Book: Hardening, Tempering and Heat Treatment

I love this entire little Workshop Practice series of books. If you work with metal or want to, here's one worth getting: Hardening, Tempering and Heat Treatment

From the book description:

A comprehensive exposition of the structure of steels and the effects of different heat treatments, particularly in respect of tools. It includes solid fuel, gas and electric furnaces, case hardening, tempering and other practical information. Features accurate colour temperature charts.

It gets great reviews from quite a few people on Amazon. Here is where you can order Hardening, Tempering and Heat Treatment (Workshop Practice). Be sure to check out the entire line of in the Workshop Practice Series. There are books on every possible aspect of metal and shopw work, tools, and techniques. I wish they sold them as a complete set!

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Horse racing automaton powered by heat from a brewing teapot

Check out this clever automaton by Jo Fairfax in which three horses race around a track. The entire thing is powered by the heat rising from a teapot that has been filed with hot water.

See more work by Jo Fairfax on his web site.

[ Thanks Lorenzo! ]

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An in depth look at a steam-powered dancing man by toymaker Ron Fuller

I highly recommend spending 10 minutes with automaton and toy making legend Ron Fuller. In this video Fuller explains the design and construction of a dancing figure that is powered by the steam produced from a small boiler heated with an alcohol lamp. Once the boiler reaches temperature, we get to see the figure dance...and boy, does it dance! There may or may not be a fun little surprise toward the end of the video, but I refuse to say.

Fuller also shows some more traditional examples of dancing figures or "limberjacks" as they are sometimes called. He notes that the addition of a side-to-side motion really helps to improve the dancers motion. I think you'll agree. I love how one arm of his dancing figure is particularly animated, while the other moves just a little. This adds a lot of character to the motion.

Here are a few fun facts you might not know about Ron Fuller.

[ Thanks Paul! ]

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Working replica of Mercedes from 1900 is powered by a Stirling engine

It's wonderful to see so many great bbooks and plans on Sterling Engines. Likewise there is a huge range of working Sterling Engine models around these days. Some of the nicest I've come across are those sold by Hammacher Schlemmer. Take for example the beautiful external combustion kraftwagen model I posted about last year. I don't know who exactly is producing these beautiful metal models for them, but they state that they are made in Germany.

This fully operational model is machine-tooled from solid brass, stainless steel, and aluminum. Power is supplied by the amazing Stirling Engine which uses the expansion and compression of air to turn the engine. An alcohol burner in the rear fuels the engine. These engines are remarkably efficient: full burner of ethyl alcohol allows the engine to operate for up to 15 minutes. Not keen on the idea of running an engine indoors. No worries: the exhaust is just steam and heat!

Here is where you can get the Mercedes model powered by a Stirling engine

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Laser-cut Stirling engine kit runs on a single tea candle

Check out this lovely Stirling engine. As you can see in the video, it runs very well on a single small tea candle. In addition, the diaphragm material is easy to replace. The parts are laser-cut Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).

This Stirling engine will be available as a kit from the nice folks at Bustedbricks.com, who also offer supplies the models, model engineering, and other hobbies.

For more info on Stirling engines (until you get the kit shown here, of course) check out the book Eleven Stirling Engine Projects You Can Build, which includes detailed reviews of 4 existing Stirling engine kits, several original engine designs by the author, and a few classic designs from the web. Many of the design in the book can be made with materials scrounged from around the house.

If you simply can't live without a one, this assortment of Stirling engine kits should keep you very busy. Enjoy!

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Two-legged walking robot toy moves via shape-memory alloy

I was introduced to robotics and shape-memory alloys when I bought the book Stiquito for Beginners: An Introduction to Robotics and made the small hexapod robot that comes with the book as a kit. The clever little two-legged inchworm robot shown here is powered by the same Muscle Wire, also known as Nitinol. Nitinol is nickle/titanium allow that will return to a pre-defined shape when brought to specific temperatures. Heat from an electrical current causes it to contract, making this little inchworm take tiny steps. Though the Stiquito was fun to make, this robot looks like an even better introduction because the design is simple, robust, and moves along a bit better.

From the Inchworm Robot description:

Each BioMetal Fiber Walking Robot Inchworm has one strand of BioMetal Fiber. When current is applied, the fiber heats up and contracts. This pulls the Inchworm's feet apart. When the current is stopped, the fiber cools and expands. Add a little grippy fabric on the bottom of each foot and the spring to return it to its original position, and you can easily see how the little inchworm can walk along most non-slick surfaces.

Here is where you can get your own BioMetal Fiber Walking Robot Inchworm. Here are some items for those interested in Stiquito robots. The basic Stiquito (as shown on the book cover, right) is controlled manually like the Inchworm. You have to push the button to provide the electrical current that causes the muscle wire to contract. The newer Stiquito book uses a microcontroller to provide the current automatically for a more autonomous robot.

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Beautiful external combustion kraftwagen model

Hammacher Schlemmer is certainly fond of Stirling engines. Well, who can blame them? The latest addition to their catalog is this Stirling engine powered vehicle. Made of machine-tooled brass, stainless steel, and aluminum, there is no denying that it is a beauty of a working model, if a rather pricey one.

From the product description:

An alcohol burner in the rear heats a cylinder; a quick twist of its brass flywheel sets the engine's displacement and working pistons into motion up to 2,000 rpm. The resulting expansion and contraction of heated and cooled air inside the engine operates a rocker arm, connecting rod, cam, and crankshaft, which spin four flywheels to drive its two 3 1/2" diameter rubber-bound wheels. A third wheel in front can be manually turned 360 degrees, allowing the car to perform autonomous circles while it putters efficiently.

Here is where you can check out this External Combustion Kraftwagen.

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Desktop steam boiler made with common materials

Here is a video of a attractive and effective little steam boiler built with a hand drill, a rotary tool, and some easy-to-find materials. A small soup can is used for the boiler itself. Various hardware store fittings complete the assembly.

If you would like to make this project, here is a link to the well-written instructable on how to build a desktop steam boiler.

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Red rocket tin toy with Wilesco steam engine

Check out this awesome tin toy powered by a Wilesco steam engine! Manufactured in the famous toy producing area around Nuremburg, Germany, this Red Steam Rocket tin toy is limited to only 250 pieces worldwide. While they say it is perfect for mechanically curious kids, the price tag suggests that this gem might really be for collectors. I'm not a collector, but man...do I want one!

Here's where you can read a bit more and see additional images oftin toy rocket powered by a Wilesco steam engine.

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How to make a tin can Stirling engine out of scap

I have yet to make a Sterling engine. I have bookmarked this particular Instructable because the engine looks great, requires only a few tools, and is made almost entirely from recycled materials and scraps!

Here is the full Instructable on how to make this Tin Can Stirling engine.

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Stirling engine that requires no fuel...sort of.

Well, of course it requires fuel...the laws of physics tell us you can't get energy for free. But, this working Stirling engine only needs a bit heat to run. A beautiful high-end physics toy featuring a solid brass fly wheel, graphite pistons, glass chambers, and stainless steel hardware.

From the Stirling engine description:

This is the Stirling engine that's powered by any heat source--even the palm of your hand. The engine relies on the same thermodynamic principles that powered Robert Stirling's original model in 1816, but is enhanced to operate in response to a low temperature difference between the upper and lower plates of its base. The two aluminum plates are connected by two sealed piston chambers and when the bottom plate is at least 5º F hotter than the top, the air inside the chambers expands and pushes the pistons upward. As the pistons rise they spin the flywheel, which in turn pushes the pistons back down, repeating the mechanical cycle until the heat differential--from a computer monitor or even a cup of coffee--is lost.

Here's where you can get this (not exactly, but awfully damned nice) "fuelless" Stirling engine.

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Stirling engine powers Ferris wheel model

Here is a top-of-the-line desktop toy: a metal Ferris wheel model, powered by a small Stirling engine. It's not exactly cheap, but it sure is nice!

From the mode description:

The Stirling engine's flywheels are connected by a rubber band to four flywheels on the Ferris wheel, powering its rotation. Made in Germany, the kit's parts are made from machine tooled solid brass, stainless steel, and aluminum components on a walnut stained wood base. Ferris wheel: 9" H x 5" W x 4" D. Stirling engine: 5" H x 6" L x 4 1/4"

Here's where you can learn more about this The Stirling Engine Ferris Wheel.

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A Stirling engine powered model Ferris wheel

Take a look at this gorgeous Ferris wheel model powered by a small Stirling engine. This is pretty much the ultimate desk-top conversation piece.

From the item description:

This working Stirling engine powers a rotating Ferris wheel using the same thermodynamic principles invented in 1861 by Robert Stirling to create a more efficient alternative to steam engines. Still taught today in mechanical engineering courses to show the high efficiency, quiet operation, and heat utilization of closed-cycle regenerative heat engines, Stirling engines are powered by the expansion and compression of air. Two alcohol burners heat the chambers on the Stirling engine, causing the air inside to expand and contract and push the pistons toward the chambers. This movement displaces some of the warm air, forces the vertical pistons upward, and turns the flywheels. The Stirling engine's flywheels are connected by a rubber band to four flywheels on the Ferris wheel, powering its rotation. Made in Germany, the kit's parts are made from machine tooled solid brass, stainless steel, and aluminum components on a walnut stained wood base. Ferris wheel: 9" H x 5" W x 4" D. Stirling engine: 5" H x 6" L x 4 1/4" W

Here is a link to this Stirling Engine Ferris Wheel.

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