So, Just how big of an engine do I need to spin this? :)

[Twmaster]

One of the ways I support myself these days is buying used treadmills and parting them out. The motors and controllers in some are great for powering smallish home shop machines. Anyhow, I bought a treadmill over the weekend that was not the usual type/brands I buy.

It actually came with a seriously studly motor. On the end of the motor was this big honking flywheel:

That's a 6" rule. It's 9" in diameter, 1-7/8" thick at the rim and 13-1/2 pounds.

So, just how much engine and steam?

 

[Maryak]

Twm,

Around 1hp.

This is where I'm coming from. http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=9060.msg97990#msg97990

Hope this helps

Best Regards
Bob

 

[Twmaster]

Bob, my question was more in jest than serious.

However, I do appreciate the answer and link. Doubt I'll ever build a beast that can swing that.

When I took the top cover off the treadmill and saw that all I could think was BIG steam engine time!!

 

[Maryak]

Mike,

OK

Around 0.75 killerwatts, ( a funny horsepower). :

Best Regards
Bob

 

[Twmaster]

.746 KW actually....

But whose counting?!!

Funny you mention 1HP.... The DC motor out of the thing is rated 1 HP continuous duty! 90V @ ~18A

 

[Blogwitch]

Mike,

You might have said it in jest, but you must really do something with it.

I have just bought a casting set with two of that size, and they cost in the UK 55 squid each, which I think converts to around 80+ bucks. So not something to be discarded or forgotten about.

This is the engine mine fits onto. This is shown with one 12" flywheel.

http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=9233.0

Bogs

 

[Twmaster]

John, be rest assured I would never toss something like this in the scrap heap. I have far too much Pack Rat in my blood for such frivolities!

And as Mr. Flemming once wrote.... "Never say Never..'

 

[wizardofwood]

200 Killerwasps should do it!
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npnZvTLMR1w[/ame]

 

[Twmaster]

Bwahhahaaaaa!

Ok, that was funny!

 

[Kaleb]

She's a big'un, If you built a steam engine with it, it would need one heck of a compressor to run it, or a huge boiler! I would go with an IC engine in that size, hit and miss diesel with a car engine injector anyone?

 

[Chazz]

It's a matter of perspective, if you want to 'spin it' as a valve handle may I suggest.................

;D

cheers,Chazz

 

[Lakc]

Is that an encoder in that hub?

 

[Twmaster]

Is that an encoder in that hub?

In a way. It's just a disk with shiny and black divisions. The treadmill controller board uses that for speed regulation with an optical sensor.

 

[Jared]

200 Killerwasps should do it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npnZvTLMR1w

Funny. But somehow "200 kilowatts" just doesn't have the same ring as "268 horsepower".

 

[Lew_Merrick_PE]

So, just how much engine and steam?

If this wasn't just a rhetorical question, http://www.scribd.com/Lew Merrick has my paper Rotational Dynamic Design Formulae that will give you the equations based on your desired spin-up time. ???