Alphington Steam launch

[Lionel Connell]

Hi, I started off introducing the build of my modified Stuart 6A in the welcome section but I have decided to start again here and work through the build of the engine and then though that of my launch build which is about to start.

I modeled the entire modified 6A in Solidworks before starting any machining.



Further CAD images here:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/steam.launc ... 0141114538

Here is a link to the Lubricator for my 6A. The lubricator design is loosely based on a design by Alex Ritchie that uses Interlube mini pumps, but is a total rework. My lubricator has a two compartment tank enabling the use of cylinder oil and bearing oil within the one unit. One pump is used for cylinder oil and nine pumps are used for main, big end, little end, and cross head bearings.

There are many pictures of my engine build on my Facebook page and can be found in the Albums, I have had too spread the build across a number of albums because loading gets to slow using a single album. please see the link below for the lubricator album. I will be continually adding to the 6A build albums, the engine is almost finished and I have hundreds of photos of the build.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/steam.launc ... 5684454317



cheers

Lionel

[Lionel Connell]

Here are some pictures of making the valve gear from the reversing lever through to the Stevenson's links



Many more pictures here

https://www.facebook.com/pg/steam.launc ... 1781014374

[dampfspieler]

Hello Lionel,

very nice work. Why have you built the dies from hardened steel and not from bronze?

I have built the die at my steam engine from IGLIDUR H1.



Best Dietrich

[Lionel Connell]

The only important thing between two bearing surfaces is that one is harder that the other, in my case the Stevenson's link is hardness 40HRC and the Dies are 60HRC.

[Lionel Connell]

Hi, a few pictures of the balanced slide valves and rods



Many more pictures here

https://www.facebook.com/pg/steam.launc ... 2014207684

Cheers

Lionel

[DetroiTug]

Lionel

Very nice work!

Really gives me the bug to build another engine, but I'm bogged down in a big steam project now.

-Ron

[fredrosse]

Very nice job you are doing on this build!

"The only important thing between two bearing surfaces is that one is harder that the other."

It is also necessary to not exceed the maximum allowable bearing pressure between the surfaces, various allowable bearing pressures according to materials and service conditions are very important. Many engineering handbooks give this data according to material combinations and surface speeds, etc.

[Lionel Connell]

Thank you I am trying to make the best job of it that I can.

Yes, Fredrosse, you are quite correct, my answer regarding the bearing materials was rather simplistic, I should have said " for this application" where the the materials I have selected are far more than adequate, and, I have increased the bearing surface area of the die to double that specified on Stuarts original drawings, effectively halving the pressure. In the case of the die running on the Stevenson's link, the velocity of the sliding part is extremely low. Many people use bronze for the die, they also radius the leading edges of the die. This creates a situation where any dirt and grit that lands on the Stevenson's link with become embedded in the die and the die will be transformed into a lapping block that will soon wear away the Stevenson's link. My Hardened die will not pick up the grit, and I have been careful to not radius the leading edges of the die. Bronze bearings are great, just so long as you keep pumping oil in to stop the entry of dirt.

[Lionel Connell]

Here are some drain valves that I made for my 6A





All of the machining pictures are here:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/steam.launc ... 4957331723

[TahoeSteam]

Lionel,

The work you're doing is absolutely beautiful. I have the utmost respect for your machining ability, and your desire to make every single bit, including hardware, yourself. Hats off to you.

Question:
Do you have good patternmakers and foundries there that can make intricate iron and bronze castings?