Stirling Fan

[idahoan]

Let me see if I can add the rest of the pictures!

Dave

 

[doc1955]

Thanks guy for the info I was thinking the slots in the hub would have to be cut on a radius to the same as the blades would be formed to. I did plan on cutting them together haven't obtained the material for them as of yet plans call for I think .031 brass. Anyway I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I worked the end pieces for the displacers.

Turned up end dia and the od. Also drilled the .125 dia hole for the connection rod.

Then I had grind up a treepan tool to cut the under cut.

Turned part around in the lathe and drilled the larger weight relief counter bore and faced to proper length.

Next time I'll be working on the power cylinders.

Thanks again guys for checking in and the tips.
I think I'll get some .031 brass and do a little practice silver soldering.


PS Wow I like your essex fan Dave she is beautiful!

 

[idahoan]

Thanks Doc

I don't want to hijack your thread; so this will be brief.

The Essex is really an interesting engine; the hot cap is the piston and the piston is inverted. I made a few changes to the plans to suit my tastes.
I changed the blades to look more like the original that I have pictures of. Also the main engine casting was modified to look more like the original fan.

Thanks again,
Dave

Here is a picture of the piston/hotcap assembly and the displacer piston

 

[shred]

Looks good. Fan blades are one spot you can get pretty creative on the fans.

This is what I did on my mini after seeing an old electric fan from the 30's with a blade design from an 1898 patent:

 

[doc1955]

Nice job on the blades Shred!


Well got a little done here is what I got.

Grabbed a piece of material and cut up 2 blocks squared them up and laided them out

Notches on sides cut ready to go to lathe or mill and drill and bore the cylinder bore.

Decided to put them in a 4jaw chuck and do them on the lathe.

Ok bores are done except for lapping to be done last. Now to turn up a mandrel and turn the cooling fins.

Got mandrel turned and first part mounted and ready to start.

The spookiest slot cut the first one because it is up against the base of cylinder the rest will be a piece of cake.

One down one to go going smoothly for a change.

Drill mounting holes.

I knew it was to good to be true. Slight miscalculation on my part. I wanted to leave outside of cylinder square to have just a tad bit more cooling surface. But as you see the screws need to have more clearance.

No problem took a ball end mill and relieved the bottom 3 fins slightly and still have that little extra cooling surface.

Done except for the lapping.
Haven t decided what to work next. Still want to get some practice in on silver soldering some .031 brass to see how it goes.

 

[Deanofid]

You just keep on putting out good parts, Doc. Things are looking great!

Dean

 

[arnoldb]

Doc, :bow: - I'll just echo Dean!

Regards, Arnold

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Dean and Arnold.

I'm going to have to get an order sent in for some .031 stock.
I'll have to look around for a good price and then get a pastern made. I was thinking of using double back tape to tape the pieces together before machining them. Anyway I need to get on the ball and get some material ordered.
Thanks again guys for checking in and the comments they are appreciated it's like I'm not alone in this venture with that thanks!

 

[Deanofid]

Doc, your local hobby shop will probably have .031 stock in aluminum, brass, and copper. Look for the K&S metal display. Most of those displays have it in sheets up to 4"x8".

Dean

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Dean
We unfortunately don't have a hobby shop in this town.
I think I will send off an order to Mcmaster for it they have 6 x 25 for under $15.00
I order things from them a lot at work. I did lay out the blade profile here at work at noon and will plot full size and double tape it to the top piece and cut them out. It should work out fine.

 

[doc1955]

Well I placed an order for the .031 brass stock 6 X 25 ordered 2 pieces the price came to $27
right after I ordered I remembered I was going to order some delrin.

I didn't get any shop time the last few days had a funeral I had to attend on Saturday in Bismarck. My cousin passed away a month after she was diagnosed with pancreas cancer she was only 62.

I need to get back out in the shop to keep me from thinking about it.
Anyway when I get back in the shop going to work on the crank. I sure like this message board and the people on it! There are a lot of beautiful machining projects going on!

 

[Deanofid]

So sorry to hear about your cousin, Doc. She was young!
Keep busy. Best thing you can do, I suppose.

I never know what to say in these instances.
Again, sorry Doc.

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

My sincere sympathy Doc.
That was awful fast even for pancreatic cancer.

 

[Maryak]

Doc,

My condolences to you and your family on the loss of your cousin.

Best Regards
Bob

 

[b.lindsey]

So sorry to hear of your loss Doc. Sometimes the quiet solitary time in the shop can be good therapy.

Bill

 

[doc1955]

Thanks guys!

 

[doc1955]

Well got back out into the shop for a little while and turned up the crank disks.

Had a drop end piece 17-4 stainless just waiting to be used.

Turned up the little dia on the face and drilled and reamed the center hole ready to be parted off.
Just a note I know there has been talk of parting off troubles but I personally have found the closed you can get to the chuck or collet when doing so the better results you will have.

Then it was on to the mill. Here I took and made up a little holding fixture. I pined 2 disks together with the small dia facing outward and clamping them down. Then made sure everything was setting flat and dialed in the od and moved off the throw distance and drilled the rod journal holes.

Then it was back to the lathe to drill the crank pins.

After parting off and getting over all length and turning both end dia I drilled the through hole.

Here they are put together only temp I need to get the rod done so I can assemble them for real.

So I think it will be the rods done next.

 

[doc1955]

Well while I was watching the ballgame I modeled up the connecting rod wanted to get some dimensions to aide in the making.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdFX6L1WsHU[/ame]

 

[ksouers]

Hey Doc, I like those toe clamps. I'll have to remember that little trick.

 

[Deanofid]

I like those clamps too, Doc. They're now on "The List", (which has become a monster).
The cranks discs came out nice!

Dean