- Joined
- Sep 13, 2010
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 1
Hi,
I am a student of industrial design and this last semester I was assigned a project to make a miniature steam engine of some sort in a class about learning to operate a mill and lathe. Woblers have been the only working engines made previously in this class. Rather ambitiously I chose to make a 3 cylinder radial from a design I found here on this website. I had no idea never having used a mill and lathe what I was getting into... but... I finished a working model and learned more then I bargained for in the process.
I spent a ridiculous amount of time making it, I am sure most of you would take far less time but remember I have never used a mill or a lathe before or worked with metal. Removing broken HSS drill bits... ummm yay I'm learning? So many mistakes and blunders I cant count or remember them all. Nothing good comes from giving up though, so I pressed on confidant that someone somewhere had made this thing and maybe I could too. Actually that someone is HMEM member sbwhart who I want to give a huge thanks to for posting his plans and sharing his worklog here. His video of his much more beautiful 3 cylinder engine running was in the back of my mind as I learned what a rotary table was etc.
I am very proud of my achievement and just wanted to finally post here since I used this site as a valuable resource to get the project done. Thanks for the amazing portal to this hobby. I couldn't have done it and wouldn't have even tried to if I hadn't found this website when I first went looking for steam engine plans.
And a little video of it running here http://picasaweb.google.com/kenhatch/LastDayOfTermUpload?authkey=Gv1sRgCKmW5PzA-dC7xgE#5551823464631459986, sorry its like the worst movie ever but I am new to this whole thing and just wanted proof in case the sky fell in that I finished my project. More, better, latter...
And again, THANK YOU!!!!
Oh yeah, I got an A. You all can claim a little part of it for sharing your passion with the rest of the internet.
I will post more in the pics and vids section, and eventually a work log in the finished projects section. Its not done the exterior surfaces are in some cases rough, but it functions properly and is 98% complete. And I am tired. 3 day nap is coming on I can feel it...
I am a student of industrial design and this last semester I was assigned a project to make a miniature steam engine of some sort in a class about learning to operate a mill and lathe. Woblers have been the only working engines made previously in this class. Rather ambitiously I chose to make a 3 cylinder radial from a design I found here on this website. I had no idea never having used a mill and lathe what I was getting into... but... I finished a working model and learned more then I bargained for in the process.
I spent a ridiculous amount of time making it, I am sure most of you would take far less time but remember I have never used a mill or a lathe before or worked with metal. Removing broken HSS drill bits... ummm yay I'm learning? So many mistakes and blunders I cant count or remember them all. Nothing good comes from giving up though, so I pressed on confidant that someone somewhere had made this thing and maybe I could too. Actually that someone is HMEM member sbwhart who I want to give a huge thanks to for posting his plans and sharing his worklog here. His video of his much more beautiful 3 cylinder engine running was in the back of my mind as I learned what a rotary table was etc.
I am very proud of my achievement and just wanted to finally post here since I used this site as a valuable resource to get the project done. Thanks for the amazing portal to this hobby. I couldn't have done it and wouldn't have even tried to if I hadn't found this website when I first went looking for steam engine plans.
And a little video of it running here http://picasaweb.google.com/kenhatch/LastDayOfTermUpload?authkey=Gv1sRgCKmW5PzA-dC7xgE#5551823464631459986, sorry its like the worst movie ever but I am new to this whole thing and just wanted proof in case the sky fell in that I finished my project. More, better, latter...
And again, THANK YOU!!!!
Oh yeah, I got an A. You all can claim a little part of it for sharing your passion with the rest of the internet.
I will post more in the pics and vids section, and eventually a work log in the finished projects section. Its not done the exterior surfaces are in some cases rough, but it functions properly and is 98% complete. And I am tired. 3 day nap is coming on I can feel it...
