Author Topic: Potty Grasshopper Engine  (Read 20138 times)

Offline sbwhart

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Potty Grasshopper Engine
« on: September 08, 2015, 02:41:49 AM »
The inspiration for this engine comes from a haulage engine on display at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, the engine was built in the 1840 and was used to haul wagons up an incline at an alkaline works, being an haulage engine it would run in both direction via a simple slip eccentric.





The model will be far from a scale model of this engine as I intend the design to be as simple as possible suitable for beginners, so I have taken huge liberties in the design, it will use the same cylinder and piston valve as my Horizontal Mill Engine and Vertical Cross Engine.

This is the assembly drawing



I had planned on using a cast fly wheel but had problems sourcing a suitable casting they were all too big and chunky, fly wheels of this period were far lighter affairs, in the end a had a blank laser cut that I've machined up and painted I've posted this else ware on the forum, but for those who missed it this is the finished fly wheel.



I've nearly got all the cylinder parts finished but as I've used the cylinder for other engines that I've ran threads for I won't bore you with its construction.

As this is very much a work in progress I won't make the drawing available until the engine is finished and I've caught up with all the changes there inevitably will be.

Cheers
Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline mexican jon

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2015, 04:29:43 AM »
 :clap: :clap: Looking forward to this  :thumbup: :thumbup:
People say you only live once ! I say thank F@*K can't afford to do it twice.

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2015, 07:56:21 AM »
Thanks Jon looks like you're the only one to read it.

Been working on the Beam made from a length of 1/8" * 5/8" mild steel first job mark one of the bars with all the hole position and mark the other with just the centre hole.



Then drill all the holes in one beam, and just the centre hole in the other, then clamp the two together at the centre and drill the rest of the holes through the other that way they will be exactly the same.



Add a few more clamp bolts just so nothing will move.



And set to with the mill or a file to get it to the tapered shape and finish of the rads at the end with a couple of filing buttons,



Next up machine up the 8mm spacers tapped M3 then make the clamping/pivot bolts.



This is what it looks like completed.



I've nearly got the con rod finished but I've been called away on domestic duties.

Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline awemawson

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2015, 08:10:33 AM »
Don't worry Stew I'm watching :)
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Chuck in E. TN

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2015, 08:21:27 AM »
Me too, Stew!
Is there a list anywhere of your engines that use the same cylinder? I intend to build them all.

Chuck
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Offline modeldozer

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2015, 08:36:00 AM »
Looking good, am following with great interest.

Abraham

Offline Pete W.

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2015, 10:38:52 AM »
Don't worry Stew I'm watching :)

Me, too.   :bugeye:   :D   :bugeye:   :nrocks: 
Best regards,

Pete W.

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you haven't seen the latest design change-note!

Offline shipto

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2015, 05:09:13 PM »
Watching too  :)
Turns out this life c**p is just one big distraction from death but a good one. For the love of god dont give yourself time to think.
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Offline SwarfnStuff

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2015, 02:39:09 AM »
See, Jon was not the only one watching. It's just that the rest of us didn't say so at first. So, as with all your posts, I am another who will follow your build. With  :coffee: in hand after messing about trying to build our club challenge, "Jan Ridders, Coffee Cup Stirling".

John B
Converting good metal into swarf sometimes ending up with something useful. ;-)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2015, 04:16:18 AM »
Sorry! I'm late again, Stew. 

Only just spotted, you've set off without me......  :palm:

Watching. Appreciating.......  :thumbup:

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2015, 07:34:18 AM »
Hi

I see you old madmodders are awake then  :lol:

Ok on with the con rod I made this from 1/2" Squ mild steel

First job was to cut a length off and square it off in the lathe using a 4 jaw self cantering chuck, then I blued it up and marked out the key features.





Then drilled 8mm holes where the bearing bushes will fit.



Centred both ends and machined a 6mm register to help mill the flats in the middle when I come to them.



Then supporting one end with a running centre rough out the key points with a parting tool.



And rough out one end of the shape.



Swop it round and rough out the other end.



Slew the compound round 1 1/2 deg and machine the taper with a round nose tool.



Flip it round and taper the other end a shape the fat belly in the middle, and polish up with a bit of emery.



Mill the ends to thick ness maling use of the register when the cut just kisses it where down to size.



Shape the end with some filing buttons



Give it a polish and fit the bearings.



While I was at it made the cross head.



Her they are fitted on the beam.



And her's the beam with the cylinder.



Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2015, 07:39:06 AM »
Me too, Stew!
Is there a list anywhere of your engines that use the same cylinder? I intend to build them all.

Chuck

Hi Chuck there will be three in total:-

The mill engine http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,8438.msg90828.html#msg90828

The Vertical engine http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,9371.msg103716.html#msg103716

And this grasshopper.

Thanks for your interest.

Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Chuck in E. TN

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2015, 07:42:05 AM »
Thanks, Stew.

Chuck
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Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2015, 08:00:10 AM »
On with the swing beam.

I've long admired the iron work of a beam engine that runs at Style Mill Cheshire, it roughly of the same date as the grasshopper I'm styling this model on. the Iron work on this engine is based round the them of interlocking circle's so I thought I would try and make this beam a series of interlocking circles.

First job turn a length of bar down and mark the part off points of each circle.



Then transfer over to the spin indexer and mill two flats down either side, and drill each side 1/16".



Then back over onto the lathe and drill out.



And then part off each circle.



Link the circles together with a 1/16 rod



And silver solder together.



Then mill two more flats on each side.



And drill some 1/6" to take some 1/16 rivets to hold the side arms in place, then soft solder the lot together.



Drill the pivot hole through both sides.



And clean up its going to get a lick of paint so it doesn't need a shine.



This is it mocked up in place for a look see.



Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Chuck in E. TN

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2015, 08:18:24 AM »
 :jaw: Stew, I am in awe of your talents! :beer:

Chuck
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MicroMark 7x14, HF X2 mill, Green 4x6 saw. Harbor Freight 170A mig

Offline RotarySMP

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #15 on: September 17, 2015, 08:20:58 AM »
That brass fabricated beam is excellent.
Best regards, Meilleures salutations, Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Cu salutari
Mark
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Offline jcs0001

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #16 on: September 17, 2015, 02:33:05 PM »
Stew:

Very nice work.  As a complete amateur I appreciate the multitude of photos and the explanations that you give. 

Thanks,

John.

Offline tom osselton

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #17 on: September 17, 2015, 02:35:52 PM »
She's going to be a beauty!

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #18 on: September 17, 2015, 03:45:15 PM »
I turned away for a few minutes......oh wow that looks good Stew.... :bow:


Waiting in anticipation to the finished engine.... :dremel:
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #19 on: September 17, 2015, 03:55:40 PM »
That's blummin', gorgeous!    :clap:   :clap:

Well done, Stew......

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline krv3000

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #20 on: September 17, 2015, 04:43:34 PM »
oooooo nice

Offline mexican jon

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #21 on: September 17, 2015, 05:53:11 PM »
 :nrocks: Awesome work  :thumbup: With a capital A  :clap: :clap: :clap:
People say you only live once ! I say thank F@*K can't afford to do it twice.

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #22 on: September 21, 2015, 11:07:19 AM »
Thanks for your support Chaps.

Next bit the eccentric arm decided to keep the circle theme going.

So turned up and parted off some rings with their diameters receding in size drill 1/16 and threaded on a bit of wire as before.

The final was turned up and threaded M3 and shaped to blend in with the circle.



It was also drilled 1/16 and threaded on the wire.



And the whole lot silver soldered together, whist it was in the pickle made the valve rod handle fron 3/8 square bar.

Faced off centre drilled and drilled at tapped M3



Then drill a 3mm hole off centre slightly to help keep it on the valve rod/



Formed the other end up into a nice handle shape.



Thinned the width down to 1/4



Cut a slot to take the Valve rod.



And this is it finished.



And where it will roughly sit on the engine.



Cheers

Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Joules

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #23 on: September 21, 2015, 11:19:02 AM »
Oh NO.....   yet more machine porn  :bugeye:  Why oh why do I open these threads......
Honour your mentors, and pay it forward.

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #24 on: September 21, 2015, 05:43:38 PM »
Oh, my........  :palm:

Well done. Again!  :thumbup: :clap: :clap:

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #25 on: October 01, 2015, 02:27:34 PM »
Doesn't time fly when your having fun:- time I did a update.

Next bit the eccentric this is exactly the same as for my mill and vertical engine except that it needs to rotate or slip (slip eccentric) around the crank shaft to change the direction of the engine. To do this you need to have a pin to act as a stop on the crank shaft and to section part of the eccentric. As I'm designing this engine for those with limited kit, the easiest way for them to machine these features is to first make a bush with a 3mm hole in it from the same material that the crank shaft is made from, then all you have to do it use this bush to drill the crank shaft for the stop that way it will be perfectly on centre.



And to section the crankshaft use this bush to make a little gauge so that you can section the eccentric accurately.





Next bit the bracket that will support the valve levers, this is made form 1" box section mild steel.





Square the bit up and mill the base nice and flat



Then drill the hole for to take the pivot bearing.



Drill the fixing holes.



And silver solder the pivot bush in place.



Mill away the unwanted bit of the bracket leave the bush intact until the end as this will give added support for the machining.



Thin down the back



Thin down the front



When done cut away the part of the bush not wanted,



 and this is where it fits on the valve chest.



Levers:- made from some 5/16" square bar, first drill the holes for the two levers.



Cut them from the bar and make up a mandrel and with them on the mandrel nibble them down to thickness.



Clean them up to shape with a file and this is where they fit.



Next bit the entablature, the base made from 1/4 mild steel plate cut to size nice and square and mark the centre point out



Using a wobble bar centre up on a four jaw and drill the and bore the centre hole a nice fit on the cylinder cover.





Use the cylinder covers to spot through to drill 3mm



Drill and tap the side M2



Keeping with the circular theme for the side plates, square the plates up and mark one out.



Drill a couple of holes in both plates and use these to clamp them together.



Drill the rest of the holes.



Hacksaw roughly to shape.



And file to shape.



And this is how it looks on the cylinder.



Cheers

Stew

A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline awemawson

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #26 on: October 01, 2015, 02:50:32 PM »
Very nice Stew. A fair few hours there I'll be bound.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline tom osselton

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #27 on: October 01, 2015, 03:07:30 PM »
Very nice progress!

Offline jcs0001

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #28 on: October 01, 2015, 04:26:40 PM »
Great work and an education to see you you are doing it.

John.

Offline krv3000

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #29 on: October 01, 2015, 04:55:30 PM »
hi that's coming a long nice

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #30 on: October 26, 2015, 07:00:15 AM »
Cheers Lads

Bin a bit distracted from this over the last couple of weeks:- short holiday domestic duties etc.

But I cobbled it together:- lot of the nuts and bolts left off so things are not sealed and I didn't fit the flywheel, but I still tested it on air and it ran




Next job strip it down fit give it a paint job and a base and a few other button and bells.

Cheers
Stew
« Last Edit: November 25, 2015, 05:34:37 PM by Stilldrillin »
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline awemawson

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #31 on: October 26, 2015, 07:40:55 AM »
Very nice Stewart  :thumbup:

I'm guessing that that's reving rather faster than the full scale one would  :scratch:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #32 on: October 26, 2015, 09:40:34 AM »
Very nice Stewart  :thumbup:

I'm guessing that that's reving rather faster than the full scale one would  :scratch:

Yes its going a lot faster I had to turn the pressure up to compensate for all the leaks and lack of fly wheel, hopefully I can run it slower when I get it assembled correctly. In the mean time her's a vid of the real thing running.





Cheers

Stew
« Last Edit: November 26, 2015, 05:21:24 PM by Stilldrillin »
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #33 on: October 28, 2015, 11:19:06 AM »
Here is another vid, with the fly wheel fitted with the second main bearing and all the nuts and bolts in place.



Stew
« Last Edit: November 26, 2015, 05:23:24 PM by Stilldrillin »
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #34 on: November 20, 2015, 06:56:49 AM »
Here's the completed engine.








Cheers

Stew
« Last Edit: November 26, 2015, 05:25:05 PM by Stilldrillin »
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline modeldozer

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #35 on: November 20, 2015, 09:50:05 AM »
Just beautifull.  :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

Cheers  :beer:
Abraham

Offline tom osselton

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #36 on: November 20, 2015, 07:59:22 PM »
Looks fantastic! I've enjoyed watching the build progress.

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #37 on: November 21, 2015, 07:27:25 AM »
Thanks for your interest Guys

Here's a family picture of all three engines bullt with the same basic cylinder design.



Cheers

Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #38 on: November 22, 2015, 06:25:06 AM »
That's a wonderful build Stew!  :clap: :clap:

It would look very good, in a workshop/ engine house diorama.  :thumbup:

That "modular" cylinder design has worked very well. Three very successful engines!

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline krv3000

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #39 on: November 22, 2015, 06:33:03 PM »
brill just brill

Offline mechman48

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #40 on: November 30, 2015, 08:20:30 AM »
Superb Stew, just superb... :headbang:  :clap:

Might get round to making one in the not too distant future; from the drawings you kindly sent.

George.
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Offline millwright

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #41 on: November 30, 2015, 02:52:30 PM »
Another excellent job Stew they look good together. Will there be a number 4 or more on the same cylinder i wonder?

John

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #42 on: December 01, 2015, 01:52:08 AM »
Another excellent job Stew they look good together. Will there be a number 4 or more on the same cylinder i wonder?

John

I wasn't really planning on building a fourth John, I have a Loco that I won't to build, but things are developing that may call for a fourth engine, I have my eye on a nice table engine, so as they say watch this space.  :proj:


 :beer:

Stew
A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Potty Grasshopper Engine
« Reply #43 on: December 01, 2015, 07:56:12 AM »
I have my eye on a nice table engine, so as they say watch this space.  :proj: :beer:
Stew

Go on, Stew!  :poke:

You know it makes sense.......   :thumbup: :clap:

David.
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!