The Contraption 2.0

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:12 pm

Hehâ€¦ funny you should mention that type of seal. Would you believe I did th eCNC work on a mold to press ceramic seals? A carbide/Ceramic blend actually. Little butterfly shaped ones that I was told went into Price Pfister Faucets. They used a spring to back them up as well. It tripped me out to find out how much shrinkage there is with powered metals. Something like 48%â€¦ it was insane to see a green one and a fired one side by side and realize that they were the same piece. I argued with the guy at first, thinking he was tyring to hoo-doo me.

But I digressâ€¦

Iâ€™m going to machine up a little Teflon doo-hickey to hopefully put a stop to this little bit of troublesomeness. Teflon is recommended for steam and high temp situations. Iâ€™ll take pics as I do itâ€¦ really I will. I figure as long as Iâ€™ve got the heads apartâ€¦

After looking at things closely, I opted for your JB weld solution, Mozy. No need to plug the port because the channels in the brass head plate that lead to each cylinder needed to be plugged anyway. I just mixed up a bunch of that stinky JB goop and packed it in there. Iâ€™ll machine it down flush and drill/tap my pipe threads into the plate tomorrow evening. When Iâ€™m done, steam will go directly to the valve and then into the piston.

In the meantime, I went out and fired the boiler again. Iâ€™m getting my head wrapped around it more and more and am really thinking that it can do a reliable job of providing steam to the engine. I need to tweak a bit here and there, but it seems to be able to produce a steady pressure with a minimum of fiddling. I ran it for probably half an hour.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:28 pm

I would think Devcon aluminum or titanium would be superior.
I have heard of a mix made purposely for valves by ford.
Schnee-morehead may have something nice.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:37 pm

With the rotation of the valves, I'm feeling teflon to be a good fit, and its something I've worked with before in similar situations. Plus its what's handy.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:38 am

Trying to send a picture

http://community.webtv.net/unjonharley/doc

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:58 am

Uh oh... looks like there must be a plan behind those sprockets and bearings!!

Do tell!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:32 pm

http://community.webtv.net/unjonharley/doc

They were'nt doing much good laying on the table,. So I added an axel and a couple wheels.. Then a short frame .. the frame extention is laying there..

http://community.webtv.net/unjonharley/doc0

Next I will have to see how good I am with the bender..

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:18 pm

Now there's a use for a torch cart...

Just taking a break from working... back to it now.

karine · Post by **karine** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:43 am

Hey Unjohn - I speak from experience when I say this : cool sprockets laying around work tables tend to be the birth of new contraptions!

Yeah - but YOU knew that ! ;)

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:13 am

karine wrote:Hey Unjohn - I speak from experience when I say this : cool sprockets laying around work tables tend to be the birth of new contraptions!

Yeah - but YOU knew that !

It's dangerous to leave sprockets around, WAY DANGEROUS I TELL YA! One innocent looking sprocket can lead to long discussions, brainstorming sessions, quick depletion of checking accounts, welding smoke, and an increasing desire to find more cool sprockets.

Not that I'm complaining...I'm just reiterating the warning for the unprepared among us.....

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:51 am

Kinetic V wrote: It's dangerous to leave sprockets around, WAY DANGEROUS I TELL YA! One innocent looking sprocket can lead to long discussions, brainstorming sessions, quick depletion of checking accounts, welding smoke, and an increasing desire to find more cool sprockets.

Not that I'm complaining...I'm just reiterating the warning for the unprepared among us.....

Ohhhhhhh... aint it the truth.

They're so dangerous that they should have warning labels. Worse than any drug.

"Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to play with sprockets"

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:37 am

karine, Sprockets, the new Vibrators???

karine · Post by **karine** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:42 am

Better than eye candy! ! ! NEW SPROCKETS with tantilizing circular motions!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:32 am

It would seem worthy to note that there are a good number of reciprocating pushrods, nipples (some longer than others), male to female connections, and oil cups dripping fluid onto shafts being used in the steam upgrade.

Contraption 2.0... the new "dirty without being dirty" thread.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:22 pm

So hereâ€™s a few pic of the latest progress from the past few evenings:

The JB Weld ready to be milled flush:

After milling:

You'll note some porosity, but I don't think this will be any issue at all. The gasket will take care of that. Also, the channels that were filled were only Â¼â€

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:29 pm

You want me to bring the chisels and inlay a little face on the front of that manifold?

That looks more steam-enginey than the previous incarnation.

Making up words means time for bed.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:34 pm

Thanks!! I'm pretty happy with the aesthetics of it, after all is said and done.

You want me to bring the chisels and inlay a little face on the front of that manifold?

Actually... That's a good idea... and I've got a notion for a small collaborative project along those lines betwixt the two of us, you and I. You interested in a work (aka creative play) afternoon this weekend??

Man... I gotta hit the hay too.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:41 pm

God that's just beautiful! It looks like there is a little brass clockwork spider thing sitting on the top of the engine.

When is the next steam test?

Badger

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:46 pm

Heh Heh

He looks like he's gonna crawl off there and skitter about, doesn't he?

When is the next steam test?

I've got to finish a better designed, beefed up feed water thermostat tomorrow and then... maybe tomorrow evening.

We'll see. The lines won't be insulated yet, but I think its worth a shot. Truth is I'm too anxious to wait, really.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:48 pm

LeChatNoir wrote: Truth is I'm too anxious to wait, really.

LCN, you must have been crazy at Xmas when you were a kitten....

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:53 pm

Teh claws are handy to open packages, it's true. But believe it or not, I donâ€™t mind waiting for surprises at all. I like it actually. I've been known to puzzle on riddles for months.

But waiting on myselfâ€¦

Thatâ€™s another matter.

karine · Post by **karine** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:52 pm

I hope ths works! ...

How many day till the man burns ???

(no pressure.. other than Steam, I mean )
I am getting excited how it's all coming together.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:42 am

Photos by O. Winston Link
http://www.spikesys.com/Trains/owlink.html
He also did audio.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Winston_Link

An interesting train run by Union Pacific out of Cheyenne
http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/up3985.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_3985
http://howdyyall.com/railroad/Challenge ... /3985.html

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/up844.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_844

It is fascinating looking at the compound articulated Mallet and even center piston trains that have been built.
One early style had 26,000 built in the states.
There was even a steam turbine and some electric traction steam locomotives.
Weights close to a million pounds in some cases!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotives

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:16 am

LCN, you rule!

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:29 am

Oh Le Chat....you've done it again ol' boy!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
That my dear steam punker, is the shie't!

Zorch · Post by **Zorch** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:05 am

I could sit and stare at that thing for hours LeChat! Beautiful handiwork

Dusza Beben · Post by **Dusza Beben** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:09 am

unjonharley wrote:LCN, you rule!

Agreed! This engine just gets sexier by the minute.

DB

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:34 am

Awww shucks, you guys...

...

...

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:55 am

LeChatNoir wrote:Awww shucks, you guys...

...

...

The cats out of the bag.. Even more is expected from you now..

Bending is my today project.. Need frame to hand those sprockets on..

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:44 pm

Now I have it.. Here tis

http://community.webtv.net/unjonharley/doc1

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:38 pm

Lookin good unjon... when will you test the coaster/brake multihub out?