Small air power supply for engines models.

[Leonardo]

I was following this thread 3d Printed Double Acting Engine

There were some proposals about a little/cheap air power supply capable to run the engines model and I remembered that I use many years ago a 16 grams CO2 cartridge to operate a single action pneumatic cylinder to actuate as a press. I was able to obtain about 260 operation from a 16 g cartridge and about 200 from a 12 g cartridge.
The problem to use this little and cheap cartridge is that they are filled at high pressure which is around 80 BARs so it is a must to use a regulator. High pressure regulator are no a cheap thing and I payed a stupid amount of money in that opportunity for a Parker Veriflo one.

Here is where Chinese may come to help us. Nowadays it is possible to find high pressure regulators for prices as low as 15-30 dollars. They come with a 3/8"-24 UNF thread that is the one on the 16 g CO2 cartridges.

I am pasting a picture and a couple links to these products.

Hope this helps!

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3278...2!63201284451!sea&curPageLogUid=krhAJceDXQ7d.
https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3289...b0!65804344751!sea&curPageLogUid=Qj2olPqLKBmQ

 

[GreenTwin]

Somehow I missed this thread completely.

Great idea for sure.

I have been asked by many how they can run a model steam engine if they don't have an air compresor, and so this is any easy solution.

Nice.

.

 

[Leonardo]

Thank you!
It may have been that I was not able to find the right English words to write a more catching title...

Pneumatic works really well with CO2 and these little cartridge are cheap and useful in many applications.

 

[GreenTwin]

One more use.

You could use it to harden foundry sand that is bound with sodium silicate.

About a 5 second application of CO2 will harden the soduium silicate and make a nice core or mold.

.

 

[timo_gross]

Depends on size andn pressure requirement for the model. One of those aquarium air pumps might work. A soda bottle serves as buffer tank 0.5 - 2l. Drill two holes into the plastic cap, inserting two smal plastic pipes salvaged from cotton swaps and glue with hot glue.

 

[TonyM]

You can also use a normal CO2 regulator and use an adaptor.

 

[cheepo45]

I have used a pump garden sprayer to run my engines (with appropriate fittings).
I also have a California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S small quiet compressor (about $165) that works well at shows with electric power.
It is very quiet.
Scott

 

[packrat]

Use a large CO2 bottle like the fast food place has and your CO2 regulator ( was lucky to get one as my job is working with such things} the Coke man
gave me a used regulator....

 

[bluejets]

cheap air power supply capable to run the engines

We just used a spare car wheel/tyre.

 

[Bentwings]

I have a California compressor these are advertised as ultra low noise air compressors. This is true mine can be running in my hobby bed room or next room over in my small home and you can’t hear it run there is a slight purring sound in the floor that could be eliminated by setting it on a piece of carpet . It will go up to 120 psi and down to 20-15 psi with its regulator it runs my little steamer just fine the turbines take a lot more volume but it just turns on automatically harbor freight has a knock off and northern tool has their own. These are two cylinder but ultra quiet the cfm is not real high but there are larger ones if needed . My son has the largest and you barely can hear it run in the shop instead of “ old thunder machine” that deafens even outside . They won’t run an air sander but you can gang them if necessary .
I was following this thread 3d Printed Double Acting Engine

There were some proposals about a little/cheap air power supply capable to run the engines model and I remembered that I use many years ago a 16 grams CO2 cartridge to operate a single action pneumatic cylinder to actuate as a press. I was able to obtain about 260 operation from a 16 g cartridge and about 200 from a 12 g cartridge.
The problem to use this little and cheap cartridge is that they are filled at high pressure which is around 80 BARs so it is a must to use a regulator. High pressure regulator are no a cheap thing and I payed a stupid amount of money in that opportunity for a Parker Veriflo one.

Here is where Chinese may come to help us. Nowadays it is possible to find high pressure regulators for prices as low as 15-30 dollars. They come with a 3/8"-24 UNF thread that is the one on the 16 g CO2 cartridges.

I am pasting a picture and a couple links to these products.

Hope this helps!

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3278...2!63201284451!sea&curPageLogUid=krhAJceDXQ7d.
https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3289...b0!65804344751!sea&curPageLogUid=Qj2olPqLKBmQ

 

[Bentwings]

You can also use a normal CO2 regulator and use an adaptor.

I got a harbor freight ultra quiet air compressor testing on the carpet in my hobby bed room you can’t hear it run 20 feet away maybe less almost no vibration. Comes with regulator not real accurate I added my own . It will run all 5 of my model steam turbines they make mor noise than the compressor stood runs my smal double acting model steam engine on snot 30 psi it has a 120 psi rating and takes about 5 minutes to fill tank it continuous rating is not enough for heavy painting but there are several of the same type but larger still very quiet. The originals are from California air compressors if you look them up ultra low noise there are several other knock offs too.

 

[Wheat47]

A few years ago, I bought what they called a "Dental Compressor" from Amazon. I don't think it cost much over
$100. It's VERY quiet compressor. You can stand right next to it and carry on a conversation in a normal voice
with no problem. It's only got a 3–4-gallon tank, but I run only 2 or 3 mini engines at once. It's only job is for
air at the shows I attend. Rest of the time it stays in my "toy trailer" (a remodeled old goose neck horse trailer). I put
light weight "Costco" 24in. deep shelving on one side. All my stuff in in totes so it's easy to move in and out of shows.
And I don't forget the two-wheeler!!!
I think the regulator on the compressor is set at 75 PSI and I have another adjustable regulator on my display table for
the actual engine air. I rarely run the table regulator over 10 PSI as all my engines are pretty free running. I also have a water trap
just before the table regulator. Anyway, that's what works for me.

 

[raveney]

I made a super quiet air source using an old residential refrigerator compressor that was being thrown out. Bought an air pressure switch and relief valve on amazon just to be extra safe, and I use it at work to demonstrate several of the steam engines I display there. It is inside of a recycled pallet wood oak box and I can't hear it at all when its running.

I used it at my mill to blow away swarf up until I purchased one of the California quiet compressors. Nice idea if you're on a budget