Potty Finger Engine

[sbwhart]

Hi Chaps

This is a slight diversion from my Loco build but I've been wanting to build a finger engine for some time and kept my eys open for ideas that would add a bit of interest to the build. I saw a thread over on HMEN where the chap added some engine turning to a horizontal engine that looked real nice this set the little grey cells going.  . Then on one of my scouting trips to the scrappy I spotted these



The scrap man saw scrap I saw flywheels.

First job clean up one of those discs



Then grind up a form tool out of a broken cutter, to use as a flycutter.



Then set my indexer over 5 deg, and mount a chunk of 2 3/4" dia ally in the chuck, that ally is way too long but I didn't want to cut it down and wast material as I'm planning on using it on another job.



This is the set up for flycutting flutes across the face with that formed flycutter. Th angle plate is to support the bar against the push from the cutter.



And this is the result 36 flutes across the face of the bar.



And this is what it will look like as a fly wheel hub.



Have fun

Stew

[sbwhart]

Forgot to post the drawings

Stew

[sbwhart]

And sheet 5

[dsquire]

Stew

Very neat Stew. I like the idea that you picked for the center of the flywheel. I think that you are going to see that idea used a few more times on the two forums. Will be a nice little finger conditioner when finished. 

Cheers 

Don

[Bernd]

Stew,

Very neat design idea. I like those splines. 

Bernd

[Divided he ad]

Now I like that!!! 


I'm going to have to have a go with some brass at some time.... All sorts of effects have just been opened up to me 



Cheers Stew 


Looking forward to your take on one of these.... I've still got 4 to finish! All about half (ish) made have been for best part of 12 months   






Ralph.

[sbwhart]

 I've still got 4 to finish! All about half (ish) made have been for best part of 12 months   


Ralph.

 

Stew

[sbwhart]

Thanks Guys

Doing that flutting worked out better then I expecting, it just takes quite a while to go the circle (45 min) I did it in two cuts:- 2mm rougher and a 0.25 finisher.

Got a bit more done this morning.

Part off from the bar stock if you tried parting off this thickness in one go you'd end up in trouble, best way is to do it in steps so you keep the groove twice the width of the tool, then for the last bit just adjust the cut so that your bringing the disc to thickness.



And her's the first disc stuck in the rim with high strength loctite.



Looking good 

Have fun

Stew

[zeroaxe]

Stew

Jsut a quickie about the Loctite. I assume that itis put all around the edge of the hub? And if so, once you put it in place, did you have to wipe off any residual Loctite in all the grooves(or "V"s) ?

Looking good there

[madjackghengis]

Hi Stew,  that's a great looking center for the flywheel, I like the way you did the fluting, I'm going to have to try that on an engine for the wife, maybe a finger engine to keep her finger occupied, and out of trouble.  Nothing quite like aluminum and brass working together for good looks. Mad Jack

[Bernd]

I have to admitt that is one cool looking flywheel Stew. I think you out did yourself on this one.

Now I'm going to have to try that, darn you. 

Bernd

[sbwhart]

Thanks Guys

Look like this ones giving you all a good dose of 
 

Jsut a quickie about the Loctite. I assume that itis put all around the edge of the hub? And if so, once you put it in place, did you have to wipe off any residual Loctite in all the grooves(or "V"s) ?

Looking good there

Zeroaxe

I was very mean with the loctite just put a few drops in the rim and spread it round with a coffee stick, I had nothing to clean away, you don't need much loctite to get a good fix that I've had that  10ml bottle for about three years and I've used it on quite a few jobs.

Cheers

Stew

[sbwhart]

Finished off the disc for the other side, and loctited it in position.

One bit of kit I've found very handy especially for getting things clean for gluing etc is one of those elcheapo ultrasonic cleaners, I use it far more than I thought I would.



And here's both side of the fly wheel, I've got to bore it out for the bearing but I'm still waiting for them to come in from Hong Kong, and drill and tap for the crank pin.



That seems to have worked out great.

Cheers

Stew

[John-Som]

Hi Stew
Interested in your use of ultrasonic cleaner. Since the ban on tricoethylene I have struggled to find an effective alternative. Can I ask what you use these days ?

John-Som

[sbwhart]

Hi John

I just use water and washing up liquid, you can just use water for light cleaning, also other things can be added to the water but you'd have to do a bit of research on that. I've used it to clean parts for silver soldering, seem to work Ok for me.

Cheers

Stew

[Bernd]

First Stew, neat trick on the photography using a mirro to show both sides at once. Had forgotten about that trick.

Second, you can use a jewlery cleaner in the ultrasonic cleaner. I'm sure that can be found a better jewlery stores.

Bernd

[Dean W]

Oh, it's a mirror!  First glance, I though it was two different flywheels.  Ya caught me looking, Stew.
Potty Engineering strikes again!

Looks great.  Quite unique.

Dean

[sbwhart]

Thanks Bernd/Dean

Bernd I'll try that jewelry cleaning stuff, I think my boss has some hidden away, thanks for the info.

The mirror is my hair cut mirror I keep in the shop:- No I won't be starting a thread "Giving Stew an haircut" 

More progress this time on the columb, turned a length of ally down to 15mm diameter than transfered it over to the mill and in the indexer with a 3/16 ball ended slot drill put 12 flutes up it.



Then gripping it lightly in a collet face, drilled and tap both ends M3



Milled a little square base up:- sorry no pics.

Then in the lathe by eye shaped up the roundels drilled 3mm and part off.



And this is what the columb will look like.



I want the engine to look like the Temple of Afinger the Greak Godess of Engines 

Have fun

Stew

[sbwhart]

 

Good crop of frog spawn this year.



OK Stole a few more shop hours and got stuck into the the columb cap.

First op on the lathe.



Then onto the indexer for milling the flats, and drilling and tapping M3 blind



Then back onto the lathe to part off



A quick clean up and a polish, and this is where it fits



Cheers

Stew

[madjackghengis]

Hi Stew, you're sure enjoying the use of that mirror aren't you?  I have to say, with those Greek columns set up, you've got a lot to live up to on this finger engine build Mad Jack

[Darren]

Good crop of frog spawn this year.

Yummy, slightly salted and they will do nicely 

Nice work, like the column 

[sbwhart]

Cheers Jack/Darren

Darren I prefer mine with Garlic 

Stew

[NickG]

Stew nice work, this is going to be a unique finger engine! 

[Dean W]

Column looks fab, Stew.
That type of indexer would sure be handy.  I wish they made a smaller one!

Dean

[madjackghengis]

Thanks Bernd/Dean

Bernd I'll try that jewelry cleaning stuff, I think my boss has some hidden away, thanks for the info.

The mirror is my hair cut mirror I keep in the shop:- No I won't be starting a thread "Giving Stew an haircut" 

More progress this time on the columb, turned a length of ally down to 15mm diameter than transfered it over to the mill and in the indexer with a 3/16 ball ended slot drill put 12 flutes up it.



Then gripping it lightly in a collet face, drilled and tap both ends M3



Milled a little square base up:- sorry no pics.

Then in the lathe by eye shaped up the roundels drilled 3mm and part off.



And this is what the columb will look like.



I want the engine to look like the Temple of Afinger the Greak Godess of Engines 

Have fun

Stew Anyone wanting a thread on hair cutting, I'd be glad to post a few pictures but they get gruesome!!  mad jack

[Stilldrillin]

By `ek Stew!

Gorgeous flywheel, & column.      That`s shaping up beautifully!  

I see you started 5 days ago, and I`ve only just seen it.......

Where have I been all this time?      Sometimes I worry about me! 

But, not for long! 

David D.

[sbwhart]

Thanks:- Nick/Dean/Jack and Dave

Dean the indexer is just a simplified dividing head but a lot easyer to use, some Guys have made their own.

Hacked the base out today from some ally jig plate.



Then squared it up and mill around the edge with a 1/4" ball slot drill.



The roller bearing arrived to day from Hong Cong £6.50 for 10 including postage:- don't know how they do it 

So that I can fit in the crank pin they are only 7mm dia by 2.5 thick I was planning to assy 2 to the shaft but ended up assembling 3

Her's the assembly so far.



IIt runs nice and free, but with a slight wobble I intended to drill the fly wheel for the bearing with the next size down letter drill so that the bearing were a tight fit but when It came to do the job I forgot and ended up sticking a 7mm  drill through it resulting in a slack fit from the bearing so I had to glue them in place, that where the wobble came from I think.

And I'm not quite sure about the proportions of the base I may hack a bit more off it,

Have fun

Stew

[madjackghengis]

Looking good Stew, I think you're going to have to incorporate a mirror in the final project just because you seem to enjoy using it so much though!!  I'm anxious to see how you set up the power arrangements, you've got your work cut out for you with those Greek columns leading the way mad jack

[dsquire]

Stew

I hope that you realize than now you will never be able to make 2 of something and have us believe you. You will have to show us at least 4 if you want us to believe you. 

That engine is looking mighty fine though, on both sides!   

Cheers 

Don

[sbwhart]

Thanks Guys

This post is going to be a mirror free zone, just in case Jack posts a grusome hair cut picture in retaliation 

Finish with the ally work and on with the brass levers.

These were to be fabricated just like the column and silver soldered together the fluting was done in the same way on the indexer but using a 1/8" ball cutter, the lever was also squared up and the centres drilled in the indexer.





I used some square brass section and the rest of the bits were just simple turning jobs

Here's the trunnion being turned up



And her is the parts ready for silver soldering together





And these are the bits after soldering and a bit of time in the pickle and a rub down, I'm quite a messy silver solderer so I'm quite happy with the result



And how things are looking.




Have fun

Stew

[Divided he ad]

This is looking very interesting Stew 


You don't half shift on some of these bits 



Looking forward to seeing it take shape.





Ralph.

[sbwhart]

You don't half shift on some of these bits 

Ralph.

The speed of build is an illusion Done with Mirrors:- 

I spend a lot of time thinking about how I'm going to do the job,    I like to get the method sorted in my head and the tooling and material together, before I start to cut metal.

Its what I use to do for a living and can't get out of the habit

Cheers

Stew

[sbwhart]

Not many pics for this post yes I know

 


But forgot to take my camera into the shop, and there wasn't anything really that interesting going on.

I finished off drilling the levers and made the bearing blocks and did quite a bit of fitting and fettling to get everything turning over.

So this is it I need to give the bearing blocks a bit of bling and give it all a polish just to finish it off but it works great so when its had its polish I'll post the obligatory Video.



Have fun

Stew

[rog8811]

I spend a lot of time thinking about how I'm going to do the job,    I like to get the method sorted in my head and the tooling and material together, before I start to cut metal.

Its what I use to do for a living and can't get out of the habit

I am glad I am not the only one

Looking very nice indeed.

Regards rog8811

[Brass_Machine]

Wow Stew! That is coming along nicely... and quick too!

Eric

[sbwhart]

Cheers

Rog/Eric

Ok you've seen the drawings you've followed the build now the Movie

That was a nice quickie build now I relay must get on an build that boiler for my Loco.

Have fun

Stew

[Stilldrillin]

Very nicely done Stew! 

Good looking. Well silenced. Multi directional. Zero carbon emissions....... Who could ask for more! 

Great stuff! 

David D

[Divided he ad]

Good runner Stew   

Very nice, Love the flywheel effects 



"Cheshire pinky power"        Top job 







Ralph.

[Bernd]

Nice job Stew. I think that's one of the prettiest finger engines I've ever seen. I realy like that flywhell.

Bernd

[sbwhart]

Thanks again Guys:-

It was a nice little project with some interesting machining and I'm really pleased with the result, its sitting on the computer desk so that it can be gently spun whilst thinking.

I suppose it could be called a:- Thinking Engine 

Cheers

Stew

[NickG]

Nice 1 Stew, I want one! Not seen the video yet but I know it'll run nicely!

Nick