| Lewiston
High School Machinist Club |
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Some things just feel right. Such was the case when I
first saw
one of these
little engines
show up
on Ebay
a couple
of years
back. The
members
of the Lewiston
High School
Machinist
Club
choose and
execute
one steam
engine design
each year.
The projects
are used
to teach
the students
how to operate
the CNC
controlled
tools which
the school
has available.
I'd suspect
there is
seldom a
lack of
enthusiasm
among the
members.
At
the end
of the school
year, a
very limited
number of
the engines
are offered
up for sale
on Ebay.
This year
I couldn't
resist buying
one, as a
way to support
their program.
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Pat Schmidt, who oversees the machinist club program,
informed
the students
that I intended
to put the
engine on
this web
site, to
help them
get a bit
of credit
for their
hard work.,
They graciously
offered
me the chance
to purchase
a second
engine design,
when they
learned
I had missed
out on one
last year.
I was not
only grateful
for the
offer, but
pleased
to be able
to share
their talents
with others.
Pat tells
me this
program
has been
quite a
success,
allowing
the club
to provide
over $6000.00
in scholarships
for deserving
students.
Not bad
for a small
group of
kids with
newly discovered
skills.....
eh? |
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| Student
Machinist Project |
Leiwston
High School, Idaho, USA - Manufacture date:
2001
Bore =1/2", Stroke 2", Flywheel diameter
= 2 1/4"
Style: Single Acting Oscillating
, Horizontal Mill
Engine |
Dimensions: 51" length x 3" width x 3
1/2"
height |
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2001 Horizontal Oscillator Engine |
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I've watched these little engines
appear on Ebay once a year for several
years now. Last year, I placed a
bid for one of these small horizontal
oscillators, but was not available
when the auction ended. The result
was that I was outbid for the engine.
This year I went the "Buy it
Now route to assure I got one.
This design has
been the standard for the club for
the past few years and it is both
well designed and well executed.
The workmanship is beyond reproach
and it is almost scary to see the
engine running on 15 pounds of air.
It turns some pretty incredible
rpm's with very little noise.
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| Student
Machinist Project |
Leiwston
High School, Idaho, USA - Manufacture date:
2001
Bore =3/8", Stroke 1", Flywheel diameter
= 2 "
Style: Single Acting Oscillating
, Horizontal Mill
Engine |
Dimensions: 3" length x
3" width x 5"
height |
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2003 Vertical Oscillator Engine |
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It was a surprise to see a new design
show up on Ebay this year. The vertical
oscillator was designed and executed,
based on a double acting saw mill
engine owned by the family one of
Pat's students. The single action
design was adapted to make the engine
easier to machine and build. Quite
a bit of attention was devoted to
getting the unique "S"
spokes into the flywheel, attesting
to the CNC setup skills the students
have learned.
Once again, these
guys have created an eye appealing
piece which runs like a little demon
on as little as 2 pounds of air.
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Each engine comes on a beautiful hardwood base (these
are on walnut) with a brass base
bezel. The students also engrave
the year the engine was made and
"Lewiston High School Machinist
Club" into the bezel as part
of the CNC training.
By the way....
if you recall.... school club days,
"in my time at least",
only totaled a very minor few hours
over a period of a whole year. These
engines were essentially designed,
machined and built on a pretty darned
tight time frame, using very short
periods of available working time.
That fact alone trumps some of the
"professional" machine
shops I've contracted with over
the years.
I began this
page by saying "Some things
just feel right". How often
can you support education, make
a charitable donation, and get a
wonderful new addition to your steam
engine collection?. Hopefully I'll
be adding new pieces as the Lewiston
High School Machinist Club continues
to come up with new designs over
the next few years.
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