Yes, I like those, I'd also like to have a go at a miniature Stirling engine sometime - but many other projects to come first!


Most likely along these lines is that I'd finally properly make something at the other end of the scale. About 15 years ago I built a 3m high 3m long beam atmospheric engine with a group of 10-12 year olds, to show them what used to be in the engine houses that surround us in SE Cornwall. It was hugely successful, and we showed it at several events, but we did rather cheat by powering it by a vacuum cleaner. (I was the health and safety governor at the school where we built it so thought I should be a little bit careful!) Ever since then I've wanted to try again, but actually making it steam powered - the nice thing is that it can be at VERY low pressure, but in turn this means a better piston seal than we were able to make at the time. But again, a few other jobs to come first.


You may have noticed I've kept very quiet about how those threads got damaged, I do know exactly how it happened. The machine was donated to me back when I was running the above schools' engineering club, but we had a very short window to dismantle and move it. ("If you can move it yourselves this lunchtime you can have it, otherwise it's going for scrap.") If we'd had a suitable sized three legged puller and a suitable spacer block it wouldn't have happened, what we did have was a number 4 Birmingham screwdriver. I shall say no more and move on before a hollow square is formed and my CEng is ceremoniously removed...


Anyway all sorted now, a gentle bit of drilling got rid of the mangled threads, and I found another screw on the machine which was the same size and which I could measure accurately. The biggest challenge last night was finding somewhere that sold 3/16" BSF x 3/4" cap head bolts! But they're on order now.


Coffee time over,


Cheers,


Andy

Yes, I like those, I'd also like to have a go at a miniature Stirling engine sometime - but many other projects to come first!


Most likely along these lines is that I'd finally properly make something at the other end of the scale. About 15 years ago I built a 3m high 3m long beam atmospheric engine with a group of 10-12 year olds, to show them what used to be in the engine houses that surround us in SE Cornwall. It was hugely successful, and we showed it at several events, but we did rather cheat by powering it by a vacuum cleaner. (I was the health and safety governor at the school where we built it so thought I should be a little bit careful!) Ever since then I've wanted to try again, but actually making it steam powered - the nice thing is that it can be at VERY low pressure, but in turn this means a better piston seal than we were able to make at the time. But again, a few other jobs to come first.


You may have noticed I've kept very quiet about how those threads got damaged, I do know exactly how it happened. The machine was donated to me back when I was running the above schools' engineering club, but we had a very short window to dismantle and move it. ("If you can move it yourselves this lunchtime you can have it, otherwise it's going for scrap.") If we'd had a suitable sized three legged puller and a suitable spacer block it wouldn't have happened, what we did have was a number 4 Birmingham screwdriver. I shall say no more and move on before a hollow square is formed and my CEng is ceremoniously removed...


Anyway all sorted now, a gentle bit of drilling got rid of the mangled threads, and I found another screw on the machine which was the same size and which I could measure accurately. The biggest challenge last night was finding somewhere that sold 3/16" BSF x 3/4" cap head bolts! But they're on order now.


Coffee time over,


Cheers,


Andy