SOLIDWORKS: Designing a Stirling Engine

2h 41mBeginner2020-11-23

Authors

Johno Ellison

Design Engineer specializing in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD modeling

Course details

Expand your SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD skills by learning how to design a machine with moving parts. In this course, learn through designing the components of an early-19th-century rival to the steam engine. Follow along with Johno Ellison as he leads you through the steps for creating a Stirling engine, a closed-cycle heat engine invented by Robert Stirling in 1816. Johno shows how to use SOLIDWORKS to create all the parts, combine the parts into an assembly, and prepare drawings for the final product. Johno also provides tips and ideas for moving the creation from a virtual to physical design.

Skills covered

SOLIDWORKSDassaultManufacturingProduct and Industrial DesignProduct and ManufacturingDeep Dive (X:Y)

Concepts

Introduction

Build a Stirling engine in SOLIDWORKS
What you should know
Working with the files in this course

Introducing Stirling Engines

Introducing Stirling engines

Create the Flywheel Parts

Create the flywheel
Finish the flywheel
Create the flywheel bracket
Create the crank
Create the base

Starting the Assembly with the Current Parts

Create a new assembly
Fix the remaining parts in place
Add screws using the SOLIDWORKS toolbox
Adding screws without the SOLIDWORKS toolbox

Create the Heater Parts

Create the heater bracket block
Create the heater bracket cover
Create the heater cylinder
Create the inner piston
Create the piston cap
Create the piston rod
Create the rod connector
Create the linkage

Add Heater Parts to the Assembly

Add new parts to the assembly
Finish off this section of the assembly with screws

Creating the Cooler Parts

Create the cooler bracket
Create the cooler cylinder
Create the cooler piston

Add Cooler Parts to the Assembly

Add the cooler parts
Link up all parts with mates
Model and add the air valves
Model the air tube

Finish the Assembly

Create and add burner plate

Making the Engine and Conclusion

Creating the parts in real life