Author Topic: Mia's engine........  (Read 23717 times)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Mia's engine........
« on: January 17, 2014, 03:46:31 AM »
I was test running one of my hot air engines on the coffee table, when Little Granddaughter trotted in......... "What dat Grandad?"

Before I could answer, Grandma said. "It's one of Grandad's engines. He will make you one, one day." ..... Thanks Grandma!   

Those lovely big brown eyes turned to me. "For my birfday?" (In three days time!)

What to do?? Grandad's Little Sweetheart is three, in three days time! And, she wants an engine!!  :palm:

I dived into the Come in Handy pile. And found a heavy aluminium oil pot, from some, long ago scrapped, hydraulic system.

1/4" cross hole.........




Axle........




And, a couple of spare flywheels.......




I reckoned she could safely spin the wheels. Without doing too much damage to herself, or the furniture.

So, I dismantled and boxed. Ready for the next time she called here.......




To be continued........

David D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2018, 08:48:39 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

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

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

Offline AussieJimG

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2014, 05:05:37 AM »
Well done David, this is something she will remember all her life.

My Grandfather gave me a piece of 1/2" brass rod about 1" long in a Vaseline jar (with the blue and white lid) full of kerosene. I carried it around for ages telling anyone who asked that it was "a bit of carburetor - the most technical word I knew).

I shook it so much that the glass jar broke. I was devastated. But 70 years later, I still remember it.

Nostalgia is alive and well

Jim

lordedmond

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2014, 01:04:50 PM »
David

Had a similar thing but my task came in the form I want to make a engine like granddad closely followed by her sister

well the are both to young to allow the uses of the machines so this is what I did

hope its ok to link to another forum mod delete if its not allowed

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,2743.msg47004.html#msg47004


Stuart

Offline millwright

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2014, 04:23:44 PM »
Nice one David,
 My two grandchildren always like to go in my garage to see what im tinkering with . But most of all to see my spider that lives in the corner of the window and  the side  of one of my tool chests. I dont know if its the same one but theres one there permenantly for at least 5 yrs i feed it on maggots through the winter just to keep it going. The Kids Love watching but from a safe disdtance.

John

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2014, 06:09:44 PM »
Thanks for your replies Chaps!  Much appreciated.

Jim.
Ah, yes! The special/ secret items we lads carried. Including a penknife......
I still have my George III penny!

Stuart.
I started following your posting. But a computer rebuild, made me miss the completion! Thanks for posting the link.
A lovely story, and pics.

Don't worry. We have no problem with inter forum links, here.

John.
Mia loves to explore in the workshop! Saying wot "dat", at most things she sees.
How do you explain the pieces in the scrap/ come in handy pile?

The last big spider I found in the shop, bit/ stung me when I picked it up!
Not too sure about having one for a pet........


I think I should explain. Today was Mia's 4th birthday.
This little adventure started, a year ago, and is not finished yet. Will post more developments, tomorrow.

David D

David.

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

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

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2014, 08:36:42 AM »
Installation and commissioning didn't quite go to plan. Though, it was fun!  :)

Mia spent quite some time inspecting, and trying to make parts fit together.  :scratch:

Didn't want any help. So I let her get on with it.........




Can't quite figure out this bent wire bit.......




Eventually. With my help, it was assembled.........




Couldn't get the hang of spinning the wheels. Preferred the "radar dish" mode........



NOT happy! Want to build it, with Grandma's help........



Guess what Grandma's saying.......



After an hour, or so. It was all a bit too much........



Regularly, building/ stripping this "Lego Set" engine, kept her amused until mid summer. I finally managed to hide it in my toy cupboard. She hasn't mentioned it since.

Has she forgotten about it, by now?

Hope so! Cos I've been modding it.........   :thumbup:

David D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2018, 08:53:50 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

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

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

Offline philf

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2014, 09:14:55 AM »
Lovely stuff Dave.  :thumbup:

My grandson's only 13 months old and I'm hoping he'll be interested in engineering and that we can spend some time together in the workshop.

Even at 13 months he seems to have a fascination with clocks.

Cheers.

Phil.
Phil Fern
Location: Marple, Cheshire

Offline Manxmodder

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2014, 11:15:42 AM »
 :thumbup: Well done Dave for engaging her with an interesting alternative to the usual junk toys or video games.

Sometimes the simpler joys in life are the best and I really wish more parents and granparents would engage their kids in more real world problem solver projects that give gratifying reward to the child after a bit of toil and struggle.....OZ.
Helixes aren't always downward spirals,sometimes they're screwed up

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2014, 08:56:47 AM »
Phil.
Thanks! Won't be long for you now......
At around 2yrs old, Mia took an interest in everything Grandad was doing. "What dat/ wot doin, Daddad".

When she could climb up onto the step stool, and see on the bench, very little was secret any more!

Dunno where from. But, she found an M6 wingnut.
I screwed it onto 6" of studding, with a nyloc nut on each end. She still loves it!

OZ.
Thanks! I can't do video games. My son despaired of me.

But, Mia would rather play with Grandad's, simpler toys.......



Now, we've caught up to present day.
Mia hasn't seen this, since last mid summer. I really hope she's forgotten about it. But, somehow, I doubt it........  :palm:

Set onto mill. Align crank axis with 1/4" silver steel shaft.......



48mm in X. 18mm in Y. Spot face, and drill/ ream through, 4mm........



Rotate 180* Offset 18mm 'tother side, in Y. And spot/ drill/ ream to 4mm......



1/4" slot. Blummin chuck jaw's in the way.......



Add temporary, pre used, crank discs, plus cranks........



We got a finger engine........



It works very well, for a temporary set up!  :ddb:  :ddb:

I will show the permanent parts, as they are made. Plus an action video, eventually.  :thumbup:

My only worry, is what Mia will think of her engine, when she can't dismantle it........   :(   :wack:

David D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2018, 09:03:55 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

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

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

Offline raynerd

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2014, 09:41:28 AM »
Hi David, fab work, she will be thrilled with the little finger engine.

My daughter is 5 and often comes into my workshop and we build bits. When she is a little older and it is time for an engine, I think we will have a bash at one of those little rocker engines everyone was building a few years back. I've seen a few running on someone blowing through them which is nice and safe. Just a thought I'd share.

Chris

Offline krv3000

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2014, 12:38:05 PM »
hi and the work is brill only one problem whe she finds out you hav chanjed it seh will go off it the wife washt me dorters tedy ber when she was three and she is still in the huff a bawt it and she is 12 gnaw

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2014, 01:29:00 PM »
That's awesome David. Mia must love it.

Eric
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We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2014, 05:52:16 PM »
Thanks Chris!
I also made one of those little rockers. It was strobed at 9,000 rpm at 40psi. But, I have never tried it on gob power. Yet.

Bob.
It's surprising, just how long females can hold a grudge! Hoping Mia can't see through the camouflage I'm planning.

Thanks Eric.
I certainly hope so!


Time to make the two cranks.

This is the first time I've made anything from mild steel! En1a?
I have always used heat treating steel, when at work, and since retiring. En24/ 36/ 39/ aisi4140 etc. But, stocks are now getting low. I've had to buy some.
Got to admit, it's sweet cutting material.......

Drilled/ reamed 1/4" through, from either end. Part off.......



4mm dia, drill/ ream, the 6mm throw.......



Drill/ tap, the grubscrew holes........



Finished.......



Spun in the lathe chuck. One end is within 2 thou of the other.......



Crank assembly finished.......



Finger clearance, under the lever. Now need to make a knob, or dish to mount on top ........



Flywheels, next. Wooden ones!  :thumbup:

David D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2018, 09:09:29 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

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

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

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #13 on: January 24, 2014, 02:46:13 PM »
Flywheel time!

Two blanks, chopped out of a 16mm chopping board. 1/4" hole through centre........



Mount onto 1/4" bar held in chuck. Friction turn against chuck jaws.......



Cleaned up at 4.3" o/d. That will do, for now........



Test video........




Need now, to design some detachable hubs. For when Mia Mechanic wants to play.

David D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2018, 09:12:14 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

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

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

Offline 75Plus

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2014, 11:29:00 AM »
David, Those tiny PM motors that are used in toys make excellent generators. Perhaps you can find one small enough to hide inside the motor and use it to power a lamp bulb or LED's when Mia is running it.

Joe

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2014, 06:01:26 PM »
David, Those tiny PM motors that are used in toys make excellent generators. Perhaps you can find one small enough to hide inside the motor and use it to power a lamp bulb or LED's when Mia is running it.

Joe

Good idea Joe!  :thumbup:

Not much clearance on the shaft for a pulley. What sort of revs would it need?  :scratch:

David D
David.

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

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

Offline 75Plus

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #16 on: January 27, 2014, 09:42:01 AM »
You will start getting voltage with as little as 10 RPM. Depending on the design voltage they can go up quite a bit more. The polarity will change depending on the direction of rotation.

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2014, 06:03:38 PM »
Thanks Joe.
Something to keep in mind, for later.......  :thumbup:


I've been "watching paint (and varnish) dry", most of last week. While life got in the way, the rest of the time.  :(

Puzzling how to make the flywheels, Mia manageable. I remembered, she had included the 1.5mm allen key, as part of the game.

Hmmmm. This bit goes here, somewhere........



So, I drilled n tapped the half shafts M5. She can have a couple of capheads and washers to play with!

The alloy hubs will be sleevelocked onto the half shafts, then the flywheels bored to suit.


Looking a little more respectable, I think......



David D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2018, 09:14:52 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

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

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

Offline AussieJimG

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2014, 09:50:23 PM »
Lovely!  :ddb:

Jim

Offline mechman48

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2014, 05:47:29 AM »
Hi David
Lovely intro into engineering for Mia.  :clap:  :clap:
As an aside, I noticed your tailstock arrangement for the rotary table on the mill, I have a similar RT (Soba 4") & was looking at getting a tailstock to match from the usual supplier but have not noticed anything that bears resemblance to your set up, seems to be sitting on a tapered rising block ? is it home made or do you have any ref / link to it... drawings maybe?

regards
George.
George.


Always look on the bright side of life, & remember.. KISS..' Keep It Simple Stupid'

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2014, 10:50:25 AM »
Thank you, Jim!  :thumbup:

Hi George.
I bought it in a bit of a rush, as I was leaving the Harrogate show. I think, from Chronos.  :scratch:

It looks like this one. (Ref: XC163)
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=tailstock&PN=Soba_Rotary_Tables_and_accessories.html#aXC163


It needed a block, due to the extra height of the hinge....... http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,7643.msg82090.html#msg82090

And, it works a treat!  :thumbup:

David D
David.

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

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

Offline SwarfnStuff

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2014, 01:05:10 AM »
Have followed this thread with interest and pleasure. Well explained and photographed. Thanks for taking the time and effort to post. One possible tweak I thought of would be to "perhaps / maybe" add a small flat or suitably shaped disk to the top side of the lever so Mia's finger or thumb has a more comfortable bit to press on. Regardless it looks great.  :beer:   :clap:
   Regards,  John B
Converting good metal into swarf sometimes ending up with something useful. ;-)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #22 on: February 03, 2014, 12:11:40 PM »
Hi John. Thank you!  :thumbup:

Looking at the last pic posted. I have positioned a chrome ball, roughly in it's proposed position on the lever.

If this doesn't suit her, I can soon make something else to fit on the m4 thread.......   
David D
David.

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

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

Offline SwarfnStuff

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #23 on: February 04, 2014, 01:33:28 AM »
Yup, Missed the chrome ball or didn't realise it's significance. My excuse, "Well I do  have an appointment with the eye specialist next month" perhaps some new optical crutches might help?
John B
Converting good metal into swarf sometimes ending up with something useful. ;-)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Mia's engine........
« Reply #24 on: February 04, 2014, 04:23:43 AM »
"That (excuse) will do nicely", John.  :thumbup:

I've just received a new pair of hearing crutches. WOW. What a difference!  :bugeye:

David D
David.

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

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