Working Model?

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Tom Waka

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May 6, 2016, 1:41:09 PM5/6/16
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Hello everyone,


    I found this group looking for steam engine designs to take to a machine shop to have built. I was curious if you fellows had made any progress since the forum posts I found from 2013. This seems like an excellent project, and I certainly hope it's been steaming along. Sorry, couldn't resist a terrible pun.



What I would like to build is a 25-HP twin-piston model, with the fly wheel located in the center. However, as I have no building experience, I am going to go ahead and hire a professional to do it. Speaking of which, if anyone here is interested in making a steam engine....





Also, do you know where to find original steam engines? The two or three I have found have been basically broken down rustbuckets, with owners who wanted $5,000+. I was hoping to find some more reasonable people out there, but most results are the little toy Jensens and such. I prefer real, working models.



Additionally, if anyone knows where a smaller steam engine/boiler is laying about, doomed for scrap, I would happily pick it up. I live in Portland, OR, but I have plenty of experience getting heavy items moved around the country.





Feel free to reply directly to my email, as I cannot promise I will remember to keep this tab open. 


Josh Jordan

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May 6, 2016, 2:19:59 PM5/6/16
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I forgot about this project.  Was going to do an engine controller.  Had to focus on paying work or I'd have been homeless.  It never ends, I have not had time for a personal project.

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Tom Waka

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May 7, 2016, 12:26:34 AM5/7/16
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Well that is disheartening! 

In any case, I have found what I was looking for. I hope this gets off the ground. Open Source is the future.

Paul Passarelli

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May 12, 2016, 8:34:19 PM5/12/16
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Which design did you choose? Might you also be interested in a miniature radial? 

It's a high speed design that fits in a 5 gallon utility bucket. 1.200" bore & stroke, 12 cyls 8.5kW nominal.

I'm going to be looking for a contract manufacturer to produce these in quantity, but would welcome an enthusiast's input during the development of the design. 


--Paul

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Jason Learned

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May 13, 2016, 8:35:02 AM5/13/16
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Sounds interesting. How are you going to lubricate the engine?

Mark Norton

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May 13, 2016, 9:17:55 AM5/13/16
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Lubrication is one of the little challenges that steam engines have.  Injecting oil is the classic solution, but leads to a lot of pollution.  Water lubrication is also possible, but greatly complicates the design of the engine.  I am told that there are modern coatings that can be applied to the piston rings that helps, but not if the engine will be used often and for long durations.

- Mark Norton

Paul Passarelli

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May 25, 2016, 1:39:29 PM5/25/16
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Pressurized oil, and scavenger pump.  

--Paul

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On Fri, May 13, 2016 at 8:35 AM, Jason Learned <jasonl...@gmail.com> wrote:
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