Single Cylinder Balance Beam Steam Engine

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

I am excited to share the successful completion of the Assembly & Motion Study Phase for one of the most intricate mechanical systems I have modeled recently — the Single Cylinder Balance Beam Steam Engine (designed by Gerry Dykstra).

This milestone was an in-depth exercise in mechanical design integrity, tolerance management, and kinematics moving beyond basic 3D modeling into full functional validation.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:

​• 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Successfully modeled and assembled over 46 individual mechanical parts, strategically structured into logical sub-assemblies to maintain a clean, organized FeatureManager Design Tree.

• 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 & 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:

Applied precise mechanical and advanced mates to seamlessly convert the piston's linear motion into the smooth rotational motion of the flywheel via the balance beam mechanism.

• 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Conducted thorough Interference Detection across the full range of motion to guarantee zero collision between moving parts and ensure real-world physical clearance.

• 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

Executed a full motion study in SOLIDWORKS to analyze kinematic behavior, timing, and real-time mechanical alignment under operating conditions.