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Low Temperature Differential Stirling Engine: Bearing Housing and Collar
The crankshaft, which attaches to the piston and displacer block, is mounted inside bearings to minimize friction. The bearings sit inside the bearing housing which I made with aluminum and shaped on the lathe.
First, I layed out and cut the main shaft using power drive on the lathe (pictured - measuring the depth of the cut):
I added blue layout ink and set my calipers to the correct width. Then, I marked the line around the shaft by rotating the shaft with the calipers pressed on.
I drilled the center hole then cut off the part. …
Low Temperature Differential Stirling Engine: Displacer Block
With the Foam Cutter completed, now onto the displacer block (primarily made of foam)!
First, I cut a square chunk of foam out of a larger piece. Then I cut a circle of the foam using a nail set into wood. I stuck the foam on the nail and spun it around that point to make the circle.
Then I planed the cylinder into thinner disks using my horizontal foam cutter.
Next using a compass, I marked the circles which would hold the insert air filter material. I cut out those circles using a sharpened/cut-off steel tube. …
