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Start reading here before starting to assemble your
Coffee Cup Stirling Engine Kit
From one modeler to another:
"I love to build models. The pleasure I get from completing a
model is only exceeded by the enjoyment I got from building it. This
is especially true of a working model. Once it is completed, there
is the added thrill of getting it hot, and seeing it run!
Hopefully these instructions will be easy for you to understand.
But if you find something that you don't understand, take a few minutes
and re-read the instructions. Showing these instructions to a friend
can also be a good idea. Very often what isn't clear to one person
will be clear to another.
It's seems that it is a law of engineering that the person who designed
a product is never the best one to write instructions for it. This
engine was designed and developed by Brent Van Arsdell but nearly all the
work of producing this online instruction manual was done by one of our
terriffic Stirling engine customers named Jon
Bondy. Thank you Jon."
Before you start building your engine, decide how pretty you want the
finished product to be. If you want a stunningly beautiful engine
click
here for additional instructions. If you are more interested
in simply seeing your engine run, then clean off your workbench, get out
your glue, and roll up your sleves. This is a fun project!
Start by making sure that you have the tools and
adhesives to build your engine, then click here to take
inventory . You are now ready to assemble
your engine.
Throughout the assembly instructions, the
term "adhesive" is used. Except where specifically
noted, you can use super glue, Loctite, epoxy, or silicone
bathtub caulk wherever the term "adhesive" is
used.
In some situations, the adhesive you use
must be thick enough to create an air tight seal. In these
cases you should use either epoxy or silicon caulk. This
will be noted in the instructions.
You can purchase clear silicone caulk, which
can help make the assembled kit look nicer than with colored
epoxies. Silicone caulk also is thick enough that it will
not flow, minimizing accidents where adhesive goes where
it is not wanted. Also, if you purchase a small tube of
silicone caulk, it will be easy to make a clean bead on
the Cylinder: doing this with epoxy is not as easy. If you
use epoxy, the recommended type to use is a clear epoxy
that cures in about 30 minutes. American Stirling Company
uses a brand of epoxy called Devcon 2 Ton Clear. Using a
30 minute [instead of 5 minute] epoxy gives you time to
correct your glue mistakes.
In some places, you must use epoxy, and
the term "epoxy" is used in these situations.
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