Open Source Ecology - User contributions [en]

User talk:Elifarley

2011-06-01T05:18:54Z

Syk0 saje:

There is a substantial category missing from
http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/MediaWiki:Sidebar
and that is "Metalworks".

In line with with Rasmus's idea to emulate Ekopedia/Wikipedia, posted a rough draft of a main page organization on Talk:Main Page. Thoughts? Is a shift too much bother while translation is going on? I read the comments on Gizmodo, but didn't see anything in particular to add to the FAQ. Do you have any specific ideas? [[User:Marie.Byleen|Marie.Byleen]]

----
Hi Elifarley, thanks for taking the initiative to organize the CEB Press build instructions. I've started the effort at [[CEB Press Build Instructions]] - try to integrate with that. --[[User:Conor|Conor]] 13:53, 27 March 2011 (EDT)

Hi! I started cleaning up some stuff, such as unused categories and creating some more structure. I would like to do more but for some stuff I need admin rights.
For example, I would like to go through [[:Category:Candidates_for_speedy_deletion]] - I'm an inclusionist so I when in doubt I will leave stuff around. There were also some protected pages that I wanted to edit (small edits, such as "fixing" the category).
Anyway, it's fun to work on this :) [[User:Guaka|Guaka]] 10:24, 19 April 2011 (PDT)

----

hey eli.

i think "IT Team" is better than "IT Team Member" because technically, "IT Team Member" is not a category. As an analogy, think of using "Solar Energy" vs. "Solar Energy Article". we shouldn't have to qualify by including the word "member" since the presence of the word "team" pretty much already explains that this person is part of the said team.

Category:IT team member

2011-05-28T12:24:05Z

Syk0 saje:

#redirect [[Category: IT team]]

{{delete|no longer used}}

Strategy Update 3.5.09

2011-05-28T12:15:39Z

Syk0 saje:

Our present strategy focuses on deploying CEB prototype 2 with a large hopper loaded by a front end loader. Since [[LifeTrac]] will be used for soil loading and pulverizing, we're fabricating [[MicroTrac]] to power the CEB press. Our goal is to have MicroTrac running within a month, as well as the large hopper for the CEB press, along with the loader/pulversizer mentioned in a recent blog post.

We will be building a large number of raised organoponic beds, hatching out 300 chickens, and building chinampas, along with fruit tree plantout and orchard maintenance.

In the background, we have 33 [[True Fans]] supporting the work at $10 per month, and we are currently soliciting reviews and bids for the other 8 technologies mentioned in [[Specifications]], as part of the [[Open Source Product Development Pipeline]].

We have perfected our ability to build on-demand housing with interim [[Solar Cubicle]]s, having finished the second one yesterday. We are recruiting people for [[Dream Team 30]], and presently we have 2 full-time on-site people. Become part of the team, by taking initiative in putting the above tasks into practice, or support our work by [[Subscribing]].

<html>
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"> <input name="cmd" value="_s-xclick" type="hidden" /> <input name="hosted_button_id" value="2265976" type="hidden" /> <input src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_subscribeCC_LG.gif" name="submit" border="0" type="image" /> <img src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></form> <form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"></form>
</html>

= Project Choice Strategy =

The products under [[Specifications]] reflect a strategy for becoming 100% sufficient in food, energy, and fuel. Pyrolisis Oil is a robust energy source that can be obtained at 50% yield levels from any grass crop. The Babington burner can burn this oil to power steam engines. A steam engine requires a flash steam generator. Wood gasification is another fuel source, especially suited for stationary power. We aim to replace the LifeTrac diesel engine with the above steam engine. Metal casting and a lathe gets you to fabrication capacity for steam engines.

This small package has profound potential for local prosperity in a global economy.

[[Category: Outdated Information]]

Student internships

2011-05-28T12:13:43Z

Syk0 saje:

Summer residency?

Others to contact?
* http://www.aidboston.org/contact.asp
* http://web.mit.edu/asb/www/
* http://stuff.mit.edu/people/ssharari/jobs/internshipprograms.html

Mel King

Contact: mhking@mit.edu

* http://www.tech-center-enlightentcity.tv/contactus.html

Recommended by Amatul Hannan '95-'96 Community Fellows Program

We are seeking interns for our research and development center to help develop open source self-sufficiency technology. This includes designing and implementing "permanent agriculture," agricultural machines, construction, and metalworking. We don't just make diagrams or theory, we make machines that help people achieve their dreams.

Videos of our work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV_-ZzYmo3A&feature=PlayList&p=E5373DEB6EC556F2&index=0&playnext=1

Ideally we are looking for:

* Confident and highly dynamic self learners or researchers.
* People motivated by innovation and change.
* Able to take a project from concept drawing to real world implementation.
* Excited by diversity of thought.
* Comfortable in rural and rustic settings.
* Willing team members, self starters, and project leaders.

Who does that make you think of? Send them to us!

We are offering individuals short term or long term residencies for development of physical technology for the benefit of all people. Residency at Factor e Farm involves physical work, philosophical work, and community building work. Rustic and unique accommodations are available. Please contact us for more details.

Our research and development interests include but are not limited to:

* Low Cost Housing built from local materials
* Permanent Agriculture - food forests, orchards, CSA crops
* DIY Agricultural tools and implements - tractor, spader, tiller, grain combine, hammer mill, hay baler
* Low cost off grid energy systems - heat, hot water, lighting,
* Low cost water systems - water wells, catchment systems
* Metal work - melting, casting, cutting, forming, computer controlled manufacturing, whatever you desire

These are elements of the Global Village Construction Set - everything needed to create advanced civilization on a small scale.

What we offer:

A place where you can put philosophy of sustainability into action. We are a physical experiment in building a post industrial global village - a space for all people to learn and grow.

About our place:

* We have 30 acres in rural Missouri.
* We are off grid with solar panels to charge a forklift battery
* DSL internet
* 300 tree fruit, nut, and berry orchard

About us:

Current internship coordinators and project developers at Factor e Farm are:

Marcin Jakubowski, Ph.D
Studied chemistry at Princeton, NJ and Nuclear Fusion at Madison, WI
joseph.doolittle@gmail.com

Jeremy Mason, AS
AS in IT - Multimedia at Rancho Cordova, CA
jeremymaso@gmail.com

Some of our completed projects include:

* Open Source Tractor made from raw rolled steel pieces.
* Compressed Earth Brick Press from scratch - Produced 6000 bricks
* 10 by 50 foot Greenhouse with rainwater catchment system
* Built 40 ft by 20 ft CEB building attached to greenhouse
* Cordwood-adobe house, earthbag dwelling, hexayurt, solar cubicle house
* Scrap wood goat feeder

Our future projects:

* Computer controlled Plasma Torch Table for cutting out metal to make other machines
* Sawmill - for processing logs into boards
* Incubator for raising chickens
* "Chinampas" - moats around mini garden islands, with chicken coops above to fertilize the soil, and fish below to feed on worms
* Solar homes using the CEB press and sawmill
* Foundry for melting down scrap metal for new machines
* Low cost well drilling rig

[[Category: Public Relations]]

Category:Steam Engine

2011-05-28T12:11:04Z

Syk0 saje:

* '''Main page''': [[Steam Engine Intro]].
* [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/category/global-village-construction-set/steam-engine-construction-set/ Related blog posts]
* [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/forum/steam-engine-construction-set/ Related Forum]

A steam engine is an external combustion engine that can use multiple unrefined fuel sources.

We plan to use a [[babington burner]] to burn [[pyrolysis oil]] to generate steam.

[[Category: Heat Engine]]
[[Category: Energy]]
[[Category: GVCS 50]]

Steam Engine/Spec Metric

2011-05-28T12:09:56Z

Syk0 saje:

= Calculation of a Metric Score =

Following questions are drawn from [[OSE Specifications]] and is used to determine how well the Steam Engine product meets OSE specs. There are no real guidelines on how to use these questions. Given that there are 42 questions and a max score of 42, we assume that each question is awarded one point. In those cases where partial results are present, a score of 0.5 is awarded, leading to the possible metric score as a decimal number.

'''Current score''' (see last section) is 21.5 out of 42 pts.

==Economic Significance==
01. Is it relevant for meeting the material needs of humans? 
1pt - ''Yes, the steam engine can be used to reduce human labor and store energy for later use.'' 

==Distributive Economics==
02. Does the economic model distribute economic power? 
0pt - ''An economic model hasn't been defined yet.''

03. Does it promote community and global resilience? 
1pt - ''Yes, local power generation is essential to local resilience.''

==Systems Design==
04. Does it consider the complete human and natural ecosystem? 
.5pt - ''Some is done, but others (like exhaust steam and oil) haven't been considered yet.''

==Ecology==
05. Is it good for the environment? 
0pt - ''While not as bad as other engines, it does produce a waste stream that includes: steam, oil, water, and noise.''

===Development Process===
06. Is participation in the process entirely voluntary? 
1pt - ''Yes, currently two primary members, and several secondary.''

07. Can anyone join or leave the development group at any time? 
1pt - ''Yes, some have already left, new people have joined.''

08. Does the collaborative development process utilize the input of diverse stakeholders? 
.5pt - ''Some stakeholders are represented, others not.''

09. Are the steps and results of the development process documented? 
1pt - ''Yes, see [[Steam Engine Development]]''

==Simplicity of design==
10. Is it low Cost? 
1pt - ''Yes, the current projected cost is substantially less expensive than similar, off-the-shelf engines.''

11. Does it have Long Life? 
0pt - ''TBD It is designed so that worn or broken parts can be replaced.'

12. Is it modular? 
1pt - ''Yes, different bore sizes, different crankshaft assemblies, etc.''

13. Is it designed for disassembly? 
1pt - ''Yes, the whole engine can be disassembled with a socket wrench and screwdriver.''

==Design for scalability==
14. Can it be scaled up? 
1pt - ''Yes, more cylinders can be added to a crankshaft.''

15. Can it be scaled down? 
1pt - ''Yes, bore size can be reduced.''

16. Is it easily scalable? 
1pt - ''Yes. Add cylinders, modify the crankshaft and go.''

==Localization==
===Materials===
17. Are materials used in production local? 
.5pt -''Some materials can be sourced locally, others will come from distance sources.''

18. Is raw material production local? 
0pt - ''No, not at this time.''

===Production===
19. Is product production local? 
0pt - ''Since it is not in production yet, no.''

20. Is the machinery used in production process open source? 
1pt - ''Yes, OS lathe, milling, drilling.''

21. Is the machinery used in production process locally fabricated? 
0pt - ''Not at this time, no. RepLab is still being produced.''

==Economic Feasibility and Replicability==
22. Is there minimal overhead? 
1pt - ''Almost none, assuming a source of steam from a solar concentrator or biomass boiler. Some oil lubrication is needed.''

23. Is there minimal waste? 
.5pt - ''The steam is recondensed and can be recycled, but some maintenance need in anticipated, which will produce small amounts of waste.''

24. Are R&D costs shared by a number of stakeholders? 
0pt - ''Not really. There are very few stakeholders participating at this time.''

25. Are services given away? 
0pt - ''Not yet.''

26. Are production facilities Crowd-funded? 
0pt - ''Not yet.''

==Product Evolution==

27. Is there continual produce maintenance? 
0pt = ''TBD''

28. Is there continual product development? 
0pt = ''TBD''

==Fabrication Facilities==

29. Is there a flexible fabrication mechanism? 
0pt = ''TBD''

==Open Business Model==

30. Is there a Business Plan? 
0pt - ''No business plan at this time.''

31. Are there technical details in the business plan? 
0pt - ''No business plan at this time.''

==Open Documentation==

32. Is content Open Source? 
1pt = ''Yes, see [[Steam Engine/Index]]''

33. Is content readily accessible (downloadable)? 
.5 - ''Wiki pages only, at this time.''

34. Are there design drawings? 
1pt = ''Yes, many.''

===Designs===
35. Are design drawings CAD? 
0pt = ''No, TBd''

36. Are fabrication procedures detailed? 
0.5pt - ''Fabrication details are in progress.''

37. Is ecoDnomic analysis available? 
0pt - ''TBD''

38. Is ergonomic analysis available? 
0pt - ''TBD''

===Bill of Materials (BOM)===
39. Is there a parts list? 
1pt - ''Yes, see [[Steam Engine Bill of Materials]]''

40. Is Sourcing of parts listed? 
1pt - ''Yes, see [[Steam Engine Bill of Materials]]''

41. Are prices of parts listed? 
0.5 - ''Some, see [[Steam Engine Bill of Materials]]''

==Start-up Assistance==

42. Is producer training available? 
0pt - ''TBD''

=Metric Roll-up and Score=

{| border="1"
|-
!No.
!Desc.
!Pts
|-
|01.
|Human Needs
|1
|-
|02.
|Economic Power
|0
|-
|03.
|Community Resilience
|1
|-
|04.
|Ecosystems
|.5
|-
|05.
|Good for Environment
|0
|-
|06.
|Voluntary Partipation
|1
|-
|07.
|Join/Leave
|1
|-
|08.
|Diverse Stakeholders
|.5
|-
|09.
|Development Process
|1
|-
|10.
|Low Cost
|1
|-
|11.
|Long Life
|0
|-
|12.
|Modular
|1
|-
|13.
|Dissassemblable
|1
|-
|14.
|Scale Up
|1
|-
|15.
|Scale Down
|1
|-
|16.
|Scalable
|1
|-
|17.
|Materials Local
|.5
|-
|18.
|Raw Materials Local
|0
|-
|19.
|Produced Locally
|0
|-
|20.
|OS Machines
|1
|-
|21.
|Local Machines
|0
|-
|22.
|Minimum Overhead
|1
|-
|23.
|Minimum Waste
|.5
|-
|24.
|R&D Costs
|0
|-
|25.
|Service is Free
|0
|-
|26.
|Crowd Funded Facility
|0
|-
|27.
|Continuous Maintenance
|0
|-
|28.
|Continuous Development
|0
|-
|29.
|Flexible Fabrication
|0
|-
|30.
|Business Plan
|0
|-
|31.
|Technical Details in Plan
|0
|-
|32.
|Open Source Content
|1
|-
|33.
|Content Accessible
|1
|-
|34.
|Drawing Designs
|1
|-
|35.
|CAD Drawings
|0
|-
|36.
|Fabrication Details
|.5
|-
|37.
|Economic Analysis
|0
|-
|38.
|Ergonomic Analysis
|0
|-
|39.
|Parts List
|1
|-
|40.
|Parts Source
|1
|-
|41.
|Prices of Parts
|1
|-
|42.
|Training
|0
|-
|
|'''Total Score'''
|21.5
|-
|}

[[Category: Steam Engine]]

Steam Engine Intro

2011-05-28T12:08:52Z

Syk0 saje:

{{breadcrumb|Energy|Steam Engine}}
{{ToolTemplate|ToolName=Steam Engine}}

= Description =

[[Image:Integrated_Energy_System.jpeg|thumb|Complete steam engine system.]]

We are proposing an open-source steam engine project, to deliver a highly-efficient modern steam engine with the following features:

* Scalable power from 5 to 100 horsepower
* Modular design for easy building, maintenance, and repair
* Simple uniflow design - steam flows in a single direction from input valves to exhaust port(s)
* Modular crankshaft design to allow additional units to be added

Project goals include:

* Minimize expensive off-the-shelf components
* Minimize fabrication costs
* Easy to assemble and disassemble
* Easy to troubleshoot and repair

Steam power is not taught in general. For mastering this topic, we need a Steam Power Reading List. 
I have some of this material from Tom Kimmel, of [http://www.kimmelsteampower.com/ Kimmel Steam Power] 
Mike Brown offers a reading list [http://www.mikebrownsolutions.com/order.htm here]

Description of this system by author and excellent background info on home power steam [http://www.fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/JF/JF_OTHER/BIG/Reciprocating%20Steam%20Engine.pdf]

Apparently Skip Goebel thinks similar to me about electronically controlled steam engines taken from [http://www.mail-archive.com/sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg01818.html]

== Additional Information ==

* '''[[:Category: Steam Engine]]'''
* '''[http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/category/global-village-construction-set/steam-engine-construction-set/ Blog post and interview with Harry Schoell]'''
* '''[http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/forum/steam-engine-construction-set/ Related Forum]''' - discussion forum.
* '''[[Steam Engine/Correspondence]]''' - reviews, messages, letters,etc.
* '''[[Steam Engine/Terminology]]''' - terms, jargon, abbreviations, etc.
* '''[[Steam Engine/Index]]''' - steam engine pages organized by topic.

= Project Team =

OSE:

* Marcin Jakubowski, Visionary
* Mark Norton, Project Manager

Design Reviewers:

* Tom Kimmel, SACA
* Ken Helmick, SACA
* Harry Schoell, Cyclone Tech. ??

= Design Rationale =

Although it is a matter of some debate, there are many who feel that our global civilization has past the (so called) point of peak oil. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil | Peak oil] refers to the point in time when easy sources of petroleum have been exhausted. Past that point, demand continues to rise (largely pegged to global population growth) but production rolls off. If we accept that we have past the point of peak oil, then how will we maintain civilization's need for energy? While part of the answer lies in reducing consumption, a bigger part lies in alternative sources of energy. The Open Source Ecology project is exploring a number of [[:Category:Energy | alternative energy sources]], the Open Source Steam engine is the focus of this OSE project.

Steam engines have a number of benefits over other kinds of motive power:

* Relatively uncomplicated, few moving parts (compared to other engines)
* Driven by steam, produce in a variety of ways (boiler, solar concentrator, etc.)
* Can be made modular: steam source, controller, cylinder, crankshaft
* Scalable power: connect more steam engine units onto a common crankshaft
* Easy to build: most parts can be fabricated from stock materials

Additional reasons to design and build an open source steam engine include:

* Relevant as an appropriate technology choice in both poor and rich countries, when coupled to flash steam generators
* Basis for another kind of [[Power Cube]]
* May be coupled directly to linear hydraulic pump (feasibility study required)

= Design =

[[Image:Design-5-A.png|thumb|Current Design]]
Overall design of the Open Source Steam Engine breaks down like this:

* Existing and Historic Designs
** [[Steam Engine Design/Historic]]
** [[Steam Engine Design/White Cliffs]]
* OSE Engine Designs
** [[Steam Engine Design/2009]]
** [[Steam Engine Design]]
** [[Steam Engine Design/Solenoid]]
* Steam Generator Designs
** [[Steam Engine Design/Boiler]]

== Summary of Proposed Design ==

(summarize the bump valve based design here)

=== Typical Engines ===

Typical steam engine cylinders are made from cast iron. (What is the best metal to use for a steam engine?) Given that water is the working fluid, lubrication is required in the cylinder. (Is there any way to prevent corrosion otherwise?)

*Cylinder - cylinder is made from cast iron.
**To cast this cylinder from scrap iron, use a (how many?) pound melt, and use a simple melting furnace such as (here?)

The simplest way to cast a cylinder

[[User:Azuredu|Azuredu]] 03:43, 27 February 2009 (PST) Suggestion. To start with, why not try to adapt a recovered moto engine.

skaar: try iron gas pipe?

jerryshaw: it may not be fully feasible yet, or maybe it already is, but high temperature plastics may actually be usable. Temperature and pressure is well below an internal combustion engine, and there are no plastic IC engines but we already have plastic intake manifolds right next to very hot components, say 400 degrees in the intake of some supercharged engines. If plastic works it would make for very inexpensive steam engines, as well as fairly light weight ones, making it easy to motorize things everywhere. They could be cheaply manufactured from a cooperative owned plant, or perhaps the plastic formulations could be tweaked over time to even eventually use bioplastic and be printed in your own RepRap machine! http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/RepRap But until then don't entirely rule out plastic. It should at least work with basic steam, maybe not superheated steam. I have even heard of wood(!) being used to make a working steam engine (though I think it used iron piston rings, the piston and cylender and head were wood) although I wouldn't expect life to be terribly long.

:I think an aluminum/silicon alloy would be worth considering. It does not shrink much as it solidifies, and can be cast at a reasonable temperature, using plaster molds (lost wax or, when scaled up, a re-usable polyurethane master). It's also fairly strong, reasonably corrosion-resistant, can be used to make heat exchangers, and is widely available as scrap, e.g. aluminum engine blocks are made from a suitable alloy. David Gingery wrote some books that might be helpful.

=== Green Steam Engine ===

An alternative engine design that may be worthy of further evaluation can be found [http://www.greensteamengine.com/index.html] here. It looks as though o-rings are used in place of traditional tight tolerance cast iron cylinder boring. Presumably this method is only good for low pressure and temperature steam. The linkage and valve system is highly innovated and would require no precision machining.

*Discussion of the Green steam engine:http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/green-steam-energy/ It does indeed seem that the o-ring method of sealing is incapable of handling high steam temps and pressures and the design is therefore inherently inefficient.

*Marcin says: I looked at this in detail 2 years ago, and purchased plans. When I asked for references of people who built this engine, the inventor did not provide me with any. I became suspicious about the effectiveness of the engine. Since then, I've heard reports from several sources that longevity and performance are questionable. In summary, if this worked as stated, we would see a large number of implementations on the internet. Since these are not to be seen, it does not appear to be a promising design.

= Product Ecology =

Describe relationship to:

* [[Steam Generator]]
** [[Solar Turbine]] - by concentrating sunlight onto a narrow pipe, we can boil water to drive a steam engine. Using a steam engine to make electricity from sunlight yields much more energy than using photovoltaic cells.
* [[Electric Generator]]
* [[Power Cube]]
* Steam Powered Cars and Trucks

= Specifications =

Inch to millimeter conversion chart [http://mdmetric.com/tech/cvtcht.htm].

= Costs =

(Cost estimates go here)

= Additional Links =

* Biomass CHP with steam engine - [http://www.pritchardpower.com.au/]
* 60% vapor cycle efficiency in steam engine power plant? - [[http://www.lesa-maschinen.de/cms/index.php?page=technologie&hl=en_EN]]
* $300/hp steam engines in production, Peru - [http://www.sensiblesteamperu.com/index_archivos/Page581.htm]

== Steam Engine History ==

* [http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/ Brief History of the Steam Engine]
* [http://campus.udayton.edu/~hume/Steam/steam.htm The Steam Engine]
* A History of the Growth of the Steam Engine: [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=YiNMAAAAMAAJ&dq=steam+engine&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=upjyQA2XIn&sig=gBtrUy-6kRF-HaMr8T2FXppi4KY&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result]
* A Catechism of the Steam Engine:[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/10998]

== Steam Engine Primers/Groups ==

'''Primers'''

* http://www.pioneer.net/~carlich/RSE/RSEprimer.html
* http://www.the-nerds.org/Steam-101.html
* Promising forum with large library of working steam engine plans: http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/

'''Groups'''

* [[Steam Automobile Club of America]]
* [[The Only Production Steam Engine in the World]]
* [[Tinytech]]

== Engine Plans/Products ==

* http://www.pioneer.net/~carlich/RSE/RSEengines.html
* http://www.nearfutures.com/products.htm
* http://www.greensteamengine.com/products.htm
* Triple Expansion Steam Engine Prints: http://www.carferries.com/triple/
* Lindsey Publications:http://www.lindsaybks.com/prod/sub/engines.html
* http://www.grahamind.com/
* http://quasiturbine.promci.qc.ca/Presse/SteamMuller050721.pdf
* These guys claim 30% efficiency on their non compunding multi cylinder steam engine http://www.energiprojekt.com/?product
* '''3kW steam engine for $1375''': http://www.thesustainablevillage.com/servlet/display/products/byCat/71/441/2557/
* Lots of Plans: http://www.john-tom.com/html/SteamPlans.html
* A nice simple double engine plan: http://openfarmtech.org/images/e/e0/MichelNiggelTwin.pdf

== Misc ==

* Green wood chip burner: [http://www.sredmond.com/vthr_index.htm]
* Steam engine from scrap - http://www.btinternet.com/~jhpart/steam2.htm
* Vegetable Oil Based Lubricant:http://www.steamenginelube.com/chelesic.htm
* Homebrew Steam Engine Generator:http://www.otherpower.com/steamengine.shtml
* Steam Engine Manuf. Links: http://cedesign.net/steam/steam-links1.htm
* Harry Schoell's Cyclone Power http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-05/steam-under-hood http://www.cyclonepower.com/
* Oil Free Steam Engine Design for Vehicles: http://six6.region-stuttgart.de/sixcms/media.php/773/23_Platell_P.pdf
* Flash Steam Engine, Could this be advantageous http://www.huzar-power.com/steam_engines/revival/flash_steam.htm

Nick R. says, what are the limits to lathe boring diameters in cast iron? This [http://www.john-tom.com/MyPlans/Steam%20Engines/MarineEngine.pdf] method of construction looks simple and attractive if it could be scaled up enough?

Vanilla Forums/Evaluation

2011-05-28T12:06:40Z

Syk0 saje:

Vanilla was initially [http://openfarmtech.org/forum/discussion/comment/5#Comment_5 recommended by Anthony]:

I initially recommended vanilla based on polling my coworkers. I work at a company that converts large sites off of their current platforms and onto ours.
Most of the conversions are away from vbulletin with phpbb in preparation. My coworkers have done a lot of research on the question but I myself can only say
I don't like vbulletin or phpbb very much based on the many random forums I've read that use them. Vanilla seems better written so far
but I haven't seen it nearly as much of course.
Anyway, if there's anything super-critical that's missing, I could probably write it.

Vanilla seems to be more modular and easy to administer / customize. Here's an excerpt from http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/13239/phpbb-vs.-vforums/p1:

Vanilla has Smilies and Signatures as add-ons. I have used phpBB before and I can say Vanilla is much easier to theme and customize.
There are some features you might be missing or see as must have, but its nothing a couple of moments of PHP scripting could not fix.
The best bet would be to download it and try it out on a test subdomain. You will be surprised, I know I was...

--

ive used phpbb extensively in the past, and hands down vanilla is the better choice. like adrian said, give it a try
and let us know what you think

== Pros and Cons ==

Cons:
* Vanilla is not used by as many sites as phpBB
* At least 2 discussions suggest we should replace Vanilla:
** http://openfarmtech.org/forum/discussion/215/upgrading-forum-software
** http://openfarmtech.org/forum/discussion/comment/89#Comment_89

Pros:
*

== Alternatives ==
* e107
* phpBB

== See Also ==

* Comparison chart: http://www.forum-software.org/forum-comparator/phpbb3-vs-vanilla

[[Category: IT Infrastructure]]

Standard Tech Shop Inventory

2011-05-28T12:04:22Z

Syk0 saje:

retrieved on July 9th 2009 from:
http://techshop.ws/tools_and_equipment.html

(please also see the [http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=MIT_Fab_Lab_item_list Standard Fab Lab Item List])

inventory:
bulk shape creation:
- FDM goo squirter (Dimension SST)

joining:
- Soldering Iron
- Sewing Machine, Industrial qty ??
- sewing machine CNC
- Plastic Seam Welder, Floor Mounted
- Plastic Welding Setup, Handheld
- Welder, MIG
- Welder, Oxygen Acetylene
- Welder, Spot
- Welder, Stick Arc
- Welder, TIG
parting:
- CNC Vinyl Cutter
- Chop Saw
- Horizontal Band Saw
- Vertical Band Saw
- Laser Cutter, Epilog 45W
- laser cutter, epilog 25W
- Throatless Shear, Bench Mounted
- Sheet Metal Shear, Power, 48in Wide
- Plasma Cutter, CNC, 4ft x 8ft
- scroll saw
- radial arm saw

deformation:
- Vacuum Forming Station, 24in x 24in
- Box and Pan Brake
- English Wheel
- Planishing Hammer, Air-Powered
- Press Brake, 15-Ton Power
- Slip Roll, Power, 48in Widel
- shrinker stretcher

removal:
- Disk Sander, Large, Pedestal Mounted
- Grinders, Pedestal Mounted
- Drill Press
- Lathe, Large Metal, with Tooling qty 5
- Milling Machine, Large, with Digital Readout and Tooling qty 5
- Milling Machine, Desktop, CNC qty 2?
- Rotary Turret Punch

surface:
- Sand Blasting Cabinet qty 3
- Paint Booth, Table-Top (10ft W x 5ft T x 2ft D)
- Powder Coating Station and Oven
- anodizing setup
safety:

materials:
- '"bin wall" of parts and materials?'

components:
- '"bin wall" of parts and materials?'

hand tools:
- Open and Box End Wrenches, Inch and Metric
- Socket Wrenches, Inch and Metric, and Ratchets
- probably every power tool, ever
measuring:
- Multimeter
- Oscilloscope
- Granite Surface Plate
- Height Gauges, Digital
- Calipers, Digital
- Micrometer, Digital

fixtures:
- Floor Jack and Jack Stands
- Motorcycle Lift
- Transmission Jack
information:
- Video Camcorder, Digital, 3 CCD
- brainstorming lounge
- wifi high speed internet
- computers

storage:
- lockers?
- refrigerator

power distribution:
- compressed air at every table
- 115V outlets at every table
- coffee fresh-brewed

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Spectrometer

2011-05-28T12:01:48Z

Syk0 saje:

A spectrometer is needed for [[RepLab]]. Several open-source groups are already working on building them -

* http://arkfab.org/?p=64
* http://www.metacafe.com/watch/852073/do_it_yourself_cool_spectrometer/
* http://publiclaboratory.org/tools/spectrometer

[[Category: RepLab]]

Category:Specifications

2011-05-28T11:59:30Z

Syk0 saje: Created page with "Category: GVCS"

[[Category: GVCS]]

Specifications

2011-05-28T11:59:17Z

Syk0 saje:

= Introduction =

Definition of specifications is the first step in the [[Open Source Product Development Pipeline]].

= Product Specifications =

These are the first round products for which we are seeking bids:

# [[Flash Boiler Specifications]]
# [[Steam Engine Specifications]]
# [[Lathe Specifications]]
# [[Metal Melting Furnace Specifications]]
# [[Metal Extrusion Specifications]]
# [[1 Ton Per Day Pyrolysis Oil Reactor Specifications]]
# [[Babington Burner Specifications]]
# [[Gasifier Stove Specifications]]
# [[RepRap and Electronics Fabrication Router Specifications]]
# [[Torch Table Specifications]]
# [[Sawmill Specifications]]

In house development includes
# [[CEB Machine Specifications]]

[[Category: Specifications]]

Solar Train

2011-05-28T11:54:42Z

Syk0 saje:

Solar Train
Filed under: Energy, Inventions, PEACE TRAIN — aztc @ 7:39 am
I was thinking about how a steam locomotive could be converted to use solar thermal energy to replace or supplement other fuels to provide the heat and found the following two articles that seem to indicate all of the major technical issues have been solved for decades. Imagine if we spent a fraction of what we are spending on war to develop a transit system based on these ideas!

Tim

Researching a GPCS-Accumulator Steam Locomotive

The hybrid-accumulator steam locomotive idea described in this article is based on input provided by Michael Bahls (Germany) and Robert Ellsworth (USA).

A GPCS-accumulator locomotive would combine the advantages of a fireless steam locomotive with features of a conventional steam locomotive. It would borrow technology from both, combining the high-pressure (1000-psia) accumulator of a fireless locomotive with a GPCS (gas producer combustion system) firebox. Water in the locomotive’s accumulator (filled to 75% to 80% capacity) would be heated by injecting pressurised superheated steam into the water through a perforated pipe located near the bottom of the accumulator, a practice pioneered on classical fireless steam locomotives. Water would be heated to the operating temperature and pressure levels (1000-psia at 544-deg F). GPCS-accumulator locomotives would have their water supply replenished and be thermally recharged at industrial sites where high-pressure steam is available and where other types of fireless steam locomotives are recharged.

To maximise power output and operating duration, the locomotive would need to be built to the operating railway’s maximum right-of-way clearance dimensions. Several world railway systems allow railcars are built to a length of 85-ft (between couplers) and a width of 10′6″, on 60-ft truck/bogie centres. On such a railway right-of-way, the locomotive accumulator may be built to an inside diameter of 7-ft and interior length of 65-ft (10′6″ exterior diameter and 70-ft exterior length), yielding a volume of 2500-cu.ft and holding 90,000-lb of saturated water at 1,000-psia at 80% capacity. The front end of the locomotive could be extend by using a tapered section (containing the driving cab) with the coupler mounted on an extended bogie/truck. The non-tapered end would house the GPCS firebox and be semi-permanently coupled to a fuel tender unit. The locomotive would measure 95-ft to 100-ft from front-end coupler to tender. A driving cab could also be located either on the tender, allowing bi-directional operation.

Prior to the GPCS-accumulator locomotive entering or re-entering service, the accumulator would be filled to 75% volume with hot, pressurised saturated water. It would be further heated with superheated steam to a volume of 80%, a temperature of 544-deg F and 1,000-psia pressure. This would provide one-third of the locomotive’s required total thermal energy, which could be supplied from such sources as concentrated solar energy or heat-pumped geothermal energy. While in operation, the locomotive would be able to combust various forms of low cost, clean burning, low heat content (5,000 to 9,000-Btu/lb) biomass, including bio-fuel pellets, poultry litter (eg: Thetford Power Station, UK) or even bagasse carried in a semi-permanently coupled tender unit. Automatic fuel feed (stoking) using an auger screw mechanism would transfer fuel into the GPCS firebox, located on the locomotive section. Combustion ash could be transferred by a smaller auger into a holding pan located under the tender. During service lay-overs, the ash pan would be emptied (biomass ash is a fertilizer).

When the locomotive is in service, steam leaving the accumulator through the steam dome would be superheated to 1200-deg F in the GPCS firebox, then flow into a heat exchange pipe located inside the accumulator at its lower level. Saturated water at 1,000-psia and 544-deg F has an enthalpy of 542.6-Btu/lb in the liquid state. For this liquid to flash into steam, it would need to draw 650.4-Btu/lb from the remaining saturated liquid. The steam in the steam line would replenish this heat by making 4 to 5 successive passes through the firebox (for re-superheating) and lower level of the accumulator. This heat exchange steam line would allow 650-Btu/lb to be added to the saturated water, maintaining optimal accumulator temperature and pressure levels. The 6th re-superheat would occur prior to the steam being expanded in the steam engine, with a possible 7th re-superheat being used for compound expansion . A variety of positive-displacement single and compound expansion steam engine designs may be located close to the GPCS firebox, directly driving the axles.

The heat exchange steam line inside the accumulator would heat the water in a similar manner as do the firetubes inside a conventional firetube boiler. However, the steam line would be totally immune to any build-up of creosote, clinker or carbon deposits that foul the insides of fire-tubes, greatly reducing locomotive combustion system cleaning and maintenance requirements. The absence of cold water flowing on to a hot and dry crown sheet (of a firetube boiler) is eliminated in a steam-heated accumulator, enhancing “boiler” safety. Baffles would be needed inside the large accumulator to keep the heat exchange steam line covered with water. They would also reduce interior fluid wave action and splashing caused by the locomotive accelerating or deccelerating, or by changes in gradient and by lateral swaying (yaw). By using a multi-pass steam line to heat fluid in the accumulator, the (fluidized bed) GPCS firebox and smokebox could be built as a single combined unit. This layout would offer improved energy efficiency while reducing overall combustion system maintenance and cleaning requirements.

The heated accumulator in the locomotive can allow up to 65,000-lb of the saturated water to be used for propulsion, with the remainder covering the heat-exchange steam line. The total energy available for propulsion would be some 40,000-Hp-hr. If the steam engine is an oil-free ceramic unit (from the German company Spilling) capable of receiving steam at over 1200-deg F (enthalpy of 1633-Btu/lb) and operating at a thermal efficiency level of 20%, some 8,000-Hp-hr would be available to the drive wheel. This power level could allow the locomotive to pull a 7-coach double-decker express passenger train at speeds of near 50-miles per hour for up to 5-hrs at 1,500-Hp, operating intercity routes of up to 250-miles. A thermal efficiency level of 25% would allow an operating duration of 6-hours at 1,500-Hp. At the present day, a variety of positive displacement steam engine designs could be built from ceramic materials and operate without oil.

For operation on railways using the UK right-of-way dimensions, overall width would be restricted to 9′ 3″ by 65-ft length. The accumulator capacity would be reduced to a maximum capacity of 1400-cu.ft (6-ft inside diameter by 50-ft inside length), carry 52,000-lb saturated water at 1,000-psia, of which 39,000-lb could be used for propulsion. On this restricted railway gauge, the driving cab may be located on the tender (train operated with the tender leading), or ahead of the accumulator in a tapered end section of the locomotive. In service, the smaller locomotive operating at 20%-efficiency would be able to provide 1,500-Hp for a 3-hour duration, able to pull light trains along non-electrified lines for distances ranging from 120-miles to 200-miles. If engine efficiency were raised to 25%, the locomotive could deliver 2500-Hp for 2-hours and pull a fast passenger train distances between 140 and 200-miles.

Ted Pritchard of Australia ( http://www.pritchardpower.com ) has designed and built highly efficient Vee-2 compound expansion uniflow piston steam engines that have delivered up to 19% thermal efficiency in mobile operation. This engine design is quite capable of directly driving powered axles through flexible quill-drives, similar to a concept used on the Henschel V-8 steam locomotive. Two designs of rotary uniflow steam engines are also possible, one from the Quasiturbine group of Montreal (Dr. Gilles Saint-Hilaire: http://quasiturbine.promci.qc.ca ) and one from the Western Railway Group of Boise, Idaho (Tom Blasingame). The latter rotary engine design can operate without mechanical valves, yet offer equivalent minimum inlet valve cut-offs as low as 12.5%, with an equivalent maximum of near 50%. It has very low starting torque and would need to operate in tandem with a piston engine to start the train and enable low-speed operation. If the Quasiturbine was operated as a uni-directional engine, then it does not need any valves … just inlet and exhaust ports. … For a steam-powered Quasiturbine to be bi-directional, it may have to use some kind of valve system to direct steam alternatively either at the inlets (forward) or the outlets (reverse direction) ports. Two-Quasiturbines operating at 45-degrees out of phase with each other, would have enough zero-RPM torque to start a train.

A horizontally opposed steam piston engine design that can operate as an underfloor engine, is being designed/evaluated by John Davies and the S-Team in South Africa. In the Ukraine, engineer Viktor Gorondyanskiy has designed a unique multi-piston/ compound-expansion. steam engine that can theoretically operate at 35% thermal efficiency, using inlet steam at 1300-deg F (650-deg C). Using a direct mechanical drive system would reduce overall locomotive capital cost (electrical running gear can account for over 60% of locomotive capital cost). Oil-free, self-lubricating jacket heated ceramic steam expanders (engines) would be designed to operate using 250 to 300-psia pressure superheated steam at 1300-deg F. Steam pressure would be reduced from 1,000-psia accumulator pressure entering the steam line, to 297-psia using 2-expansion valves, each causing a pressure drop of 54.5% (1000-psia x 0.545 x 0.545 = 297-psia). Since steam engines give their highest energy efficiency levels when operating at part load and at minimal inlet valve cut-off ratios, large overall engine displacements would be optimal.

The operating range and power level could be extended, by re-using a portion of the exhaust steam. The Swedish Ranotor company ( http://www.ranotor.se ) designs and builds heat exchangers that can condense the steam, however, effective condensing only works on lower-powered steam locomotives. The maximum possible size of the heat-exchangers that can be fitted to a railway vehicle, restricts how much thermal energy can be managed and in turn imposes power restrictions on locomotive output. Prior to being pumped at high-pressure into the accumulator, the water would pass through several (4 to 6) coiled monotube boilers that would heat the 1,000-psia water to 540-deg F, adding 3,000,000 to 4,500,000-Btu/hr (5500 to 8200-lb/hr) to the accumulator. This could add up to 1-hour of extra operating duration and operating range to the locomotive.

The GPCS-accumulator locomotive may be operated on intercity journeys up to 250-miles, along non-electrified routes. It is an alternative form of rail traction intended for operation during an era where oil becomes scarce and oil prices escalate to levels that make alternative fuels economically more viable. Most of the componentry to build a GPCS-accumulator locomotive already exists.

Harry Valentine,
Transportation Researcher.
harrycv@hotmail.com

http://www.messiaen.demon.co.uk/trains/newsteam/modern31.htm

Modernising the Fireless Steam Accumulator Locomotive

The accumulator locomotive was traditionally a fireless steam locomotive used for shunting duties. All designs used a steam accumulator that was essentially a thermos bottle laying on its side. To be energised, the accumulator had to be at least 3/4 full of water. Heating of this water was done by an external steam source. While some designs used a coiled heat exchanger line, most later designs injected superheated directly into the accumulator tank, using a perforated pipe near the tank bottom. This design enabled rapid energy re-charges (15 to 30-minutes) to be undertaken every few hours. A cross-section layout of a fireless cooker is at http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/porter/page44.jpg .

The last fireless locomotives were 0-4-0’s built in Germany during the early 1960’s, by the Henschel group, based on research undertaken during the 1930’s by Prof. Gilli. These locomotives were small in size and were designed to operate on accumulator pressures of 1,000-psig. Some models used onboard, natural gas fired heaters and a coiled monotube boiler. This arrangement used an external an external supply of natural gas to heat the boiler and water pumped at high-pressure from an external source.The fireless Henschel locomotives were smaller that American built Heisler fireless steam locomotives, which operated on lower accumulator pressures (200-psig). Nevertheless, a fully recharged American Heisler 0-4-0 fireless locomotive of pre-WW2 vintage could lumber along for distance of almost 95-miles on its own, or tow a train of 10-loaded freight cars for distances of up to 20-miles. Porter fireless locomotives operated on a tank pressure of 150-psig (see http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/porter/porter-pd.html ). Using the performance date obtained from early fireless locomotive designs, extrapolations were undertaken to increase the operating range and power output of a modern accumulator fireless locomotive, using larger tanks storing higher pressures.

Modern manufacturing techniques can enable long, high-pressure accumulator tanks to be built out of alloy steels, at very competitive prices. A modern fireless design based on traditional concepts, could use multiple high-pressure tanks, each with its own perforated recharging pipe at tank bottom. Each tank could also be supplied with its own onboard coiled monotube boiler. Monotube boilers have been built that operate at over 1,000-psig, with 200-Hp thermal capability and up to 85% heat transfer efficiency from combustion to steam generation. Theoretically, such boilers would only be used for energy recharging where no external supply of high-pressure superheated steam is available. Performance improvements and extended operating range would result from increased thermal storage capacity and improved piston efficiency. Most thermal recharges would be done using stationary, high-pressure water-tube boilers (up to 2,000-psig) fired by gasified renewable (local) bio-fuels, or solar thermal energy stored at high temperature. A multi-tank accumulator fireless locomotive could be fully recharged within 15-30-minutes.

Research undertaken in Australia by Ted Pritchard (Pritchard Steam http://prsteam.inventdata.com.au) into modernised uniflow (inlet valve, exhaust ports) steam engines, has shown that in actual service, the efficiency levels of a properly designed uniflow engine could be double that of single-expansion piston engines. The modernised steam piston engine is insulated using modern technology along its outer (third) layer. It is also jacket-heated outside the cylinder walls to yield higher performance levels. Modern valve control in the form of precise inlet valve cut-off operation, further enhances efficiency. Earlier fireless locomotives used only throttle valve control for speed/power control. Pritchard-type uniflow steam engines could be mounted directly on the trucks (bogies) of modern fireless accumulator locomotives. An alternative engine that can operate on the uniflow principle is the Quasiturbine rotary engine, which can also be mounted in the axle trucks/bogies (http://quasiturbine.promci.qc.ca/QTIndex.htm).

High-pressure accumulator tanks enable higher levels of energy to be stored. A lower-pressure downstream tank can allow high-pressure energy storage to be combined with lower-pressure pistons. This approach is analogous the electronic “chopper” control used in DC circuitry. Small bursts of power are sent to capacitors for temporary storage, while inductors regulate reduce levels of power flow. A similar system can be used in a steam storage system. In a steam “chopper” system, a valve from the high pressure accumulators would rapidly open (fully) and shut in response to pressure sensitive valves in the cylinder-feed accumulator tanks (the steam “capacitor”). The cylinder-feed accumulator could operate at pressures up to 300-psig, while main storage tank pressures would hold pressure levels of up to 2,000-psig.

A modern steam accumulator locomotive could be built to the same dimensions of the 3-level automobile carriers used on North American railway systems. These cars are nearly 100-feet (30-m) between couplers, 9-feet 6-inches (2.85-m) wide and with a height of 19-feet 8-inches (6-m) above the head of the rail. To carry the locomotive weight, a wheel/axle arrangement similar to that of the American Penn Central GG1 locomotives’ 4-6-6-4 layout may need to be used, on a longer bogie/truck-centre spacing. The energy storage capability could be up to 20-times that of a 1960’s era Henschel fireless, with at least 50% higher engine brake thermal efficiency than traditional piston designs. Lumbering on its own at 40-Km/hr, the modern accumulator fireless locomotive could have a range of up to 350-miles. A design built to the exterior dimensions of a passenger rail coach (10′6″ or 3.2-m wide, 14′6″ or 4.4-m high and 85′ or 26-m between couplers) could still store over 10-times the thermal energy of a Henschel fireless loco. The main operating niche of such a locomotive type would be in developing countries, where few paved roads exist and where right-of way clearances would allow passage to large locomotives.

The condition of rail lines in some developing nations are such that intercity trains rarely travel at speeds above 30-miles per hour (50-Km/hr) and often slower. This type of operations allows for use of low-powered locomotives that develop less than 1000-Hp (745-Kw). Stops and lay-overs are frequent, operating characteristics that would favour a large accumulator fireless steam locomotive. Recharging of accumulator tanks could occur at rest stops or at terminals, every 25 to 50-miles. A large steam accumulator locomotive could pull a passenger, freight or mixed train over a 50-mile journey segments, distances that are not uncommon in developing countries. Certain rainy regions in Asia, Central Africa (Congo area), Central and South America would be potential candidates for modernised and improved traditional accumulator locomotive operations. These are regions where rainfall is frequent and water for locomotive operation would be available.

Such locomotives would require very low levels of maintenance and are easily repairable. Fuel supplies for the stationary water-tube boilers would be predominantly locally supplied. A small number of wayside water-tube boilers could supply energy to a relatively large fleet of accumulator locomotives, provided that they do not all need to re-charged at the same time in the same location (an extremely rare occurrence). The cost of such a fleet of locomotives would be comparatively low, while their availability levels would be quite high (due to modern thermal insulation around the accumulator tanks) and the speed over which fireless accumulator steam locomotives could be re-charged (rarely more that 30-minutes using the perforated pipe with a baffle above it). One person locomotive operation would prevail, while added manpower (stationary engineers) would be needed to staff the stationary water-tube boilers.

In sunny tropical countries where adequate water for steam locomotive operation is available, solar thermal energy could be used to assist in replenishing locomotive energy supply. Large solar heliostats would collect intense solar thermal energy. Insulated fibre- optic lines made from processes aluminium-oxide (purified & clear industrial sapphire) would transmit the intense solar thermal energy into very large, stationary, ceramic-lined and insulated thermal energy storage tanks. Thermal energy would be stored in the high heats of fusion from various metal-oxides. A low-cost material thermal storage material, lithium-nitrate, occurs quite naturally across Southern Africa. The addition of steam converts it to lithium-hydroxide, which has a latent heat of fusion of 185-Btu/lb at 460-degrees C. Superior thermal storage materials include a new generation of metallic oxide polymers (super-molecules) such as aluminium-oxide polymers, having latent heats of fusion up to 500-Btu/lb, near 500-degrees Celsius.

To prevent tank and water-tube corrosion, tank interiors and water-tube exteriors would have to be lined with a corrosion resistant material like carbon fibre or a high-temperature fluoro-plastic. Such tanks can be used onboard accumulator fireless locomotives to improve performance and efficiency, by superheating steam prior to entry into and expansion in the engine. A wide variety of thermal energy storage materials have life expectancies of several million alternating deep-drain and full-recharge cycles, with no loss of energy storage capacity. The high cost of replacement electrical batteries may be deferred indefinitely, by using such thermal storage technology. By comparison, electric batteries become spent after several hundred cycles of deep-cycle draining and recharging, requiring costly replacement. A battery-electric system only returns some 50% of the energy put into it, dissipating the rest as heat mainly during the charging cycle.

A modernised traditional fireless accumulator locomotive could be economical to operate in terms of fuel supply and efficiency. It would also be well suited to operating conditions that presently exist on several “short-line” rail systems or railways in many developing countries. Such locomotives would also be able to operate commuter service (rapid energy recharge at the end of line) and tourist train excursion service. They may even have application in commuter service along non-electrified rail lines in some developed nations. In arid/dry regions of the world, fireless locomotives would need to use a water replenishing technology such as multiple expansion valves and condensing radiators on the exhaust steam. Condensing effectiveness may be improved by using an onboard sealed “cold-tank” containing either ice or dry ice.

A variant of the fireless steam locomotive was the compressed air locomotive, built by the same locomotive manufacturers (Porter, Baldwin, Whistler, Henschel) as conventional and fireless steam traction. The two concepts can be combined into one, for short-distance operation only, in extremely dry climates. The pressurised, saturated water would be used as a thermal storage medium, instead of driving the wheels directly and exhausting steam to the atmosphere. Externally energised onboard water-pumps and monotube boilers would allow for energy re-charging, much in the same manner as the extensively modified locomotives that came from DLM. Compressed air (5,000-psi) stored in tanks in a separate car, would be heated in tubes passing through the water tanks, prior to expansion in a traction engine (such as a quasiturbine). Heat may also be stored in a molten metallic oxide polymer in a lined (to combat corrosion) and insulated tank, with coated (corrosion resistance) tubes passing through the thermal storage tank.

The energy in such thermal storage tanks may also be used to energise a closed-cycle Brayton turbine, using atmospheric air at varying pressure levels as the working fluid. The Escher-Wyss division of Sulzer built a 2,000-Kw closed-cycle regenerative turbines operating on variable pressure atmospheric air, delivering its optimal efficiency (15% in hot weather to 32% in cool weather) between 20% to 80% of maximum power output. In California,USA, the Power Now company has been testing a 7-Kw closed cycle turbine (http://www.companydr.com/vanaar/PowerNow/FAQs.htm) using variable pressure air. This type of “steamless” variant of the fireless locomotive would have to store its thermal energy supply in the latent heat of fusion of a metallic-oxide polymer. It could operate in short-line/branch-line operation on several types of railway systems. In passenger service, it could pull tourist/excursion trains, operate in low-frequency suburban commuter and pull short, light intercity trains up to 300-km (at 100-km/hr). It could also pull light intermodal trains (highway trailers on rail axles) of up to 50-cars, on intercity journeys of up to 300-km.

Harry Valentine, Transportation Researcher, harrycv@hotmail.com

http://www.messiaen.demon.co.uk/trains/newsteam/modern21.htm

Comments Off
7/28/2005

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Space frame

2011-05-28T11:54:31Z

Syk0 saje:

random research

http://www.archistructures.org/

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/eng/research/ems/ssrc/intro.htm

http://spaceframe.org/

[[Category: Links]]
[[Category: Notes]]

Solar Thermochemistry

2011-05-28T11:52:14Z

Syk0 saje:

Thermochemistry is the study of heat flow to or from a chemical reaction. Solar thermochemistry is an emergent process technology that uses concentrated solar energy to drive endothermic chemical reactions at elevated temperatures.

==Applications==
* production of carbon-neutral fuels (examples: water splitting or [[Solar Upgrading of Hydrocarbons|solar upgrading of hydrocarbons]])
* [[solar metallurgy]]
* dissociation reactions, e.g. zinc (project: "[http://solar.web.psi.ch/data/research/elprod/ SOLZINC]")
* purification reactions
* A photogalvanic device is a type of battery in which the cell solution (or equivalent) forms energy-rich chemical intermediates when illuminated
* Photoelectrochemical cells or PECs consist of a semiconductor, typically titanium dioxide or related titanates, immersed in an electrolyte.

==Related pages on OSE Wiki==
[[Metal Refining]], [[Heliostat]], [[Solar Metallurgy]], [[Solar Upgrading of Hydrocarbons]]

==External Links==
* ETHZ Zürich: [http://www.pre.ethz.ch/publications/0_pdf/books/Solar_Thermochemical_Process_Technology.pdf Solar thermochemical process technology]
* image gallery: [http://solar.web.psi.ch/data/research/elprod/?gallery SOLZINC pilot plant at Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot]
* [https://share.sandia.gov/news/resources/releases/2007/sunshine.html Sandia's Sunshine to Petrol (S2P) technology ]

[[Category: Energy]]

OSE Online Presence

2011-05-28T08:30:59Z

Syk0 saje:

* Blog
* Fr33 - http://fr33agents.ning.com/group/opensourceecology

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Housing

2011-05-28T08:30:42Z

Syk0 saje:

= Introduction =

We begin with housing. The present difficulty is still the lack of accommodations, and we discuss in [http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=Open_Source_Ecology:Community_Portal#Social_Technology_Approach Social Technology Approach]. Start with a [[solar cubicle]]. We're planning on beginning the building in this week. Our present aim is to attract 1 person per week here, by simply reaching out to our audiences directly. A $400 investement per heated cubicle is well worth it - given that a productive [[Home Team]] member should be capable of generating $2000 of support for hardware and infrastructure development.

Check for a brief description for the [[solar cubicle]]. It is modular in design, in that additional units can be attached readily, by each new wall being attached to an old wall. Each cubicle will be slighly inclined (minimally) to shed water, such that back-to-back positioning of cubicles will allow proper drainage off the roof.

We foresee the need for 4 of these cubicles, until we start adding on non-insulated ones.

We will evaluate this program after building the first cubicle.

= Approach =

Our present approach is to pursue standard construction ([[Solar cubicle]]s), and transition to CEB-Sawmill based construction when the weather improves by May.

This means that prior to May, we need to have the CEB Prototype 2 finished. See [[CEB Press Status]].

= Dependencies =

[[Category: Deployment]]

Social Technology Approach

2011-05-28T08:30:19Z

Syk0 saje:

{{delete|single inward link fixed}}

see http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=Open_Source_Ecology:Community_Portal#Social_Technology_Approach

OSE Online Presence

2011-05-28T08:29:43Z

Syk0 saje:

* Blog
* Fr33 - http://fr33agents.ning.com/group/opensourceecology

[[Categories: Notes]]
[[Categories: Links]]

Slotted Disc Turbine

2011-05-28T08:29:04Z

Syk0 saje:

Hello Everyone,

We’re all starting a New Year and I’d like to thank everyone who responded to my original Bladeless Slotted Disc Turbine article and for the many interesting inquiries and comments. Since eight out of ten inquiries were related to solar applications, I decided to publish a paper on the subject. There appears to be some confusion about how much energy can be acquired from the sun, especially using a modified parabolic satellite dish, or any other solar concentrator. The article was written to try to get everyone on the same page, or at least in the same ballpark. A series of papers can be expected with the objective of learning how to make enough steam to run a small steam turbine or engine. For anyone even thinking about installing a solar system, these articles should help to understand the technology and to make better decisions.

Making Steam from Solar Energy
, Part 1, can be found on the following website:

http://www.green-trust.org/steamturbine/Solar_White%20Paper_Part%201.pdf

The original steam turbine article can be found at:

http://www.green-trust.org/steamturbine/steamturbine.htm

For those who have inquired about obtaining plans or hardware, the current plan is to offer a single rotor 1-3 kW kit. This kit is designed for educational and research purposes only and is not otherwise commercially available. Detailed drawings are not available, although assembly and shop drawings are included with the purchase of a turbine kit. The decision to offer a complete kit instead of fabrication drawings is based on several factors.

All the parts can probably be made in any machine shop, except the slotted discs. The precision needed for the slotted disc requires laser cutting to assure desired accuracy and balance. However, laser cutting is only cost effective in quantity. Likewise, the forming of the slots requires a heavy-duty press and special fixtures. There is an advantage for all users to gain and share experience by beginning with the same turbine design, around which the rest of the system, such as a boiler, a condenser and controls, needs to be designed, built and tested.

The price, depending on the number of firm orders received, is expected to be less than $500 USD per kit + S&H, and delivery will be four to six weeks ARO. If you are planning to purchase a 1-3 kW kit, please let me know right away and I’ll send you additional information, or let me know if you are more interested in a 5 kW or a 10 kW turbine kit.

Thank you and have a safe and happy New Year,

Bob Saunders
nwwpa@yahoo.com

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Skid Loader

2011-05-28T07:01:55Z

Syk0 saje:

{{delete|relevance of content?}}

Pictures of skid loaders :

http://images.google.com/images?q=skid%20loaders&oe=utf-8&rls=com.ubuntu:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

[[]]

Sent 6 -Open Design Foundation- 3.21.09

2011-05-28T07:00:03Z

Syk0 saje:

Open Design Foundation:

Sepehr Kiani
Fiber Optic Productline Manager at Teradyne Inc.
skiani@alum.mit.edu

Samir Nayfeh
Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering, MIT
nayfeh@mit.edu

Ryan Vallance
Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering, George Washington University
vallance@engr.uky.edu

http://www.opendesign.org/

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Scalable, Open Source Product Development Pipeline Platform

2011-05-28T02:33:21Z

Syk0 saje:

The main point of development is a conceptual design of the interface which addresses the various development points of the Scalable, Open Source Hardware Development Method, hereafter "Method."

At this point, it does not matter what software platform will be used. The important point is that the conceptual design has to be written prior to implementation. This would be a ~10 page description.

We may start on it now, and whether you end up implementing it or not, I think the design is important.

Here are our requirements, each of which can be distributed worldwide in implementation, while the fabrication aspect is best done locally for heavy parts where shipping and integration would otherwise be difficult.

*Handling 40 projects. Projects are primarily electromechanical hardware, RepLab tools, tools for agriculture, tools for consruction, and tools for energy/fuel production.

*Each project involves design rationale, concept drawings, concept design, CAD in 2D, 3D models, calculations, Bill of Materials and Sourcing information. Exploded part diagrams and fabrication drawings are also desirable.

*Global collaboration on funding, marketing, publicity, collaboration incubation - and process development for doing the same.

*Global collaboration on background work - explainer videos, analysis of economic significance, background reading materials on the topic, seminal books on the topic; collection of reference materials - such as design of mechanisms, pattern languages; software for design, analysis, or other tasks related to implementation.

*Design repository, project tracking (issues, completion, etc)

*Team - people involved

*Documentation - videos, text, etc.

*General content - modeling/motivation work regarding the products. This may fall under marketing.

The above would have to allow many people to join and collaborate, and it would promote the deployment of the prototypes worldwide, not just at Factor e Farm.

*Our only criteria for joining are meeting of [[OSE Specifications]], and each product should have a clear rating with respect to OSE Specifications. Prioritization of technologies should be clear from OSE Specifications.

[[Category: Notes]]

Scalability

2011-05-28T02:32:07Z

Syk0 saje:

{{stub}}

Scalability is one of the core requirements in [[OSE Specifications]].

There are two forms of [[Scalability]]: intensive and extensive.

Intensive refers to increasing size by enlarging. Extensive refers to increasing size by adding multiples.

Sabbatical

2011-05-28T02:30:41Z

Syk0 saje:

Marcin is planning a 3 month working tour with key collaborators on the [[Global Village Construction Set]] in winter 2010/2011.

[[Category: Past Events]]

ST Generator

2011-05-28T02:29:52Z

Syk0 saje:

[[Image:STrotor.jpg]]

See information on 4-pole generators:

http://www.utterpower.com/ST.htm

We use these at Factor e Farm, and they are proving to be remarkably robust and long-lived.

See also [[Open Source Motor]]

PS. What does the ST stand for? How about STC?

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Rubble Trench Foundation

2011-05-27T04:55:43Z

Syk0 saje:

*http://www.dancingrabbit.org/newsletter/Newsletter0898_Foundation.php
From above source:
[[Image:rubble trench.gif]]

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

SSO

2011-05-27T04:54:53Z

Syk0 saje:

Single sign-on (SSO) on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_sign-on

==Goals==
Allow users to login once in Joomla and access all other applications on our site ([http://openecology.org/wiki/ wikimedia], [http://openecology.org/blog wordpress blog], [http://openecology.org/forum/ vanilla forums], [http://courses.openecology.org/ courses in Moodle])

==See Also==
* http://vanillaforums.org/page/singlesignon

[[Category: IT Infrastructure]]

Rubble Trench Foundation

2011-05-27T04:53:41Z

Syk0 saje:

*http://www.dancingrabbit.org/newsletter/Newsletter0898_Foundation.php
From above source:
[[Image:rubble trench.gif]]

[[Categories: Notes]]
[[Categories: Links]]

SCEB

2011-05-27T04:50:25Z

Syk0 saje:

sCEB = stabilized Compressed Earth Brick.

See also the [http://www.aureka.com/eace/index.php?categ=eace Auroville work on stabilized CEB].

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Ronja

2011-05-27T04:49:40Z

Syk0 saje:

Ronja (Reasonable Optical Near Joint Access) is an User Controlled Technology (like Free Software) project of optical point-to-point data link. The device has 1.4km range and has stable 10Mbps full duplex data rate. Ronja is an optoelectronic device you can mount on your house and connect your PC, home or office network with other networks. Or you can use it as a general purpose wireless link for building any other networking project.

The design is released under the GNU Free Documentation License: you get all the necessary documentation and construction guides free. The material costs are very low, about 100 USD. The operation is immune to interference and quite reliable - interrupted only by dense fog.

License: GNU General Public License

Website: http://ronja.twibright.com/about.php

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

Robotic Arm Concept

2011-05-27T04:46:31Z

Syk0 saje:

*Initial prototype should be able to handle the automation of welding tasks.
*On the high end, the open source Industrial Robot

[[Category: Concept]]

Robotic Arm Electrical Design

2011-05-27T04:45:35Z

Syk0 saje:

Robotic Arm Mechanical Design

2011-05-27T04:45:33Z

Syk0 saje:

Replication of Resource Development Operations

2011-05-27T04:44:26Z

Syk0 saje:

Nonprofit Resource Development (NRD) is a clear and direct route to raising resources for GVCS development, given the considerable size of this sector. We are encouraging that a number of such ''Operations'' are set up in different states. The general idea is to convert the wave of emerging support of the GVCS into tangible resources that could move the project forward - in a distributed fashion which takes advantage of the initiative of a number of interested stakeholders. In this way, each branch of OSE NRD operations would remain lean and agile, consistent with the distributive economics mission of OSE. The commitment of these operations would be

*Learn about the work of OSE, such as from the [[Crash Course]] and [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/ blog], and other materials
*Assume the risk and cost of startup
*OSE provides brand identity
*NRD operation provides funding to OSE, covers NRD's operating costs, and returns a suggested 75% of all incoming funding to promote GVCS development
*This would function as a contract-based consortium, with a mission to fund the development of the GVCS

[[Category: Organization]]

Replication

2011-05-27T04:43:31Z

Syk0 saje:

Here we outline educational methods for replicating each part needed to produce the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS). Hypothetically, after prototype testing, these methods can be put to practice beginning with the first product order, constructed by a first time Maker under supervision of an experienced Maker of the same product. This page provides the basis for a strategic plan to replicate GVCS.

= Replication Strategy =
== Advance working prototypes into production ==

Contact [[True Fans]], Gaia University, The Farm, and other potentates and [[Collaborators]] to focus on refining current prototypes to market and resell, like [http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=LifeTrac LifeTrac] and [http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=CEB_Press The Liberator], to fund [[Factor e Farm]] and our partner organizations and individuals. An applied Open Business Model will help put products into action and fund [[Factor e Farm]] and our partners to help accelerate the assembly of the Global Village Construction Set. For a business plan outline view [[Network, Optimize, and Replicate]]. Also view [http://www.p2pfoundation.net/Neocommercialization neocommercialization], the foundation for open business models.

= Replication-in-Focus =
*What tools are used?
*What materials are needed and where are they optimally located?
*How are parts assembled, from start to finish, A to Z?
*The rationale for decisions made as needed.
==Step-by-Step Assembly Instruction==
Document how parts are assembled in detail (e.g. weld Widget A to Widget B). This makes use of written and verbal language, CAD graphics, and video footage.

==Tool Location==
[[Collaborators]] list on a product wiki tools to lend or donate by geographical region. They may be sold for less than Industrial retailers. Trade agreements can be made (e.g. Tool for Materials, Materials for Finished Product, ect). Lending or donating is most preferred. Logs detail donations and exchanges.

==Materials Location==
[[Collaborators]] list on product wiki by geographical region the most optimal materials locations with retrieval information. Materials possessed by a collaborator can be given for free or a fee lower than competing Industrial retailers. Trade agreements can be made (e.g. Materials for Tools, Materials for Finished Product, ect). Lending or donating is most preferred. Logs detail donations and exchanges.

= Step 1. Replicate the Workspace =

We can begin by replicating the FlexFab Workshop itself. This is essential for a learner to more easily replicate each product. Explain what is needed in a workshop environment with instructions on how to construct the workshop and acquire or build the manufacturing tools.

When production begins an additional workshop environment will be needed at either Factor e Farm or another location. This is to have a workshop available at all times for development of GVCS prototypes and other research and creative endeavors.

[[Image:Fab_Lab.jpg]]

= Learn by Viewing & Doing =

In a video format show from beginning to end the construction of a product. The goal is to transfer the knowledge of how to construct each tool with no prior experience to a young child. This assumes we live in a world of young children.

==Scenario Example==

With the help of avid knowledge and financial support, [[Collaborators]] on the web, Nick, Jeremy, Marcin, and the [[Core Team]] successfully construct the final prototype of the Solar Power Generator and are now ready to share construction knowledge with a student and the world simultaneously. Nick wants to share his knowledge, so he becomes an instructor while Marcin, Jeremy, and the [[Core Team]] work with [[Collaborators]] to continue developing prototypes for GVCS.

Like the viewer, the student has little knowledge of the product design before it is built. This is very helpful for both the student and the viewer! Dialogue between instructor and student is recorded with special attention to 1) what tools are used, 2) what materials are needed and where they are optimally located, 3) how parts are assembled, from start to finish, A to Z, and 4) the rationale for decisions made as needed.

All activity is video recorded. The director's role is to understand and present how to assemble the design. This will mean at least two individuals, the film director and the student will learn how to assemble the design before the document is published. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close-up Close-up] footage with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice-over voice over] are used to describe "widget A assembled to widget B." Assembly knowledge is crucial to technical knowledge transfer used for construction. Ensure the presentation is condensed and refined in a manner a small child can understand. In a matter of days the footage is edited and published.

Some time later, the audio is transcribed and copied to a wiki page and included as optional subtitling. The transcript is translated, perhaps cooperatively, into other languages. The translated subtitles are read out loud with a different voice-over for each language that joins in.

Video is uploaded to YouTube and linked from the Solar Power Generator wiki. It is also available on video disc. Included are listings of required tools and materials locations sited by geographical region. Now potentially anyone in the world can build an energy source to power a small community. Inter-independence is the result!

[[Category: Education]]

RepRap Prusa Mendel

2011-05-27T04:42:10Z

Syk0 saje:

http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa

[[Category: Links]]

Kickstarter Script

2011-05-27T04:41:12Z

Syk0 saje:

=CNC Torch Table/Router/Plasma Cutter w Oxyhydrogen and Oxyhydrogen=

The main point about it is that we have succeeded in developing the world's first, replicable, low-cost open source CNC torch table (I don't know of any others that meet the criteria) that at present costs $800 in parts for a 4'x8' torch table. Comparable machines cost $10k off-the-shelf.

The first fire is shown in [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/2011/05/open-source-cnc-torch-table-first-fire/ this blog post]. The goal is a machine comparable to $20k+ machines, after adding z height controls; OS stepper motor controllers; OS stepper motors; and integrated toolchain from FreeCAD to toolpath CAM files. The last part is noteworthy - as we found out that we have to go through 4 independent software packages to arrive at torch cutting - on top of modifying the resulting toolpath files to accommodate a proper hole-piercing algorithm.

On top of the above, we are going to opensource an oxyhydrogen generator - which allows one to generate oxyhydrogen cutting gas by electrolyzing water. This displaces the need for acetylene cutting gas, while retaining compatibility with any cutting gas of choice.

To go further into this ecology - we will open source a plasma cutter as well. This will make the torch table compatible not only with 6

The unique part of the torch table is that it is largely self-replicating: one will be able to cut out most parts (tubing and plates) for fabricating a copy of the torch table on the torch table itself. The design is largely bolt-together design-for-disassembly – so one can also scale the table readily to any size, as needed.

Using thicker tubing and plate allows one to create a much more stiff design, such that it can also accommodate a router for cutting wood and other materials. Imagine the product ecology of the toolchain from the open source sawmill to CNC router – for making furniture readily from on-site trees.
In the Kickstarter offering, we will produce the above, and in further prototypes, we will include computer vision to recognize matal that is put on the torch table. We will extend the degrees of freedom to five axes, so that routing of molds and CNC welding enter into the digital fabrication repertoire of the Microfactory.

The unique feature of the Torch/Router table is its scalability, adaptability to different working heads, and focus on integration of the toolchain for turnkey operation on a totally open source platform. This includes developing the open source tool heads and CNC drive components such as controllers and stepper motors within this Kickstarter offering - and advanced features of variable automated gas feed controls, [[5-axis CNC control]], and computer vision in future prototypes.

=Plasma Cutter=
To go further into the torch table product ecology - we will open source a plasma cutter as well. This will make the torch table compatible not only with cutting gases, but also with an open source plasma cutter. Thus, the plasma cutter will be able to cut up to 1” thick metal, and the fuel gas cutter will be able to cut metal up to 7” thick.

=Universal Welder=
The plasma cutter is part of the Universal Power Supply – a modular power electronics infrastructure-in-a-box that serves as the core of plasma cutters, universal welders, induction furnaces, and other applications.

Our goal in the kickstarter is to build a prototype of a combination welder/plasma cutter as in the [[Universal Welder Concept]] – comparable to the [http://www.millerwelds.com/products/multiprocess/dimension_452/ Miller Dimension 452] multipurpose welder ($8500) but at 1/10 the cost. This would allow MIG, TIG, Stick welding and plasma cutting.

=Laser Cutter=

In addition to CNC cutting operations with the torch or plasma cutter, the CNC Laser Cutter provides high-precision, clean cuts in thin metal, wood, and plastic substrates. We will build on the work of [[Lasersaur]] to increase the cutting capacity from 40W in the existing Lasersaur by a factor of 10, towards industrial cutting capacity for precision metal parts. See also [[Lasersaur BOM]].

Key to our developments will be the feasibility study for producing high-power laser tubes, as well as building on lower-cost [[open source linear bearings]] that are now being developed.

=CNC Circuit Mill/3D Printer=

We will adapt the SnapLock CNC circuit mill as the Prototype I platform for OSE's work on the Circuit Mill. This platform is the official stable release of the MIT Fab Lab, and its precision allows one to produce surface mount circuits. This is suitable for milling microcontrollers, and other working heads can be attached to this mill - such as the 3D Printer extruder head from the RepRap project. Our development work will include optimizing the toolchain from CAD to CAM for both circuit milling and 3D printing.

All of the power electronics devices in the Microfactory include controllers - and these can be fabricated with the circuit mill. The 3D printer allows the printing of useful plastic objects such as electrical plugs, insulators, grafting tools, or molds for metal casting.

=Induction Furnace=

The [[Induction Furnace]] is perhaps the most important device in the Microfactory, as it allows one melt scrap metals to generate virgin metals. This includes casting of billets for metal rolling, casting of parts, alloying, metal preheating in metalworking, and surface treating. Moreover, the induction furnace can be applied to melting glass - for making glass block or glass panes from scrap glass cullet.

Since the induction furnace power supply involves an inverter, the induction furnace is related to the welder, where a welder also uses an inverter for its power supply. Therefore, inverters - such as for generation of AC electricity from batteries, are a byproduct of this work.

The noteworthy feature of the induction furnace is that our design will be scalable, so that any power can be produced - limited only by the amount of power that one has available to run the induction furnace. The basic power requirement is 1kW/hr/lb (see [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Induction_Furnace_Request_for_Bids#Sergey_Cobin bid]).

A remarkable feature of the induction furnace project is that the induction furnace lends itself to drastic cost reduction - from hundreds of thousands of dollars to approximately $5k in materials costs - or up to 100x cost reduction compared to industry standards.

=Metal Rolling=

Metal rolling is the forming of metal into useful cross-sections. Metal can be rolled into flat stock, any solid shape, u-channel, rod, shaft, wire, and other useful shapes. The resulting shape depends on the shape of the roller dies used in metal rolling. The resulting profiles can we welded to make pipe and tubing.

This is critically important because the value of abundant scrap steel can be increased 100-fold with access to the induction furnace, followed by machining operations.

The unique feature of our proposition is to demonstrate an economically-feasible metal rolling operation on the scale of about 2 ton per day production. The next smallest commercially-feasible operation is on the order of about 1000 tons per day.

=CNC Multimachine=
See [[Multimachine Concept]] and [[Multimachine Working Concept]].

The noteworthy feature of the Multimachine is that it is a versatile precision machining center. It is essentially a solid block to which additional functionality can be attached. The basics include CNC milling, lathing, and drilling, plus the surface grinder attachment.

The noteworthy point of this is that this machine is designed to be the core of all precision machining operations. The surface grinder attachment allows one to take stock steel and grind it for precision - thereby attaining perfectly flat surfaces on the order of fractional mil uniformity over 4 feet.

The additional part of the Multimachine is that it is truly versatile. The central structure has 4 sides, and different other tools can be attached to these sides: such as a metal band saw, cold cut saw, and shop press, and even precision grinding for ball-bearing production (in conjunction the steel hardening capacity enabled by the induction furnace). If there were one component upon which literally all of modern civilization revolves - it would be the ball bearing.

The Multimachine is designed to be the key to fabricating hydraulic motors, modern steam engines, electrical generators, and other components.

The unique feature is the absolute simplest design and open source components, where we will document the full tool chain for automated production.

With one of these machines, any community should be enabled to produce its own essentials: nuts and bolts, motors, engines, plumbing fittings - and most importantly, ball bearings and precision components for replicas of the same machine.

The hands-down breakthrough of this is to bring the fabrication of ball bearings down to the community scale. The implications are absolute technological autonomy of any community which has this capacity. The ball bearing is the heart of any precision machine. Reducing the cost of precision drives (CNC, automation) is one byproduct of this capacity.

=Ironworker Machine=

=Summary=

The Microfactory provides a range of cutting, welding, melting, forming, precision machining, and precision cutting operations. On top of this, the Microfactory provides the toolchain for computer-assisted fabrication, starting from circuit milling for automation. Together with the other power electronics devices (induction furnace, welder, plasma cutter, laser, oxyhydrogen generator) – a robust production system can be created on the scale of a 3000 square foot facility – capable of producing $80k of value per month. This in turn allows one to create a technology base of advanced civilization – essentially any electromechanical device - wherever scrap metal is available. Components that can be produced by the Microfactory include virgin structural steel derived from scrap metal, hydraulic motors, steam engines, electrical generators, nuts and bolts, microcontrollers, precision machining equipment, and others.

[[Category: GVCS]]

Kickstarter Script

2011-05-27T04:40:57Z

Syk0 saje:

Registration process

2011-05-26T14:52:40Z

Syk0 saje:

==Introduction==
You can register yourself at Open Source Ecology. By doing that, you'll be able to edit pages on our wiki, post messages on our [http://openfarmtech.org/forum/ discussion forum], add comments and even create your own blog on our [http://openfarmtech.org/community/ community portal].

To log in to the community portal, discussion forum or wiki, you can simply provide your '''OpenID'''. You can also use your '''Facebook login''' in the community portal and discussion forum.

If you have a '''GMail''', '''Yahoo''' or '''AOL''' account, you already have an OpenID.

To learn more about what OpenID is and how to get one, see [http://openfarmtech.org/w/index.php?title=Special:OpenIDLogin OpenID].

==Community Portal==

We encourage you to first register at our [http://openfarmtech.org/community/ community portal].

Once registered, log in and click on the '''My account''' link at the left and then click on '''View Contact Record''' on the page that loads. You can edit your contact record and add as much or as little information about yourself as you want.

On the contact record page, you can also add a note to us or subscribe to our announcements mailing list.

==Discussion Forum==
In order to post messages on our
[http://openfarmtech.org/forum/ discussion forum], you must first log in by clicking on the '''Sign In''' button. Then, click on '''Sign In with OpenID''', '''Sign In with Twitter''', '''Sign In with Google''' or '''Login with Facebook'''.

==Wiki==
Before creating new pages or editing existing ones on our wiki, you have to log in first. See the [[wiki instructions#Logging_In|wiki instructions]] page to learn how.

[[Category: Public Relations]]

Recycling

2011-05-26T14:51:10Z

Syk0 saje:

One of the largest problems in the world nowadays is the excess of waste and the inability to recycle it properly.
Current recycling processes are chemical based, costly and inefficient plus many waste products are not even recyclable at all.

To address all these issues into one single solution that has 100% recycling efficiency, the Sub-Molecular Disassembler was born.

The Sub-Molecular Disassembler consists in a mechanical process that disassembles any molecular structure into its basic elements, atoms.
Each atom is then stored in a container containing only atoms of the same type therefore instead of waste products we get re-usable pure raw materials useful for industrial use.

A Solar or Wind Generator is used to power the Disassembler.

This project in its concept phase and the main focus is in finding the most energy efficient disassembly process.
The current disassembly process being considered is by the use of laser pinches to grab each atom and put it in the container.

This is an open-source technology under research by Multiuniversal Technologies.

[[Category: Notes]]

Rafael Gonzalez

2011-05-26T14:50:24Z

Syk0 saje:

WHO are you?

* Name: Rafael A. Gonzalez
* Country: Puerto Rico
* Contact Information (email, skype, phone) rafael.gonzalez@ieee.org , ing_rgonz , Suggestion EVO works better than skype ( http://evo.caltech.edu/evoGate/ )
* Resume/CV

[edit]WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

* Do you endorse open source culture?

I do endorse open source culture from software to hardware, and I definitely want to be part of this project because, in my mind, this is the IDEAL community project. This is a good cause and has engineering in it so, it is a WIN WIN for me.

* Why are you interested in developing or supporting this work?

I think that every human being, deep down, wants to be part of something bigger than themselves ( an organization of some sort) the challenge is to find the right organization that you may fit in so that you can be happy and productive at the same time.
This is the kind of work I don't mind not receiving a paycheck because I truly believe in the open source movement/free culture.

* How do you think that the GVCS can address pressing world issues?

I think it is very simple what GVCS wants to do, develop open source tools that are highly sustainable by a community of smart caring people for the developing/low resources/economically-limited countries or organizations.
First of all GVCS is creating AWARENESS, that the solutions to some of the worlds biggest problems are not that complicated as they seem, and that people DO want to improve their quality of life but NEED ( OPEN ) resources for this goal.
I truly think GVCS will become the holly grail of Open source culture.
[edit]WHAT are your skills?

* List all of your skills in these areas: Communications - Organizational - Computer Support - CMS - CRM - Finances - Design - Natural Building - Electronics - Automation - Metallurgy - Engineering - Fabrication - Prototyping - CNC - CAD - CAM - CAE - Video Production - Information Architecture - Agriculture - Energy - Architecture - Animation/Graphics/Art - PR/Marketing - Education - Construction - Industry - CNC - Chemistry - Product Design - Other
*

I can lead/be part of a group, I know Windows, MAC, Linux. Regarding (Electronics , Automation, Engineering and Energy ) I know the math behind it, so I can design and test instrumentation for different machines due to my experience and gathered knowledge as an Electrical Engineering student.

* How have you already contributed to the project?

I have not.
[edit]HOW can you help?

* How are you interested in contributing to the work of GVCS development?
* Yes

* Can you volunteer to work with us, and if so, how many hours per week?
* Yes, about 8 hours a week. ( I have heavy course load )

* Are you interested in working with us for pay? If so, what services can you offer, and what is your hourly or per-project rate?
* Yes, 13 dollars per hour.

* Are you interested in a Dedicated Project Visit?
* No at this time.

* Are you interested in purchasing equipment from us to help bootstrap development?
* I am willing to donate my knowledge and time but not money ( poor student ) ;)

* Are you interested in bidding for consulting/design/prototyping work?
* No.

* Are you a True Fan? If not, why not?
* No. (poor student)

* Would you like to see yourself working with us on a full-time basis?
* I have Phd plans after graduation, so no. But I see myself working part-time for a long time.

* Are you interested in being part of the world's first, open source, resilient community? The GVCS is the preparatory step for the OSE Village Experiment – a 2 year, immersion experiment (2013-2014) for testing whether a real, thriving, modern-day prototype community of 200 people can be built on 200 acres using local resources and open access to information? We are looking for approximately 200 people to fill a diverse array of roles, according to the Social Contract that is being developed. This may be the boldest social experiment on earth - a pioneering community whose goal is to extend the index of possibilities regarding harmonious existence of humans, ecology, and technology.
* I think I can only donate my time, remotely, because I have Phd plans.

[[Category: People]]

Radical Homemakers

2011-05-26T14:49:18Z

Syk0 saje:

In her recent book, [http://radicalhomemakers.com/ "Radical Homemakers"], author Shannon Hayes presents the results of interviews she performed with ''" pioneering men and women who are redefining feminism and the good life by adhering to simple principles of ecological sustainability, social justice, community engagement and family well-being. It explores the values, skills, motivations, accomplishments, power, challenges, joy and creative fulfillment of Americans who are endeavoring to change the world by first reclaiming control of home and hearth."''

== Significance ==
This emerging trend is a return to the [http://www.energybulletin.net/node/46085 household economy]. The wholesale financialization of the economy over the last few decades was likely the root cause of the financial and economic crash of 2008-2009. By exiting from consumer culture we cut out Wall Street, a cartel that has been taking a cut of every economic transaction in the modern consumer economy. The ideas presented in "Radical Homemakers" have profound implications for local economies, self reliance and the open source movement.

== Links ==
* website [http://radicalhomemakers.com/ Radical Homemakers]
* Amazon.com: [http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Homemakers-Reclaiming-Domesticity-Consumer/dp/0979439116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294586321&sr=8-1 Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture]
* Shannon Hayes on the [http://dietsoap.podomatic.com/entry/2010-05-27T01_15_25-07_00 Diet Soap Podcast]
* [http://www.energybulletin.net/node/46085 John Michael Greer: Reviving the Household Economy, Part One: The World Outside the Market]
* [http://www.energybulletin.net/node/46153 John Michael Greer: Reviving the Household Economy, Part Two: The Decline and Fall of Home Economics]
* [http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/shannon-hayes Shannon Hayes' Blog on YES! Magazine]

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: Links]]

RCCS I

2011-05-26T14:48:00Z

Syk0 saje:

The [[RCCS]] commonly spoken about in [http://openfarmtech.org/OSE_Proposal_2008.pdf Proposal 2008] with respect to the 40 or so basic technologies for the creation of replicable, resilient communities marks the entry level economy for post scarcity. It is herein we distinguish it as RCCS I.

This set includes tools for resilience on basic agriculture, energy, housing, transportation, and technology needs. It goes as far as taking scrap metal and reworking it to virgin steel. This goes up to a basic induction furnace with hot processing of metal, followed by CNC machining, to make electromechanical equipment at the cost of scrap steel. This allows one to make engines and hydraulic motors/pumps, and to produce solar-concentrator energy. It included CNC machining to produce just about everything, along with power electronics to produce items such as welders.

RCCS I is marked, in general, by the capacity to build just about any device starting from scrap steel, but having to import most of the electrical and circuit components.

There are, however, much deeper levels of resilient production, where further import substitution occurs for the material items used in resilient communities. Thus - we distinguish RCCS II - import substitution of components. This included the building of all components - precision drives, stepper motors, electrical motors, surface grinding, full automated metallurgical processing to produce all metal feedstock for an advanced economy. CNC machining and other appropriate automation removes material scarcity completely, at the cost of open information and high human skill.

RCCS II involves, in general, the import substitution of many components used in RCCS I.

RCCS III involves the full import substitution on raw feedstocks - via the ability to process and smelt minerals to produce metals, semiconductors, ceramics, rubber, plastics, and all other material feedstocks. This means that advanced civilization may be created from just about any parcel of land, as minerals, sunlight, air, and water are ubiquitous on this planet.

Material post-scarcity implied by the completion of RCCS III provides a solid foundation for changed politics: ending resource conflicts, liquidating politically-ponerological processes, eliminating compensation-for-alienation, pursuing one's true interests, and evolving to freedom (defined as regaining one's autonomy).

[[Category: Outdated Information]]

RCCS II

2011-05-26T14:47:59Z

Syk0 saje:

See [[RCCS I]]

While RCCS I focuses on the production of gross electromechanical tools, RCCS II focuses on the production of components for these tools - by taking full advantage of digital fabrication. RCCS I results in digital fabrication capacity and hot metal processing - while RCCS II results in a digital design repository for key components, along with refinement of hot metal processing to produce precision metal chemistry and all metal feedstocks and components. Main focus in RCCS II is digital fabrication - as the next step after hot metal processing. RCCS does not include the production of other feedstocks - such as semiconductors, microelectronics, rubber, etc.

[[Category: Outdated Information]]

RCCS III

2011-05-26T14:47:56Z

Syk0 saje:

See [[RCCS I]] and [[RCCS II]]

RCCS III focuses on converting minerals and other natural resources into metals, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers, and other substance of modern civilization, in an environmentally-friendly and regenerative fashion.

[[Category: Outdated Information]]

Publicity

2011-05-26T14:46:24Z

Syk0 saje:

= Core =

* Global Swadeshi - Vinay
* Blog
* Global Villages
* OSE Canary Islands, Italy, Serbia
* Open Manufacturing google group
* Factor e Farm google group
* Franz
* Josef Coates
* Ronny
* OSE MidMO
* Mike Koch
* Smari
* Mariusz
* Alex Rollin
* Sam Rose
* Open Mind Foundation

= Subsidiary =

* Dave Pollard
* Jeff Vail

= Other Strategies =

* Ecovillages
* Green building
* Organic farmers
* Farmshow
* Mother Earth

[[Category: Notes]]
[[Category: People]]
[[Category: Publicity]]

Publicity

2011-05-26T14:45:31Z

Syk0 saje:

Public Servant Accountability

2011-05-26T14:43:41Z

Syk0 saje:

{{stub}}

To respectfully converse with public servants in all interactions.

*[http://youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA&feature=channel_page The Citizen's Guide to Respectfully Interacting with Law Enforcement Officers] - A guide to help citizens correctly obey the law.
*[http://youtube.com/user/CheckpointUSA Checkpoint USA] - Checking to ensure the safety of all citizens. Examples of citizens properly obeying the law.

Protobot

2011-05-26T14:43:02Z

Syk0 saje:

{{delete|single inward link fixed}}

https://sites.google.com/site/protobotindustries/projects/protobot-bv0-1