At last I managed an hour in the workshop - Seal engine time!
Well I felt well enough to spend some time in the workshop today so I attacked the cylinder block casting for the Seal 15cc petrol engine build. I decided to fly cut the top and bottom of the casting and by using a set of 1,2,3 blocks, managed to take off enough metal to just clean them up.
When checking the height on the new granite surface plate (Christmas present form my son Adam and his fiance, Jemma) I was pleased to see that it measured the same wherever a reading was taken from. The casting has not been finished to size but I now have a reference point and by using an angle plate I will be able to clean up the two ends. Not much, but it is a start! A couple of photo’s to show what I mean.
Start of a new project - building the Seal 4 cylinder 15cc engine
Started today by measuring all the castings and taking notes of the tolerances. I was surprised at the amount they allow. Also laminated anything that moved so it will last the time needed to build the engine.
The only metal work done was to take a skimming cut of some steel bar for the camshaft blank. I wanted to start with perhaps the most difficult part, the camshaft. I didn’t feel well enough to tackle the castings, even with the large tolerances allowed for machining.
It is a start though! I haven’t put a timescale (other than the end of the year) on the build but it is the priority project for the year. Enough writing -here are a couple of photo’s.
The first one shows the amount of ’spare’ casting…..
The second is the start of the camshaft by skimming the bar which will become the blank….
If machining camshafts worries you, help is now at hand!
Yes its true, and its free! If machining camshafts has stopped you from ever starting to build an internal combustion engine, then help is at hand, in the shape of Steve Huck. He won’t like me saying it be he is something of a whizz when it comes to small camshafts. Indeed he is about to be published in a major model engineering magazine, with an article on camshaft machining.
You can have a sneak preview, and even download his article now. But Steve hasn’t stopped there. He wants to build up an open library of cutting tables for many of the most popular (or even one offs) engines. If you are prepared to send him the plan of the cam and the relevant dimensions he will produce a cutting table for you. Taking all of the mystery out of producing a good working camshaft.
Email me at mike@mikes-models.com if you want to know more. There is also a page now on my website which will be updated from time to time.
Steve is going to make a cutting table for my Seal build (Edgar T Westbury’s 4 cylinder, 15cc petrol engine) and that table will be available on my website for other Seal builders, when its completed.
The photo below shows the standard of Steve’s work.
Steve Huck's finished camsahft
Finished the stock storage so we can now start building engines!
Finished the stock storage system today so tomorrow we can start the 15cc Westbury seal engine but here is a picture of the finished storage rack. I was surprised at how much stock I had and also some items I didn’t know I had. Here it is. It will not win any cabinet makers prizes but it is functional!
Storage facility for stock metal
About to start work on the 4 cylinder 15cc Seal engine
Cylinder block casting for 15cc Seal Engine
I have done nothing other than dust off the plans, open the box of castings and make preparations for rolling up the sleeves but I am really looking forward to starting! There should be something to report tomorrow………
I have to get a move on as my younger (he looks 10 years older!)brother is building his first large scale model, which is the Fairey Huntsman. I need to keep the pressure on him!
Happy New Year to you all!
Happy New Year to all my readers. Its been a good Christmas and I at last have been able to get back into the workshop today for the first time so there will be a few posts later.
Happy new year.
Merry Christmas to one and all
Well I have to apologise I am a little behind with my reporting of work done in the garage. I have had three sessions resulting in the near completion of the Fowler ash pan and since I will be confined to barracks for a couple of days, please bear with me. Something to do with Christmas!
I would like to give best wishes to all the visitors of my Blog and website http://www.mikes-models.com Seasons greetings to you and yours.
Mike
Engine design in CAD - Progress Report
I will post more on this design later but its shuch a pretty picture I though I would share it now!
I am now going to try and get line drawings from the 3D and see if I can actually build one from the drawing board as it were. Funny how it doesn’t appear in my plans for next year! So can I do it before the 1st January 2009? Don’t be daft!
My first attempt at designing an engine
Current progress with engine design
copyright 2008 M W Freeman
(just in case its a world beater!) If it works I will put the plans into a PDF for anyone to build (for personal use only). I would ssuggest you wait and see if it works first!
Congratulations to a fellow engineer!
May I congratulate Bob for his model engine build. As some of you may know I belong to a model engine forum that is both active and friendly to both novice and expert alike.
My only claim to some fame with Bobs great engine is he kindly mentioned he was encouraged to build his first engine when reading my Mills diesel engine build on my website. The fact that Bobs engine runs far better than mine is swiftly swept under the carpet.
Another nice touch from Bob is a video of the engine running (see below) in which he names the supporters of his build from the forum. Look out for Metal Mickey……thats me……..
Seriously though, well done Bob. An excellent build. If you want to read all about Bobs engine build click here.There are a lot of photo’s as well so if you are considering building an ic engine then following Bobs build is highly recommended!