, the dremel tool holder works out really well, you just have to be gentle when feeding the cutoff wheel. It also helps to have a spare set of bearings around as the nose bearing takes alot of pressure from the cross slide. "Patience here is critical"

Is that your ride in the picture? looks super, when I was younger, I built a 1929 ford 2 door and a 1932 Chev 5 window, wish I still had one of them.
O-well, foolish boy let money overcome my better judgment.
Regards

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Thank you for the reply Patrick. I can see where the bearings take a beating, especially with the rpm's those things turn!

Yes, that's my car.. 347 stroker SBF Auto OD and a whole list of goodies. Thanks for posting the pics of yours too!

I've made some bits and pieces of a motor.. they were really "studies" if you will, just wanted to see if I can do "it", and this thread is more inspiration!

Thanks Again for making the time to share the build!
 
Progress on the steam engine is coming along, have the eccentric straps, the pedestals for the expansion links, and the links made. Waiting on some 4mm x 7mm x 3mm ball bearings for the expansion links to pivit on. Maybe I'll start on the steam chest while I wait for the bearings.

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Looks nice. Keep up the good work on it.
 
Getting close to seeing if it will run in one direction let alone reverse. Need to make the steam chest valves and linkage and then test the functionality. if all goes well, will finish the reverse linkage and steam piping.

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Man oh man,, it'll be beautiful!
 
Summer time and there seems to be no end to the work that needs to get done outside. Therefore all work in the shop has to stop until I get the weeds and the honey-do list completed. The attached picture is where I am for now, the engine runs well on air pressure both forward and reverse. Will get back to the fun stuff in the fall.
Regards

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