Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: Stilldrillin on April 07, 2019, 04:18:19 pm

Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 11, 2019, 06:08:16 pm: excellent work they're David, it's so silky smooth and clean and sharp, extremely nice presentation.
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Stilldrillin on April 11, 2019, 04:00:47 pm: Thanks for all your kind replies, Chaps!

Most of my show days, are seen by the "ordinary" public, at Papplewick Pumping Station.
Most of them understand steam engines. But, often, they have never come across stirling cycle engines.

Many are very surprised, how rapidly the expand/ contract cycle operates.
This engine, with it's visible displacer, and 1200rpm should answer a few questions.......
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Nick on April 11, 2019, 12:59:44 am: David, you are the Best when it comes to building and fine-tuning hot air engines. Thank You for sharing your work with us :)

Wish I could join you at the Easter Monday show in person!
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: classixs on April 08, 2019, 01:07:17 pm: Great job on that, very well done David !
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Swift Fox on April 08, 2019, 09:33:26 am: Nice build David, that is a great smooth runner after the tweaks!
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: kevin on April 08, 2019, 06:51:50 am: top quality build as always :)
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: txlabman on April 07, 2019, 09:28:39 pm: I love it when a plan comes together David.

A great outcome.

Congratulations on an excellent build!
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Jim on April 07, 2019, 08:07:47 pm: Very nice job on that David and its running so very smoothly.
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: RedRyder on April 07, 2019, 05:55:52 pm: David, you've really got that one dialed in!

Your workmanship looks awesome, too!

Thank you for sharing it here.

Gil
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: crazydoug on April 07, 2019, 05:31:08 pm: excellent work and a great runner. I have only built one hot air engine (1/2 scale essex). It was from a casting kit and still challenged my skill level to finally get it running. I am super impressed!
crazydoug
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Stilldrillin on April 07, 2019, 04:40:39 pm: Rog, Stoker.
Thanks for your kind replies.
It's a good feeling, when it all comes together. And, it actually works, as hoped for. :D
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Stoker on April 07, 2019, 04:30:30 pm: Definitely smooooooooth as glass now ... nice work you've done to get it to this point!
Title: Re: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: IndianaRog on April 07, 2019, 04:25:16 pm: David, that turned out to be a gorgeous piece of work. Love the adjustable weights within the flywheels and that wooden plinth really sets it off. Runs like a Singer!!

Roger
Title: OPITEC, Hot Air Engine.......
Post by: Stilldrillin on April 07, 2019, 04:18:19 pm: Hi Chaps.

As many of you know, I have built my own version of the OPITEC, hot air engine kit.....

(https://i.postimg.cc/5t9vPGWg/IMG_20181108_193138430.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Used, ball race main and big end bearings. Solid alloy displacer......

(https://i.postimg.cc/XYB04ztQ/IMG-20190405-110955-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/mDBx32k5/IMG-20190405-111045-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

I decided, balancing slots. Instead of holes. In the flywheels.

The piston side was balanced nicely.....

(https://i.postimg.cc/N0hvMxcY/IMG-20190405-111029-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

The solid aluminium displacer was too heavy. The engine whizzed around the table top. Like a mad thing.

I inserted a 10mm brass "bead", with a 1mm hole through. This made it jump up n down!

Gradually opening the hole, lightened the bead. Balancing the vibrations to negligible.......

(https://i.postimg.cc/vmWF66Yn/IMG-20190405-110914-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Runs nicely, and smoothly.......

https://youtu.be/pJ-KlmMTI5k

All ready for it's first show, on Easter Monday.