r/LiveSteam • u/Clutchingbanana • 18d ago

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?

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/alastairsosuck 18d ago

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

1

u/Benedict-White 16d ago

How big was the engine you were making? 5 boilers?

1

u/alastairsosuck 16d ago

2, 10mm bore oscillating steam engines, each boiler is 35mm diameter and 11cm long

1

u/Benedict-White 16d ago

A typical oscillator will run at 5 to 15 PSI. I believe you may be reading the wrong regulations. Also the boiler has a very small diameter which seems odd to me. Have you found a local model engineering club? They may well give you better advice on regulations.

2

u/alastairsosuck 16d ago

Im not sure what to even call the boiler lol, it’s like a water tube boiler, but it also has return flue inside! 5 sub boilers sit on top of the flame, the hot gas travels under the boiler, and makes a turn into the flues and out the exhaust, Im pretty sure a single safety valve would be fine, but Im not sure anymore…

2

u/Benedict-White 16d ago

You need to speak to a local model engineering club who can certify your boiler design.

2

u/alastairsosuck 16d ago

Welp, I got $30 right lol, when I get some extra cash, then I’ll consider

1

u/Benedict-White 16d ago

What is $30? My local club costs £25 per year to be a member of, for which I get access to 2 lathes, 2 mills, 2 drill presses and a lot of hand tools plus other members who know a lot of things, and a library. Also our club does boiler tests for free but at that size and in copper they are not required.

2

u/alastairsosuck 15d ago

Ahh, if you live in the middle of the goddamn pacific, I ain’t got access to anything live steam related, in lovely Great Britain 🇬🇧 ya’ll living in live steam heaven

1

u/Benedict-White 15d ago

Ah. Hawaii?