I need some advice/suggestions to get me started! Thanks!

[firebirdgangsta]

So here's the deal, I'm really interested in this fun that you guys have on here with your projects. I am a machinist and I've worked as one for a little while, but now I'm working as a teacher's assistant in the CNC/Manual machine shop class at the community college out here. It's one of those classes where you learn the most when you work with your own ideas and be creative. But it seems like there's never enough challenging/rewarding projects to do. So I found blueprints for the Boll Aero 1.8cc "diesel" engine that I found a while back while researching model engines. I took a gander at the prints and it's easier to build than I expected. So I believe I've found a good class project to work on with the students.

That little engine is a great project, but there's obviously many other engine designs out there. The class has worked on crap compressed air engines and over-complexified sterling engines in the past but they never get anywhere impressive with them.

I myself am more of a diesel person. I drive a 1984 Mercedes 300D with an I5 turbo diesel (OM617.951). That's why I like these little "diesels" such as that Boll Aero I mentioned. They seem reasonably simple compared to "spark" or "glow" engines. I've seen some other designs that I'd like to find prints for. One being a 3 cyl radial diesel. It seems like a good project. An example would be one of Ronald Valentine's "Taifun" radial engines. I've looked everywhere and I can't find prints for it. I also like boxer, and inline designs. (compressed air versions too) I'd actually love to find prints for a Wankel engine also.

If you guys could give me some suggestions for some other good ones (they don't have to be diesel) that we could use as projects, I would greatly appreciate it! Also any books or other resources would be awesome.

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[deverett]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Have a look at Jan Ridders' site. He has many different designs of various types of engine. The site is in Dutch language, but there is a button that will give you an English language version on each page. The designs are all free, just send him an email with a request for which design you would like to try.
http://heetgasmodelbouw.ridders.nu/

Another popular site is John-Tom. The designs are all freely downloadable directly from the site.
http://www.john-tom.com/

How about searching through the downloads section of this forum?

For many of the design from my suggestions, you will find a build log by previous builders here.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

 

[firebirdgangsta]

Thanks! I've just been looking at those sites. Good stuff!

 

[firebirdgangsta]

So it's been a nightmare trying to find decent prints for the types of engines I like. Yes I'm picky I know. It sucks how most of these model engine designs are kept secret by the designers just to make their $800 or so by selling them. What if I just want to build the damn thing?? lol It would be a miracle if I could find plans for one of these. http://www.ronald-valentine-engines.com/48_Taifun_3_Cylinder.html

I did find the Potty 3 cylinder prints on here but that's for compressed air. I wish I had the skill to upscale it and make it a compression ignition engine.

 

[dave-in-england]

You're a machinist ......... Why don't you design and make your own engine ???

scratch.gif:

 

[cwelkie]

If you haven't found Ron Chernich's site yet it's worth a look ...

http://modelenginenews.org/

His membership dvd purchase includes access to a number of drawings for 16 small IC engines many of them "diesel".

 

[rcfreak177]

If you guys could give me some suggestions for some other good ones (they don't have to be diesel) that we could use as projects, I would greatly appreciate it! Also any books or other resources would be awesome.

Thanks for your help guys!

Here you go, follow this link

http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/f16/great-book-model-engine-machinist-21805/

I have previously recommended a great book in regards to operation, designing, machining and building IC engines of many different styles.

Specifically for hobbyist's

Baz

 

[GailInNM]

Matt,
Even if you could find plans to one of Valentines engines it would probably not do you any good. They are very small and would require tolerances that would be near impossible for a student to work to. Even if doubled in linear dimensions they would be at the lower limit for most model engineers. Compression ignition model engines require very close piston/cylinder fits. A bore of about 1/2 inch would be the smallest that I would recommend for beginners.

That being said, here are plans for an engine that I designed a few years ago and published as the development and construction thread here on HMEM. It's not a great beginners engine because of 's size, but it might give you some ideas. Besides mine thare have been about half a dozen of these built. A couple of them by novices to IC engines and they had to do some rework on some of the parts to get the fits to where they would run properly.
Gail in NM


For the build thread:
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/f31/lobo-pup-twin-1-6-cc-diesel-5207/

Go to post 232 for additional photos of finished engine.

Click on photo for Zip files of plans in several different formats:


Lobo 1.6 cc twin cylinder 2 stroke diesel


http://cdn.homemodelenginemachinist.com/images/2/4/7/thumb3_1277187252assy10.jpg

 

[firebirdgangsta]

Why don't I design my own? Good question. I lack the proper math skills to devise an engine. That's why books are appreciated. So I'll be checking those links out. Thanks! I just need the proper formulas to work out things like stroke length etc.

Gail, I've actually just started with a couple of students on making the 1.6 twin. Very good prints I must say! Thanks! I'll be starting another thread once we are more into making these projects. But tolerances aren't much of an issue for us. Thankfully we have several newer CNCs to work with. (including Haas, Mazak, and Hurco mills. And a Hardinge 3 axis lathe. We're getting 3 new machines within the year) I try to get them to hold tolerance to within a about .0005 or less for learning purposes.

The reason I'm so excited about making these engines is because they're perfect for learning most critical processes in manufacturing. The class has gotten to the point where all the students ever do is these random little "art projects." e.g. a 2D emblem for an MG Midget. They just engrave, and cut out. Nothing complex. All pretty much single pieces. They don't learn to keep tolerance from that...

I'll be letting you all know about our progress!