Another Engine Build

Its coming along the base is almost done, I have gone with a 12mm thick base though I have made a couple of mistakes. You can see a chamfered top edge along the right hand side, I had to machine away my attempt at the decorative edge which didnt go too well. I ground a blunt end mill into a form tool but couldnt get it right so I have a round ended cutter on the way and I am going to put a 3mm radius around the top edge which should look ok.

The M6 tapped hole in the cylinder side and the 8mm hole in the base are the exhaust, they are shown on the left on the drawing mine are on the right..

Anyway quite pleased with the radiused seat for the cylinder that has gone well on the rotary.

Added the decorative edge to the base plate which is now finished, the edge didnt turn out too bad and I,m quite happy with it considering. Its maybe a tad heavy (3mm rad) but I had to go that size to get over my failed attempt at creating the form that Jason shows on the drawing, I think it will look ok once painted.

Should be fine, I've used a similar profile on other engines in the past.

Base looks good Ron

I need to make a similar shaped wood base for mine.

I like the undercut curve

I have a router bit with a guide roller bearing

Must give it a try, lots of time at the moment

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, how far are you on with your engine, it is certainly a nice build, enjoying mine.

Ron

Some more done.

Edited By Ron Laden on 10/05/2020 10:58:35

Edited By Ron Laden on 10/05/2020 11:03:01

These parts that you are making look very good Ron, amazed at all these lumps of material your using.Where do you get your stock of metal from as I find it a bit of a struggle to find larger sizes.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I tend to get most of my material from M-machine, great service, pricing is good and they cut to what size you want. Its priced either per foot or for larger sizes or more expensive material priced per inch. They have a vast range of material and sizes so for instance the base plate in the photo is from a 12 inch length of 4 inch x 1/2inch alu and the entablature plate is from a 12 inch of 100mm x 6mm alu which I reduced to 5mm thickness.

I also tend to buy smaller sizes of ground rod, free cutting steel, brass etc from GLR Kennions, they also offer good service though they are a bit more expensive than M-machine but they were the first supplier I used when I started and like the thought that you may be helping keep the smaller suppliers in business.

Ron

Columns assembled, just waiting for the adhesive to dry and then back on the lathe to all be faced to length. The squares are a mix of brass and aluminium, I used material from the ends/offcut box and the columns are painted so they will be fine.

Edited By Ron Laden on 11/05/2020 09:50:41

With the columns finished I assembled some of the parts to see how things were looking, seems to be going together well enough, pleased with it so far.

Turned the steel pulley this morning, I dont know what spec the steel is but remember getting it out of the offcuts bin at a machine shop I visited. Probably the nicest steel to machine that I have had to date, excellent to part off also.

You must be more than half way now Ron and all looking good.

Hi Jason,

Yes its certainly coming along, I have the valve parts to finish then make the piston, eccentric parts, bearing pedestals and conrod and I will be about there. Really enjoying the build and I have the Jowett to finish of course but thats only a prep and paint and thought I would save that and finish both together.

At this rate I could soon be looking at engine number 4..

Ron

Have you tried the Jowitt on the new compressor yet?

Ah you mean my F1 Jowitt Jason.. yes I have and it gets quite a lick on at full pressure, I will see if I can get a bit of video tomorrow. The only problem is it will have to be without sound until I get an extension airline to get the compressor out of the shop, noisy is not the word so with the compressor close by the engine would be drowned out.

Not rain stopped play but pain stopped play, somehow managed to pick up an infection in my right foot. Can only hobble around and cant stand on it for more than a couple of minutes so the shop is a no go.

Antibiotics on their way from the Doctor so hopefully full service will be resumed in a few days.

Hope you feel better soon and that will teach you to keep kicking the cat!

Thanks Jason, just so frustrating I have lots to be getting on with but little I can do sitting down which is all I can manage at the moment.

Hopefully the medication will kick in quickly.

Ron

Well the antibiotics cleared the infection but I,m still somewhat restricted my foot still has some swelling and I can only stand for about half an hour. There is only so much you can do sitting down so work on the lathe and mill has to be done in stages which is frustrating.

Anyway enough of my woes I took a pic of the parts made so far to give myself some encouragement (hopefully)

It's all looking good Ron, noted the Stubbs silver steel in the back ground, that jogged my memory and just ordered some Stubbs silver steel but I think it's made under another name.

Your flywheel wheel sets it off, I made one last week on my new rotary table, it took me at least twenty hours, so slow double checking I wasn't making a mistake, everything but came off a 9mm x 500mm x100mm blank, it would have been quicker marking it out than using the table.

Have you found your caliper gauge on the lathe helpful.

Bob