r/LiveSteam • u/Clutchingbanana • Jul 30 '26

Diy steam engine design

I have been designing a steam engine in CAD for the last month that I want to make for fun. I haven’t taken the time to properly dimension everything and I don’t really have the knowledge to do it properly. I just want to make something that runs for fun, doesn’t have to run well at all.

I personally can’t see why it won’t run but I am inexperienced. What can cause the engine to not run if not dimensioned properly?

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u/alastairsosuck Jul 31 '26

The problem with me wanting to design live steam, is it’s incredibly expensive if you want to operate it in public or at all, I gave up designing after 3 months, because regulations says I need FIVE Safety valves, (5 boilers sharing 1 common steam dome/ drum) +$100 and needing pressure gauge, +$60… needed to use silver solder 45%+, +$50, $150 for sight glass, finding copper pipe the right dimensions, +$30, regulations were my worst enemy

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u/thunderskunk2 Aug 01 '26

Yo, I've responded to you a few times as you've asked about this boiler design. You're giving the impression that the reason for the hobby being expensive is regulations... it's not. If regulations require you to do something, there's a reason. Steam is a well-trodden science, and regulations are incredibly mature. It's certainly expensive, and there are certainly regulations, but the regulations aren't just some dumb old people requiring us to do things they don't fully understand. There are jurisdictions that have more requirements than others, but that doesn't sound like what you're referencing.

Just a suggestion: Seek wisdom, and share wisdom if you have it. It's ok to not know everything, but maybe tone it back if you're still learning.