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11th May 2012, 04:54 PM #1Senior Member
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Materials for small steam engines
One day soon I might actually realise my dream of building a few small working steam engines. This something I have wanted to do since I first saw model steam engines in hobby shops such as 'The Model Dockyard' and 'Hearn's Hobbies" in Melbourne as an eight year old.
I was in my mid thirties before I purchased my first lathe. Of course what followed was a milling machine, then a shaper, then another milling machine.... etc etc etc. Now I need a bigger shed.... and of course this gear has been used for all sorts of stuff EXCEPT model steam engines.
Anyway, brass is the traditional material for making small steam engines, particularly pistons and cylinders.
Any reason why I can't use stainless steel? It can look just as 'purdy' with a bit of a polish.
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11th May 2012, 06:32 PM #2Member
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Brass for the cylinder, stainless for the piston and con rod. Aluminium for supports, or painted steel. Flywheel can be brass, steel, cast iron or a mixture. Aluminium or plastic can be a bit light on it's own but weight can be added to the periphery. Phosphor bronze for the bearings, or some plastics are suitable PTFE, mind the heat!
You can use ordinary mild steel for the piston and con rod, just that it can go rusty.
Some have used an engineering plastic like Delrin/Acetal for the piston.
Dave'H
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11th May 2012, 06:44 PM #3Dave J Guest
Assett machinery have unmachined kits, not sure of the price. It comes with everything you need to build one.
Dave
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11th May 2012, 06:45 PM #4Dave J Guest
Forgot to say if you just want materials offcutsgalore on ebay have all sorts, but it does get pricey.
Dave
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11th May 2012, 07:23 PM #5SENIOR MEMBER
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Yep....stainless steel on stainless steel of the same alloy will gall and cold weld to the point where even a 50 tonne press won't move it. You could try stainless on brass or different stainless alloys in contact with each other. Even a stainless steel shaft can't be made as close a fit as a brass shaft can into a steel ball bearing inner race without running the risk of it galling.
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11th May 2012, 07:35 PM #6Senior Member
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It is that sort of metalurgical question... you need to have dissimilar materials on bearing surfaces so that one performs the 'sacrificial wear' duty and provides metal on metal lubication- like phospor bronze bearings on a metal shaft.
Would the same 'cold weld' issue be a problem with the same grade of brass on brass?
I appreciate the feedback... once I sort out the materials I should be okay from there.
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11th May 2012, 07:41 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
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I think brass on brass is fine......simply because you see parts made with brass on brass, including those Mammod model steam engines. Galling is related to cold/vacuum welding, Wikipedia also has a good article on the topic: Cold welding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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11th May 2012, 10:36 PM #8GOLD MEMBER
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12th May 2012, 12:00 AM #9Member
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This place is very good for plans for steam engines Steam Engine Plans - most are free to download.
Dave'H
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14th May 2012, 11:00 AM #10SENIOR MEMBER
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