Before trying the windturbine, I tried building the sterling engine from the reprap plans found online. This is a very difficult project to get working, I recommend the wind turbine first. I tried making my own sterling engine inspired by learning from college pictures and different energy cycle classes. It was very difficult, then without a 3d printer on hand, especially. However even though with a 3d printer I still find it difficult to make a Stirling engine from very well thought out plans. I’m not sure where to solve any of the problems of the Stirling engine because it is so fine to calibrate. I find out when problem solving it is best to narrow down one variable however I don’t know which variable to narrow down after completing the Stirling engine. The problem could be the air tightness of the chamber is or could be the total opposite of the bars.
Alex_9
3
Hi Robert,
I’m a member of Thames Valley RepRap User Group, in the south of England. A couple of our members are interested in Stirling engines, and one exhibited a working 3D printed Stirling engine at Brighton Mini Maker Faire just last weekend.
I suggest you email our list - tvreprapug@googlegroups.com, you may get a response.
Meanwhile the only suggestion I have is to check you have sufficient heat differential between the hot and cold sides. A small candle was sufficient to power the engine at Maker Faire, but it was less effective when the room temperature got higher, and we had to duct the hot air more tightly over the hot chamber to compensate. So concentrate the heat, and ensure the cold end has a good flow of colder air.
I hope this helps.
Alex Gibson
