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Gallery, Projects and General => Gallery => Topic started by: DavesWimshurst on May 28, 2009, 01:39:41 PM

Title: A tiny engine
Post by: DavesWimshurst on May 28, 2009, 01:39:41 PM: I made a better video of my thimble engine:
(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt46/DavesWimshurst/intro%20pics/th_ThimbleEngine_0001.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/albums/tt46/DavesWimshurst/intro%20pics/?action=view&current=ThimbleEngine_0001.flv)

Dave
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: sbwhart on May 28, 2009, 01:47:25 PM: Lovely little engine
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Stew
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Darren on May 28, 2009, 01:51:57 PM: That was quite something,

So tiny !!!! I see it ran well too...... :clap:
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Bernd 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: DavesWimshurst 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: bogstandard 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Bernd 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: CrewCab on May 29, 2009, 02:51:18 PM: :bow: Top class work guys :thumbup:

CC
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: NickG 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.
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Bernd on July 21, 2009, 03:04:22 PM: Quote from: NickG 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.

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

Bernd
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: foozer 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Mr blindbird 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...
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: sbwhart 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: John Hill on July 21, 2009, 05:25:36 PM: Amazing little machine! :thumbup:
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Weston Bye on July 21, 2009, 06:11:31 PM: Quote from: DavesWimshurst on May 28, 2009, 04:04:23 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: ChooChooMike on August 14, 2009, 03:40:58 PM: Quote from: DavesWimshurst on May 28, 2009, 04:04:23 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: Weston Bye 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.
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: DavesWimshurst 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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: ChooChooMike on August 15, 2009, 02:38:55 AM: Quote from: DavesWimshurst 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!

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
Title: Re: A tiny engine
Post by: ChooChooMike 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