Live Steam magazine has a saying: “Each one, Teach one”, to encourage model engineers to teach the next generation. I have a 16 year old nephew, Frank, who lives in southern NJ. A few years ago, he came up to visit my wife and I for a week over the summer. Karen and I took him to the Waushakum Live Steamers for a run day. Frank was really fascinated with it. He now wants a lathe and mill so he can build models for himself.
He visited again at Christmas of 2004, and I though it would be fun for both of us if he learned a bit of model engineering.
A simple single cylinder oscillating steam engine was the first thing I built, and I figured that would be a good project for Frank. I had a set of plans which I photocopied out of a metal shop project book back when I was in high school. The engine is about 2.5" tall overall with a 1/4" bore by 3/8" stroke and a 1" diameter flywheel. The pivot point is at the top of cylinder block.
To show him the basics, and explain how the machines work, I built a couple of parts first: the flywheel using the lathe, and the base using the mill. After I had finished each part, I had Frank machine his own part, with me watching carefully and giving him instruction.
Building the flywheel, Frank learned the basics of facing, turning to diameter, and drilling with the tailstock. Building the base, he learned basics of edge finder operation, milling the edge flat and square, and drilling with the quill. He also learned a little bit about the importance of laying out the parts and center punching before machining.
Over the rest of that week, I helped Frank build the body and crankshaft. He could spin the flywheel and watch the crankshaft spin, but more work needed to be done. We said he could come back up over the summer, provided he did well in school.
Here's a picture of Frank using the lathe.
The last week of August 2005, Frank came back up for both my son’s and wife’s birthday party, and stayed for the week so he could go to the Waushakum annual meet. He finished off the construction by building the cylinder and piston. Frank even got to wind his own spring by hand using .015 piano wire and a simple jig chucked in the lathe.
The total build time was about 15 hours.
When we first ran the engine, it was a little tight, and needed about 35 psi to run. After about 5 minutes of break in time, it was running like a hummimgbird on about 15 psi.
Here's a picture of the first time we ran the Engine. You can see it sitting on the surface plate, at the end of the air line.
“Each one, Teach one”, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do that. Frank now has a steam engine which he built for himself. He’s also learned some basic machine shop skills, like reading a micrometer and dial caliper, lathe and milling machine operation, and laying out parts. Seeing the smile on his face when the engine first ran was all the thanks I needed…
Here's a picture of Frank holding his first steam engine.
I've given Frank a few other sets of plans for simple steam engines. Now we either have to find Frank a lathe or find someone local to him to help him build his next engine...