Twin cylinder JLS-13-2

Plans and fabrications of a two-cylinder model double-effect steam engine in brass and bronze. Construction techniques are explained and illustrated in order to be accessible to all.

Description and engine plans

The plans

The plans presented below are at your disposal for consultation or free copy. The package referenced MV relates to the double stroke twin cylinder whose construction will be described in these pages, the plan RG-001 gives the assembly and the details of a gas supply regulator for boiler burner, this regulator controls the transition from idle to full power depending on the steam pressure (ideal for safety and water and gas savings). 
 
If you download the plans, it would be nice to give me your opinion through the contact form.
assembly
cylinder block
frame
steam box
piping
slide
distribution
connecting rods
crankshaft
gas regulator
You can also download all plans package zipped.
WARNING 
These plans are FREE and can not be sold, despite that someones with less honesty allow themselves to resell them, this type of behavior risks to make disappear the sites of free diffusion. Indeed why spend copel of hours to design for those who do nothing but want to make money !
To understand how this type of steam engine works, a websurfer had the good idea to create a video animation and send it to me. 
You can see the different moving parts and especially how the crankshaft and distribution with plan slider works.

Link to the video.
To date, several websurfers have built the JLS-13-2, among them Frédéric Baumann had the good idea to upload a video on Youtube with a digital simulation of the kinematics, but also its engine completed running. Stephenson's distribution principle is clearly visible.

Many thanks again Frédéric.

Link to the Youtube video
Gergö Kriss a Hungarian websurfer has also built the JLS-13-2, after 1 year of efforts he has achieved a superb engine. 
 
He also had the kindness to send me the link to a Youtube video and you can also enjoy the show. 
 
This video is not the only one and I urge you to visit the Gergö Kriss Youtube channel where you will find other videos of the JLS-13-2 on test bench but also mounted in a boat in navigation.
Now that you have all the information on the JLS-13-2 engine, so we can go to the workshop ...
Download
JLS-13-2 plans
Download the package of PDF plans.
See more
Steam engines
The other steam engines presented on this site.
Machine tools
How to build your own machines to machine metals, to see on this site.
machines
MV Simul
Steam engine simulation software, a freeware available on this site.
JP Duval blog
Many plans to download.
Gergö Kriss Youtube
The Youtube channel of Gergö Kriss, one of the many Net surfers to have built the JLS-13-2.
Frédéric Baumann blog
The site of Frédéric Baumann, one of the first builders of the JLS-13-2.
Download
JLS-13-2 plans
All plans PDF format
See more
Steam engines
The other steam engines in this site
Machine tools
Home made machine tools
MV Simul
Steam engine simulator software
JP Duval blog
Many plans to download
Gergö Kriss
Youtube channel with JLS-13-2 videos
Frédéric Baumann blog
One of the first JLS-13-2 constructors

What to build a steam engine

The materials

The materials used for this engine are: brass, bronze, steel (stainless steel if possible) and copper. You will find them in plates and sheets of different thicknesses as well as bars of different sections (tube, square, round, hexagonal, flat). To provide you, several solutions: the mail order (to be used in the last limit because relatively expensive), DIY superstores and industrial supply stores (some sell to individuals, it is necessary to inquire). 
 
Do not forget the screws that is not easy to find in these small dimensions (I get myself at Octant french supplier). 

Basic tools

Small tools are essential you will have to trace, measure, saw, file, drill, tap and so on. Do not hesitate to buy quality for cutting tools (saws, files, drills, taps, dies, mills, etc ...) because you will have more ease to obtain good results. Regarding the control tools (caliper) of medium-range is sufficient because you will often work by comparison between the parts to be assembled. Most of these tools are found in DIY superstores or web suppliers. 
 
With experience you will not hesitate to make your own tools (see the small truscan and the divider plate on the pictures) because often the specialized equipment of the trade is a bit big for us and especially very expensive.
Important point, many engine parts are assembled by silver solder, so it will be essential to have a correct torch. For the moment, it is useless to invest in an oxygen / acetylene unit, it is the top technically but also financially. Personally for the majority of solders, I use a butane / propane mixing lamp that is more efficient than pure butane lamps, when the parts are bigger (boilers) I go to the butane torch (bottle of 13kg). When soldering, the one you find in supermarkets DIY is perfect (solder silver 5% and 40%) but do not forget the flow adapted to your metals.
chalumeau 1
chalumeau 2
chalumeau 3

Finally, the bigger parts...  machine tools

perçeuse
A small bench press drill can do very good work (or a drill mounted on a support will do). 
 
If you decide to buy a drill press check that it is rigid and does not present excessive backlatch in the guides (it is the death of small drills), beware of "made in China" cheap, but often too expensive for what it is. Also check that the chuck can take 0.5mm drills because this is not always the case. For a correct machine it takes about 150 to 400 € (2018).
A lathe is almost essential to carry out such a construction, there the investment is quite different (minimum 1000 € but count rather 2500 €). Minimum equipment will be between 250 to 350mm part length, a machinable diameter of 100 to 150mm, several spindle speeds. The box of advances and threading is not essential as well as the orientable carriage (tape turning) but it is a plus. The ideal is a combined milling lathe as presented in the photo (3000 € in 2018). 
 
In our application the milling column is not essential because all the milling that you find on the plans of the twin-cylinder are achievable by placing a milling cutter in the chuck of the lathe and fixing the piece on the trolley, it is DIY, but it works.
combiné
Another solution is to make your own machine, the operation is very fun technically (financially a little less). The picture on the left shows what I made, it was preceded by two other machines less powerful but which allowed me to manufacture it. In the background, you can distinguish an adaptation for milling. The engine is provided by a Peugeot engine block equipped with two mechanical speeds and an electronic variator. The chuck is purchased commercially. 
Of course it is also possible to manufacture a CNC machine that will allow more complex machining.

To read more, you can go to the page : 
BUILD YOUR MACHINE TOOLS.
Download
JLS-13-2 plans
Download the package of PDF plans.
See more
Steam engines
The other steam engines presented on this site.
Machine tools
How to build your own machines to machine metals, to see on this site.
Suppliers
Otelo
Tools and machine tools, correct prices and perfect service.
L'Octant
Small tools, materials and screws for model makers.
Download
JLS-13-2 plans
PDF drawings
See more
Steam engines
The other engines in this site
Machine tools
Home made machine tools
Suppliers
Otelo
Tools and machines
L'Octant
Tools and model makers material

Building technics

Machining

As all the parts are machining, it is important to be able the use of a metal lathe. The use of a milling machine is not essential because parts can be hand made with a file, but it is easier with a mill. 
 
The JLS-13-2 is not a beginer engine, so as not to start on a construction project that would not be completed, I advise you to start with the part that you find the most difficult in according to your experience. 
 
For the machining techniques, you can go to the website of Daniel Brouard who made a clone of the JLS-13-2 and had the good idea of ​​everything presented in picture, it's from great art to not miss (menu item "atelier" then "bi-cylindre"). 

How to build complex parts

In order to make the different complex parts without foundry or to a complete machining in the stock, I chose to make some parts by assembly of simpler shapes easy to pre-machined in plate or round material. All elements are then assembled by strong brazing (silver solder) to form parts very close to old-fashioned casting parts. 
 
This is the case for the slides, the cylinder and the crankshaft. 
animation glisière
The small animation shows well how is constituted a slide.
All the parts constituting a slideway with the elements of the braze tooling. 
The grooves on the base and the mounting ring help to align the ribs and feet. 
On the second picture, a slide ready to solder on its tools, and the result after sand blasting. 
Note that to machine the rounded part of the two slide feet, it is advisable to use a lathe with a small assembly toll to position the two parts together. To make it simple, the pieces are soldered with tin on the assembly, after machining it will be enough to heat to separate them. Simple and effective in many cases.
The machining and assembly technic is the same for cylinder blocks. Of course it is also necessary to provide a small mounting tool, so that all parts remain in position during heating and soldering. As for the slides, a single axis with two screws and washers will be ideal.
Another tip for the construction can be illustrated by the steam boxes covers. These parts are etched chemically with the same technique as for etching printed circuits boards. The patterns can be applied with transfers, or better by UV lights, in this case it is necessary to print the patterns on a transparency and spray a photosensitiv resin on the plates (Positiv 20 for example). Etching is done with iron perchloride.
The following for soon ...
Download
JLS-13-2 plans
Download the package of PDF plans.
See more
Steam engines
The other steam engines presented on this site.
Machine tools
How to build your own machines to machine metals, to see on this site.
machines
Daniel Brouard
The personal website of Daniel, which reveals all his machining technics, not to be missed.
Download
JLS-13-2 plans
PDF drawings
See more
Steam engines
The other engines in this site
Machine tools
Home made machine tools
Daniel Brouard
How to build an engine
Made with OpenElement
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