Gallery, Projects and General > How to's
Making a flywheel
bogstandard:
Spin,
At one time, it was very easy to differentiate between slots and ends. Slots had two flutes, and end mills had four, slots could do a plunge cut, ends couldn't. :thumbup:
I seems to be all over the place now with hybrid cutters being used for both jobs, multifluted with an end cutting face. But I don't think they do such a nice job as before, especially the slot drills, I find there are too many flutes, so you have trouble keeping the cuttings out of the way.
I think it all started when CNC machines became used a lot more, and by having one cutter that would do the same job as two, meant fewer tool changes.
--- Quote ---SLOT DRILL.... and END MILL... I went and read up on them
--- End quote ---
I am very pleased to see that the post has stimulated you to find out more. :clap:
That is the correct way to learn. Rather than info being pushed at you, you actually went in search of it because YOU wanted to know more, and I bet you learned a lot more as you went about your quest.
Steve,
I don't want to do too much to this wheel, as it isn't for one of my engines, but someone elses, and I don't think he will bling his engine as much as I would do, so it might look a little out of place if I go too far. So I will be leaving it basically as per the plans, a little bit of a shine, with maybe a bit of a roundover on the outer rim.
As you can see, I had to do a spoke rescue, just as you did. But it doesn't look too bad.
None of us are perfect.
I would hate to try to describe doing one of the curved spoked designs, it would take months. :bang:
I would like to add, for putting the sawcut into the taper, I would have normally have used a slittlng saw. That would have meant replacing the RT with my vice. Problem is, I need to use the RT for finishing off a job I was doing, so it stays for the time being, and I got to use the new die filer as a powered hacksaw.
John
foozer:
Very nice and "Thank You" for your time and effort. Now I am off to attempt a flywheel construction with a taper lock. No mill and just a funky ol little lathe to work with, but your sequence of operations depends not upon the equipment, just the resourcefulness of the mind to adapt the process to the tools at hand.
sbwhart:
Nice Job John I wouldn't have thought of using a taper lock on a model flywheel it really results in a neat finish.
Cheers
:wave:
Stew
bogstandard:
Stew,
It isn't my idea.
I steal my ideas from everywhere and anywhere. If it suits and does the job, use it.
John
bogstandard:
We have arrived at the last instructional bit of this post, 'thank goodness' some of you say.
Just a little reshaping to get the flywheel rim looking like I want it to. I rounded over the corners a little.
Then I set to work with finer and finer grades of emery, to remove all blemishes from the metal's surface.
If you are going to polish metal, all machining marks have to be removed and the surface should end up really smooth with a satin like sheen.
A few minutes in the company of Mrs Buff saw Mr flywheel all aglow. In fact this is a real crappy picture, the flywheel is covered in WD40 that I removed the last traces of polishing soap with. So I cleaned it up, went to take the pic and my battery was flat. The cameras, not mine. I was tired, hungry and ready for a coffee, so this will have to do.
So, that's it lads, a long winded write up on how to make a basic flywheel from scratch, warts and all.
I will answer any questions if you want, but if there aren't any, I won't.
Now because this is such a short post, just to keep you entertained. Here are a few bits I have made over the last 18 months. Before that, all my photos have been lost.
My elbow engine flywheel and cylinder
A pair made for a poppet valve engine, and these will be modified very soon as the engine is being finished off.
A brass flywheel I made for my mine engine. The blank ali one was for making the same style, but I changed my mind.
Another big brass flywheel, about 1/2" diameter.
A wierd shaped flywheel that I made about 20 years ago. This engine is just being rebuilt after many hours running.
A pair of flywheels for finger engines I made for friends.
Three flywheels I made for a set of three stirling engines. The one laying down is to original plans, the two standing up aren't. I dropped the original engine and bent the crankshaft, so that is awaiting rebuild, the other two engines are made, awaiting assembly.
Three more flywheels for finger engines for friends.
I even made one out of twigs, it ran very well, and still does.
The RT isn't just used for flywheels, here I am making a rotor for the last turbine I made.
And no matter what the world throws at you.
Keep smiling!!!!
Ready for the next project Bogs
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