Author Topic: A tiny engine  (Read 14831 times)

Offline DavesWimshurst

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A tiny engine
« on: May 28, 2009, 01:39:41 PM »
I made a better video  of my thimble engine:


Dave

Offline sbwhart

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2009, 01:47:25 PM »
Lovely little engine
 :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Stew

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

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline Darren

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2009, 01:51:57 PM »
That was quite something,

So tiny !!!! I see it ran well too...... :clap:
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Offline Bernd

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2009, 03:54:40 PM »
Very nice Dave. To get something that samll to run at all has got to be quite an accomplishment. :thumbup:

Sounds like an angry bee.  :)

Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline DavesWimshurst

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2009, 04:04:23 PM »
A little more information cause someone asked:
Thanks for the appreciation.
Bore and stroke 1/16 inch
Crankshaft built up using .015 music wire and a piece of .025 inch dia. sewing needle.
Boiler is spun copper as I couldn't find a usable thimble.
Plans were published in the book "Steam and Stirling Engines You Can Build" published by a division of Live Steam Magazine in 1980.  The article was titled "Thimble Power Plant" by Dr. James R. Senft.
I don't know if copies of the magazine article or the book are available.
I hope this helps.
Dave

bogstandard

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2009, 05:57:45 PM »
Dave,

A real nice runner you have there. I don't think my eyesight will work with things that small any more

Almost a couple of years ago, I knocked one up in less than a day, but a lot larger than yours. In fact yours makes mine look massive (no I'm not boasting again).

Based around Tubal Cain's porting for the Jenny Wren. If I can remember rightly, it is 3/32" bore by 1/8" stroke, or it might be 3/16" stroke. The brain cell is fading fast.




They really are nice little exercises to do. My main problem was silver soldering the syringe tube in for the inlet pipe.


John

Offline Bernd

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2009, 07:43:41 PM »
Thanks Dave.

John, I see you drilled holes in the flywheel of that little thing. Nice

Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline CrewCab

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2009, 02:51:18 PM »
 :bow:  Top class work guys  :thumbup:

CC

Offline NickG

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2009, 07:34:26 AM »
Dave, how on earth did you get that thing to run? And on steam as  well, it's minute! It must be a very low pressure too.
Location: County Durham (North East England)

Offline Bernd

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2009, 03:04:22 PM »
Dave, how on earth did you get that thing to run? And on steam as  well, it's minute! It must be a very low pressure too.

He first "crushed" the water molecules down to size. Almost to a fine dust before heating into steam!

Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline foozer

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2009, 03:55:02 PM »
Oh No, had to get the kid to run the screen over to the TV so I could even see that tiny.

Excellent Job


Robert
Ignorance is Bliss, thus I aim for Perfection

Offline Mr blindbird

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2009, 05:13:53 PM »
 :bugeye: Amazing how small you guys can build these litle critters..i bet you are the ones creating all the mosquitos to  :lol:
Realy amazed,think i should get myself some plans to build an engine as well...
If force doesnt solve the problem,you're not using enough...
If aditional force still doesnt do the trick...you should have checkt if it's a right or left thread first...

Offline sbwhart

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2009, 05:24:54 PM »
Hi Danny

Plenty of plans her to wet your appetite http://www.john-tom.com/

Have fun

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

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline John Hill

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2009, 05:25:36 PM »
Amazing little machine! :thumbup:
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Offline Weston Bye

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2009, 06:11:31 PM »
...Plans were published in the book "Steam and Stirling Engines You Can Build" published by a division of Live Steam Magazine in 1980.  The article was titled "Thimble Power Plant" by Dr. James R. Senft.
I don't know if copies of the magazine article or the book are available...


Yep, still available.  Here:
https://secure.villagepress.com/store/items/list/group/131/page/2

Nice job Dave
Weston Bye
Practitioner of the Electromechanical Arts.
author of The Mechatronist column
Digital Machinist magazine

Offline ChooChooMike

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #15 on: August 14, 2009, 03:40:58 PM »
Plans were published in the book "Steam and Stirling Engines You Can Build" published by a division of Live Steam Magazine in 1980.  The article was titled "Thimble Power Plant" by Dr. James R. Senft.
I don't know if copies of the magazine article or the book are available.
I hope this helps.
Dave

Dave, do you know if this was also published in Live Steam magazine too ? If so, remember which issue it was ?

Thanks,
Mike

Offline Weston Bye

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #16 on: August 14, 2009, 09:59:08 PM »
All the Steam and Sterling articles are reprints from Live Steam Magazine, the article in question would have been from before 1980.  Sorry, my archive doesn't go back any farther than that.
Weston Bye
Practitioner of the Electromechanical Arts.
author of The Mechatronist column
Digital Machinist magazine

Offline DavesWimshurst

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #17 on: August 14, 2009, 10:33:27 PM »
I Googled it and found an eBay reference to it using the keywords "Thimble power plant live steam magazine":

Live Steam Magazine October 1976. 

It was sold.  The book is probably your best bet.
Warning it can cause eye strain! :bugeye:

Dave

Offline ChooChooMike

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #18 on: August 15, 2009, 02:38:55 AM »
I Googled it and found an eBay reference to it using the keywords "Thimble power plant live steam magazine":

Live Steam Magazine October 1976.  

It was sold.  The book is probably your best bet.
Warning it can cause eye strain!

No worry, I've got every Live Steam magazine from 1967 to the present and some of 1966 :thumbup: I'll look it up !! Thanks for the pointer :)

Mike

Offline ChooChooMike

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Re: A tiny engine
« Reply #19 on: August 21, 2009, 12:26:02 PM »
Got the Oct 1976 issue and plans :thumbup: Lots of details & drawings.

Heck, there's even a few foldout pages in this issue (not related to the Thimble build). Allen locomotives catalog was $0.50 back then, now it's $5. Not too bad for inflation  :ddb:

Mike