Paddleducks engine plans book

[ddmckee54]

I had some problems opening the DXF files in Autocad. I don't know if anyone else has, but I tracked the issue down to the Block names. The block names all started with "*B", *B0, *B1, etc. My version of Autocad didn't like this. I opened the DXF files in Notepad and did a search and replace, searching for the string *B and replacing with just B. After that I had no problem opening the DXF files.

I downloaded both the build instructions and the drawings and appreciate all the work that went into both by all involved. I intend to build this engine in the near future. Even if the engine never gets built, it's fascinating reading.

Long time lurker,
Don

 

[Blogwitch]

Ken & Don,

Many thanks for the appreciative comments.


John

 

[Troutsqueezer]

For some reason, the creator(s) of the AutoCAD file blocked everything in the drawing, including the text. It was a problem to import into AutoCAD 2010 but I was successful. Now I am spanning the parts over numerous sheets, making them larger, recoloring, re-layering, converting certain blocks back to text, adjusting the dimensioning arrows and converting to imperial. I'll probably save to a PowerPoint and R14 .dxf when I am done and post to this forum.

-Trout

 

[ddmckee54]

I've been studying the Autocad plans in preparation to build the engine. I haven't got any metric tooling so I've been redesigning the engine to fit the tooling that I do have. In the process I've found a couple of issues with the Piston Valve Block shown on the plans. I am not criticizing the authors of the plans, they put a lot of work into drawing the plans and I appreciate their efforts, I just think you should be aware of the problems.

The first issue is that from studying the prints it looks like they are suggesting that both piston valve blocks are identical when in fact they should be mirror images of each other. That's a minor issue, when you compare the prints to the build log you will see how the valve blocks are supposed to be built. The bigger issue is that the prints show the blind hole for the spool valve is made from the piston cap end of the block rather than from the packing gland end of the block. This again is not a problem as long as you compare the prints to the build log, but if you try building from the plans alone, you would be in trouble.

Again I'm not criticizing the prints, this is just FYI.
Don

 

[Blogwitch]

I mentioned when I first posted these items that I had nothing to do with the CAD items. They were in fact done by a group of students who were learning CAD, and their instructor thought it would be a good challenge for them to convert my sketches to true drawings. So I suspected they may not be 100%, hence my warning.

So if anyone does get to complete the cad drawings correctly, then I will be more than happy to upload them to replace the ones already there, and if you put your details on the drawings, you should get due recognition for your work. But unfortunately, no payment.

There is no way I am going to share the 24 cents I have earned already for the 200+ downloads (averaging about 100 a month).

I am really happy that people still think that this engine is worth building, and a good learning exercise.


Bogs

 

[kvom]

I haven't got any metric tooling so I've been redesigning the engine to fit the tooling that I do have.

One of the nice things on these plans is how almost every part was drawn with integral dimensions in mm. So for a beginner there are very few tricky measurements, and indeed few of the measurements are critical. So it's fairly easy to make variations of the engine as needed.

In my build thread, I showed how I built the engine at 1.5x scale using imperial. I calculated a standard multiplier of 1mm x 1.5 /25.4 or .059 to give an inch dimension. Since my mill has a DRO machining to this scale was just as easy as any other. I sized the cylinder and valve bores to match the closest imperial reamers, used the closest sized drill rod as needed, and the closest screw threads for fasteners.

If one has all the materials at hand, I'd guess making two at a time would require much less than 1.5x the time/effort, as milling setup makes up a good part of the workload.

All in all this is a great project engine.

 

[Troutsqueezer]

I have made some progress on the plans. They are now spread out over a number of sheets instead of all on the same sheet and each component is larger and easier to see. I have also layered the drawings to a more standardized AutoCAD format. Additionally, I have converted all the metrics to imperial. It's an ongoing process changing the threads and body drill sizes to match imperial as I am modifying those specs as I build each part. My progress on the engine is slow because I have been building three engines at once. I've changed course now and am focusing on one engine at a time so progress will speed up over the next few months.

Thanks for the heads up on the valve blocks. I'll create a mirror image and put that into the drawings.

I'll just need to finish this before I retire since I don't have AutoCAD 2010 on my home machines.

 

[user 4756]

Hi Bogs,

I tried earlier when I saw your first post about it but, being mean, I wouldn't sign up to goodness-knows-what to access it.

I'm a bit wary about what I sign up to now as I have happily done so in the past and the spam I get is ridiculous...500 - 700 spams a day!
(Administrator Julia, tell 21 yr old Svetlana to piss off, I'm too old and married)

Just downloaded the RAR version and had to download a trial version of WinZip to open; works a treat!

Many thanks!

 

[spuddevans]

BTW, I don't mind at all if someone would like to put my book onto their host and post a link to it, say in this topic. As long as it is totally free to one and all to download and no profit is made out of it.

I am in the process of making a website about my engineering projects and interests and am part-way through posting up a copy of my Paddleducks build log that is documented elsewhere on HMEM and Madmodder.

Anyway, the reason for dragging up this older thread is to mention that John has given me permission to host a copy of his plans on my site, so for anyone looking to download the plans Click here for the plans of Bogstandard's Paddleducks Marine Twin Engine.

Tim

 

[doug gray]

Here is a cut away image of the engine,it may help people get there head around the workings

 

[shred]

Here is a cut away image of the engine,it may help people get there head around the workings

That's a cool rendering.

Btw, my build log: http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=4294.0

Definitely recommended project. Gets lots of attention on the shelf and the book is great.

 

[pickstock]

has this been uploaded somwhere??
id really like to read it all

 

[spuddevans]

has this been uploaded somwhere??
id really like to read it all

I posted a link to the plans in my reply on the previous page of this thread. But here's a quote;

I am in the process of making a website about my engineering projects and interests and am part-way through posting up a copy of my Paddleducks build log that is documented elsewhere on HMEM and Madmodder.

Anyway, the reason for dragging up this older thread is to mention that John has given me permission to host a copy of his plans on my site, so for anyone looking to download the plans Click here for the plans of Bogstandard's Paddleducks Marine Twin Engine.

Tim

and my build log can be found Here

Tim

 

[pickstock]

thanks tim
i was hoping the full 'book' was somwhere?

 

[spuddevans]

thanks tim
i was hoping the full 'book' was somwhere?

It is, as quoted above, just click on the below line to download the plans.

http://www.timevanswindows.co.uk/spuddevans/images/Paddleducks.zip


Tim

 

[T70MkIII]

Hi Pickstock

Just to clarify, there is no physical book (that I know of at least). Tim's link will take you to all the available information, which is a structured agglomoration (if that's not an oxymoron) of Bogs' excellent posts and plans in relation to building this project. All the information you need, plus truly excellent tips and tricks (and a smattering of philosophy, as I seem to recall) are set out therein.

 

[pickstock]

now i just have to work out how to ipen the rar
ill read this thread later for more details

 

[pickstock]

according to my winrar the file is corrupt?

it could be that im not trying hard enough to get around it but has this problem come up? ive read in the thread about another problem but not this...

 

[spuddevans]

according to my winrar the file is corrupt?

it could be that im not trying hard enough to get around it but has this problem come up? ive read in the thread about another problem but not this...

Sorry you are having problems with it, I've just re-downloaded the file with no problems. It is a WinZip file, if you are running windows XP you should be able to open it with just windows explorer, that's how I did it.

Has anyone else had a problem opening the Zipped file?

Tim

 

[pickstock]

mmm ok this is confusing

Cheers for the help tim, ill have a play