Balloon Powered Radial Engine
Free

Run by just blowing air into it. Demonstration:

Exploded view in 3d viewer: https://skfb.ly/6LQBR

If you like how it works, you can support me by purchasing the Pneumobile Chassis.

Extra parts needed: 

  • M3x8 Bolts (x15) 
  • M3 Nuts (x15) 
  • Thin Nitrile Glove (thumbs from M sized gloves worked the best) or Silicon (worse) or PET (not tested) ones

Optional parts: 

  • M3x12 or longer bolts (2x)(for the gears) 
  • M3 Nuts (x2)(for the gears) 
  • 6x4mm Silicon Pipe (can be found in aquarium shops) 
  • M5x10mm Washers (x2) (instead of printed ones) 
  • 105ZZ Bearings (x2) (noticed no difference in performance)
  • Printed well with 0.6 nozzle at 0.2 layer height. Some parts (Cylider_Back_Lid and Valve_Lid_6mm) need supports. After printing cut away the brims from Cylinder_Ring parts.

Printed well in PLA  with 0.6 nozzle at 0.2 layer height. Parts with "_support" in their names will print a bit prettier with supports. Parts with "X_" in their names are optional.

Assembly: 

  • Use 3d diagram as a guide: https://skfb.ly/6LQBR 
  • Cut off a glove finger tip (thumbs from M sized glove worked well) 
  • Pull it onto a Cylinder_Ring (Use Helper_Finger to leave enough height) 
  • Connect a Piston to it with two Washers 
  • Clamp the Cylinder_Ring between Cylinder_Plate and and Cylinder_Lid 
  • Clip them with Helper_Clamp so they won't fall apart at once 
  • Bolt them together to Plate_Top 
  • Repeat for the other 2 cylinders 
  • Insert th Crank with 2 Washers
  • Fix it in place with Frame_Bottom 
  • Bolt all the parts together 
  • Put the Valve_Inner in place
  • Bolt the Valve_Lid into place 
  • The engine should be running!

Troubleshooting: 

  • Rotated freely by hand, but struggling when working - the inner valve may have too much friction against the frame (sanding the valve and the frame may help for a while). 
  • Jams on a certain cylinder - this glove finger may need a bit more slack. 
  • Isn't rotated freely by hand - gears bolted too tightly to frame (should have a bit of play), some gear teeth didn't print very well, or the whole gear printed with "elephant foot" and runs too tight with another gear.

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Balloon Powered Radial Engine

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Files Included

30 downloadable files:

View 3D
Cylinder_Plate__x3_.stl
STL Model
320.8 KB
File size
View 3D
Piston__x3_.stl
STL Model
243.3 KB
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View 3D
Cylinder_Ring__x3_.stl
STL Model
120.1 KB
File size
View 3D
X_Valve_Lid_6mm_Flat_90__supports_.stl
STL Model
1.0 MB
File size
View 3D
X_Valve_Lid_6mm_Flat__supports_.stl
STL Model
1.2 MB
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View 3D
Frame_Bottom.stl
STL Model
495.9 KB
File size
View 3D
X_Valve_Lid_6mm_Vert__supports_.stl
STL Model
457.3 KB
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View 3D
Valve_Inner__supports_.stl
STL Model
247.7 KB
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View 3D
X_Crank_for_105ZZ_Bearing.stl
STL Model
549.4 KB
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View 3D
Crank_Washer_M5.stl
STL Model
64.5 KB
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View 3D
Crank_for_M5_Washer.stl
STL Model
538.9 KB
File size
View 3D
X_6mm_to_Whistle.stl
STL Model
825.3 KB
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View 3D
X_6mm_to_Tap_Water__supports_.stl
STL Model
542.7 KB
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View 3D
X_Gears_1to8_2_Bevels.stl
STL Model
738.9 KB
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View 3D
X_Pulley.stl
STL Model
1.2 MB
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View 3D
Valve_Lid_Balloon.stl
STL Model
1.2 MB
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View 3D
Gears_1to3_2.stl
STL Model
878.8 KB
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View 3D
Gears_1to8_2.stl
STL Model
843.4 KB
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View 3D
Frame_Top.stl
STL Model
834.4 KB
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View 3D
Gears_1to8_1.stl
STL Model
801.3 KB
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View 3D
Gears_1to3_1.stl
STL Model
704.8 KB
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View 3D
Gears_1to2.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
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View 3D
Gear_Center.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
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View 3D
Helper_Finger_Height.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
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View 3D
X_Cylinder_Ring__02mm_gap_.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
File size
View 3D
Piston_Washer__x6_.stl
STL Model
77.6 KB
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View 3D
Cylider_Back_Lid__x3___supports_.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
File size
View 3D
Helper_Cylinder_Clip__x2_.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
File size
View 3D
X_Valve_Lid_Cartridge.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
File size
View 3D
X_2_Balloon_Cartridge.stl
STL Model
~1-5 MB
File size
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