Finally, I get it!

[dgjessing]

For years I've been pretending to know how Stirling engines work, but it was a lie... I really didn't understand : But yesterday, thanks to this: http://www.steamengine.com.au/index.php/stirling/how-it-works/85-how-stirling-engines-operate--work it finally "clicked" with me! I think I was confused by all those glass test tubes and what-not used for the displacer cylinders... I assumed that the displacer "piston" and cylinder were like any other piston and cylinder - it did not dawn on me that they were not a tight fit; not what I expected. So anyway, a Stirling is next on the list for me

In other news, the four-jaw chuck for my mini-lathe arrived today. After an hour or so of fooling around with it I can predict with full confidence that it's going to be really handy!

 

[mklotz]

Congratulations on your new found understanding and on your new chuck. Re the latter, you may want to read this...

http://www.schsm.com/html/centering_work_in_the_four_jaw.html

 

[dgjessing]

Thanks for the link, Marv! This evening I made two stubby little chuck wrenches for it from rebar (built-in knurling ). I also did a better carriage lock for the mini lathe (one that pulls the carriage down, instead of pushing it up) and have been playing around making rectangles. I'm able to make a 2" square piece faced off on both sides that is even in thickness to about .001". I'm pleased