Hands-on precision machining: I designed, manufactured and assembled a fully working tabletop Stirling heat engine that runs at 1600+ RPM. Over 15 parts machined from scratch in aluminium, brass and stainless steel, with everything from CAD through CNC tool paths through final assembly on me.
engine run.mp4
- 15+ custom parts: piston, piston flange, mounting block, web, flywheel
- Lathe, mill, CNC and bandsaw operations to tight tolerances
- SolidWorks 3D models, assemblies and engineering drawings
- Tolerance stack-up analysis and GD&T throughout
- McMaster-Carr integration for off-the-shelf components
- Validated the assembly with thermal testing and a live run at 1600+ RPM
