Eyes

[Powder keg]

Does anyone have any idea how to bend some nice looking eyes in some wire? I'd like to build a small stirling motor and I'm thinking of using some wire for the con rods? If I can get them to look nice:O)

Thanks, Wes

 

[Davyboy]

Hi Wes, I used .045 MIG welding wire for my stirling engine crank and rods. Straighten the wire as much as possible. I put a 3/16 dowel in the vise, used two pliers to form a loop in the middle of a long ( 8" )piece of wire. One turn. Then I cut one end short of the overlap. Use a needle nose to bend the loop back to center on the long end. Make several, it only takes minutes, and a little practice, to get a good one. The White piece is a Delrin bearing I made to secure everything in place. I wanted to hold the 'eye' on location, note the groove in the bearing, and also helps avoid a real tight bend in the wire 'eye'. No plans just try it til it seems right.

A picture of the assembly. Power piston 1/4" stroke in center, displacer rod on right.

Hope this helps. Davyboy

 

[shred]

Frank Ford has a cool tool to bend hooks: http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Machining/Projects/HookBender/hookbender.html

 

[Brass_Machine]

Frank Ford has a cool tool to bend hooks: http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Machining/Projects/HookBender/hookbender.html

That is cool. I was looking for a good way to do something similar

Cheers
Eric

 

[Powder keg]

Hey, I forgot about Franks site.

Davyboy, That's perfect! That's exactly how I want it to look:O) do you have any more pictures of that engine? how does it run?

Later, Wes

 

[mklotz]

For larger sizes (say >= 1/2" OD), I use a home built jig almost identical to Frank's.

For smaller sizes, jewelry supply houses sell pliers made expressly for forming loops - jewelers make lots of loops in wire. One plier jaw is cylindrical with three or four different diameters available. The other jaw has a matching concave surface that automates the process of bending the wire into a loop.

 

[Davyboy]

Hi Wes, I just posted a new photo, search for Simple Simon. That engine is out of order just now.

That is some cool stuff on Frank Ford's website.