tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post5103677639768118316..comments2024-03-28T08:06:43.198-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: A Little Shop Project Update SiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-38288578814123371352018-04-17T13:07:34.414-04:002018-04-17T13:07:34.414-04:00'Way cool. Thanks!'Way cool. Thanks!Mad Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190137186843630543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-12864911719181445042018-04-16T13:03:07.388-04:002018-04-16T13:03:07.388-04:00It's a little bizarre. You might want to watc...It's a little bizarre. You might want to watch a video like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkpoHpNT1es" rel="nofollow">this one</a>.<br /><br />The engine works on low pressure. There's a small flame - typically an alcohol lamp - that's positioned outside the cylinder. To start it, you flick the flywheel (like a manual starter), the momentum you gave it pushes the piston up toward the top of the cylinder, and when it passes over the top, a small valve opens up. The moving piston creates a lower pressure and sucks in some flame. The hot air expands and helps push the piston down to the bottom of the stroke, and adds some momentum to the flywheel. When the piston reaches its bottom, the flywheel's momentum pushes it back up toward the top, and the cycle starts over. The return force of the piston is aided by atmospheric pressure. <br /><br />One of the model makers' websites says the first patent on one of these engines was granted to a Henry Wood in 1758. That predates the Otto engine by a hundred years. The Otto is generally called the first four stroke, internal combustion engine. Good summary <a href="http://www.boehm-stirling.com/en/interesting-facts.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br /><br />These engines are called flame eaters, flame lickers, fire eaters, and so on. They're also called vacuum engines and atmospheric engines. I like the term external combustion engine. <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-58105262828414713872018-04-16T11:10:43.406-04:002018-04-16T11:10:43.406-04:00How does the engine work?How does the engine work?Mad Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190137186843630543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-49628396120587525192018-04-16T00:43:12.975-04:002018-04-16T00:43:12.975-04:00Since these come on at 4AM twice a week, I don'...Since these come on at 4AM twice a week, I don't know that they're working or not<br /><br />Is this not what video security systems are for? Set machines to watch the other machines. <br />Ritchiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08075903551422300106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-34700497248554544522018-04-16T00:06:22.381-04:002018-04-16T00:06:22.381-04:00Should be quite nice when you're finished!Should be quite nice when you're finished!drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-39348813457555945692018-04-15T22:43:42.999-04:002018-04-15T22:43:42.999-04:00Are you doing this all by program, or manual? .
E...<i>Are you doing this all by program, or manual? </i>. <br />Everything so far was manual. I’m not sure about the next parts. <br /><br />I’m copying an engine from a mid-80s book, so its emphasis is handwork. Lots of Dykem and scratched lines. As the default, I’m using his methods. Instead of hand wheels on my mill, I used my RumblePad game controller. Actually works pretty well. <br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-81766676245112665272018-04-15T21:23:31.880-04:002018-04-15T21:23:31.880-04:00It is Fun to make stuff! I made a resolution to tr...It is Fun to make stuff! I made a resolution to try to do one thing every day to make the shop cleaner, better, more efficient, regardless of the scope of the improvement. Anything from replacing a worn electrical cord to throwing away stuff that was "too good to throw away but not good enough to use". Today I put a second power feed on one of the shapers, so one is permanently set up for vertical (fence) work, and the other for horizontal (table) work. The machine looks like a woodworking equivalent of Edward Sissorhands". This should save about ten minutes every time the orientation needs to change. <br /> Just for kicks the other day, I put a piece of free machining steel in the lathe, and turned a test bar 12" long. I had never checked it for accuracy before. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was under .0001 over the length- essentially perfect , or , to the limits of the measuring equipment available. It was interesting to see firsthand the difference in size of the bar between the 55 degree shop and the 72 degree house, it changed about two tenths. Pretty much just what the book says. Not bad for a 20 year old secondhand Taiwan machine. <br /> Interesting how people approach things- I would have figured on cutting the curves on the rotary table first, most of the way though, then planing off the extra thickness. Just so a sacrificial piece would not be needed under the part on the rotary. Of course, now this introduces a clamping difficulty for the curved part,can't just put it in the vise. Are you doing this all by program, or manual? <br /> ravennoreply@blogger.com