Tuesday 11 January 2011

My version of Elmers Wooden Beam Engine

I got inspired and decided I would give my father a home made present this (last) year.  So I decided to make my version of the Elmer's Wooden Beam Engine.  The wood I used was Mountain Ash, which is an Australian hardwood.  The finish is just a rub down of linseed oil.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5268442632_fc31c4e98d.jpg


My version uses a flywheel made out of metal (aluminium actually).  This was cut on the CNC mill.  Here is a close-up of the crank shaft.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5268441590_0f9bcb4834.jpg


I also used a steel connecting rod.  I used a ball end mill to give it a cruciform cross-section.  Here is a longer shot - I pretended to be a blacksmith and forged the ends of the stay rods for a bit of whimsy.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5268441376_9c64a23fa3.jpg


The cylinder was made from cast iron.  The center piece was tuned on the lathe, and the top and bottom caps where done on the CNC mill.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5267832307_fc4e154aa5.jpg


Here is the other side. The valve housing was turned from mild steel on the lathe.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5268442204_f5324414cd.jpg


Here is a better shot of the valve gear.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5267830671_d423154057.jpg


Here is a shot of the cylinder end of the beam.


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5268442002_4136b8a80e.jpg


Video to follow...