I want to build---

[Brian Rupnow]

Well, that's the question, isn't it. I don't really know WHAT I want to build. I've got engines out the ying yang, both air/steam and internal combustion. I have thought about a flame licker, but nahhh--that doesn't really do it for me. Really, I would rather build something else for my engines to drive. Its just that I'm running out of things that are interesting to watch and small enough to drive with a small engine. I've got the slinky machine, the pump, the nodding donkey oilfield pump, the pile driver, the bubble machine, the sawmill, the Jacobs ladder ball elevator, the clockwork mechanism, the multiple gearing mechanism, and the steam donkey winch with the twin engines on it. None of my engines are powerful enough to run a circular saw, which kind of lets out the possibility of a buzz saw. I don't want something that merely goes around like a Ferris wheel. I'm stuck for ideas. I prefer something that doesn't require human intervention---the sawmill is very interesting to watch, but it requires my involvement to rewind the carriage and set the saw over to cut another board.---I'm open for suggestions.---Brian

 

[Maxx]

A mini hay or cotton baler?
That would be interesting and intricate.
I have never seen one yet but I am new to the mini world.

 

[dnalot]

I was considering an unusual gear motion such as this one

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aobPgGzB-U"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aobPgGzB-U[/ame]



Mark T

 

[Cogsy]

I have an idea, it might be a little similar to your ball elevator, and I have no idea how it would work but I'd like to see it...

Something like a golf club that either gets drawn back and released, or goes full circle, slowly for the most part, but quickly when it strikes a ball. The ball is driven up an inclined track, then returns via a separate ramp for re-hitting.

Sounds simple, but you could incorporate some other mechanism that would be driven incrementaly by the struck or returning balls. I'm thinking a Rube Golberg type machine here.

 

[Lawijt]

A gas turbine is a good idea.

Barry

 

[Generatorgus]

I've never seen a sleeve valve model IC, could be a serious challenge.
Just an idea I've been bumping around.
GUS

 

[Ed]

How about a traction engine. This is on my list right after the HasBrouck #3 I'm working on now.Or a steam train. Ed

 

[jwcnc1911]

My vote is for a small gas powered terminator style robot with bubble blowing guns.

What?! I grew up in the 80's.

 

[aonemarine]

My vote is for a small gas powered terminator style robot with bubble blowing guns.

What?! I grew up in the 80's.

LOL thats pretty funny

How about some mechanism that does nothing but move something from one spot to another only to have to do it again?
Im kinda thinking of something like a water pump (bucket type) on a ferris wheel to move water to the top of a slide, dump it in one shot, then have it drain down thru a funnel, spin a pin wheel, fill a cantileverd bucket that dumps when full ect ect and just does it over and over and over????

 

[gmac]

..... an engine dynamometer;

Torque Cradle
http://gallery.intlwaters.com/displayimage.php?album=351&pos=0

or Hydraulic
http://gallery.intlwaters.com/thumbnails.php?album=338

Go early style
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Britannica_Dynamometer_9.jpg

From this forum
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/f14/small-engine-dyno-4031/index2.html

Cheers Garry

 

[ShopShoe]

PumpJack or other device with oddball gearing. See "Gearwheels from Hell" on Museum of Retro Technology. Now that you've made spur gears you can find more self-torture:

http://www.aqpl43.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/POWER/gear/gear.htm

This film was linked here at HMEM a while back and has lots of interesting motions that might be incorporated in something:

http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/f14/mechanical-movement-film-12811/

Regards

--ShopShoe

 

[OrangeAlpine]

How about going back to the gas engine beginning, when inventors had no idea what would work or what they were doing. Find something that you think will run and make it.

You might start by looking here:
http://douglas-self.com/

There are some some wild and crazy (also interesting) ideas out there.

Bill

 

[110samec]

How about a marine engine and boat for it to drive? That would be interesting and very satisfying to use

 

[Brian Rupnow]

I really don't have the equipment to make "oddball" gears. Any kind of generator is rather boring, mechanically--it just rotates like a Ferris wheel. I kind of like the Killer Robot idea, but that may be a bit beyond my current capabilities------Hay balers and binders are very complex, but again, the actual process of baling and binding just isn't scaleable. I like the model machines I build to actually be able to do whatever it is they represent.----Brian

 

[canadianhorsepower]

Build a 2 stroke engine and get it to burn Perfume
I did it once with a chain saw burning Chanel #5

cheers

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Luc--I've smelled some of the loggers out of northern Quebec.--Sure wasn't Channel #5 that I smelled!

 

[canadianhorsepower]

Brian
didn't say the logger but the saw.
I used to go at carnaval in the lumber jack event
and putting diesel fuel instead of oil for the chain Rof}Rof}Rof}

after the event when everybody was inside for lunch
it would smell diesel so bad , and it was so funny to listen
to people

" I'm not the one smelling like diesel ....... you do "Rof}Rof}Rof}

btw the crank is all done working on the valve cage were you able to see Gus video

 

[Brian Rupnow]

No--I joined Facebook this morning just so I could see it and the darned thing isn't there.

 

[petertha]

How about a small scale, benchtop model size planishing hammer or english wheel?? Ive seem some jewel like scale miniature lathes, milling machines even a surface grinder, but this might be quite rare. Plus you could actually make use of it on future projects.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4hwWpthyoE[/ame]


There is some crazy nice model sheet metal work out there.
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/showthread.php?11244-1-20-scale-Aluminum-WW2-ELCO-PT-Boat

 

[Brian Rupnow]

I'm beginning to get a flickering of an idea in my mind---If you seen the video I posted of the Rupnow engine driving the ball elevator, you probably seen all the steel balls that were being elevated. I managed to salvage (Pick out of a garbage barrel) 3 large industrial bearings that contain 16 ball bearings, 11/16" in diameter. I used a dozen or so on the ball elevator. I have about 36 balls left. I am (supposedly) an automation specialist. If I were to design an engine driven device to pick up the balls one at a time and load them into an empty container--and then automatically shift and pick them up from the newly filled container and load them back into the first container--and keep shifting back and forth automatically with no human intervention--that would be NEAT!!!