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Build Your Own Jet Engine
jgarland79 writes "Have you ever wanted your very own jet engine? Build one at home in your own garage. The guys over at www.garagejet.com have done just that. Their jet engine is made from an automotive turbo, spark plugs, and some scrap metal. I have made a mirror site here." We've had a couple of previous stories about a guy building pulsejet engines - the type of engine described above is a turbojet.
These guys are amateurs compared to Mark Nye of Nye Thermodynamics. I realize the page is a little old, but homebuilt gas turbines aren't exactly high tech till you get up to the FADEC systems of commercial jetliners
http://www.nyethermodynamics.com/
Off topic: Ooo... lets slashdot the server to oblivion. It's got MOVIES!
Both jet and rocket engines combine fuel with an oxidizer to make thrust. Jet engines, however, use oxygen from the air while rocket engines use another source of oxygen (liquid, compressed, or solid in some compound that'd burned to produce O2).
The upshot is that you can't use a jet engine to get into outer space, only a rocket engine, because there's not oxygen up there for a jet engine to burn enough fuel to make enough thrust. Your jet engine will come crashing down.
(A simplified explanation of the difference between jet and rocket engines can be found here.)
Especially if you plan on titling one of your videos "Ooops! Forgot to make sure the fittings were tight!"
Jeez...
These guys are charging $20 for the 555 chip. These things go for around $0.90 at radio shack. At first I thought it was the entire assembly, but then I saw the assembly for $50.
-William
God is everything science has yet to explain.
They used an automotive turbo, etc. It was the "jet car" episode.
As I recall it didn't generate very much thrust.
(didn't RTFA)
No problem- get Real Alternative.
My other sig is a Porsche!
No I can't speak for everyone, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of us saw what you're refering to on Myth Busters. And though it was cool...no one ended up 80 feet high on the side of a Mesa. And on top of that it was a JATO, which probably produces a lot more thrust than the home brew garage jet.
And yes, I knew you were joking, I just wanted to get my shot in!
This sig has been removed pending an investigation.
You need more than "ear and eye protection". You need a cement blast wall. I toured P&W's jet engine design plant once, and the engine test facility included a heavilly fortified blockhouse for the engineers. A turbine burst would be like a grenade going off with even a small engine.
The welds on those pipes were some of the worst I've ever seen. I'm surprised it didn't blow up!
RCs have used jet engines for years. They can be had (the engine, not the RC) for about 3k. They feature computer control/startup etc.
Pretty cool stuff.
You've seen the movie, now buy the book: Gas Turbine Engines for Model Aircraft by Kurt Schreckling
What Kurt's design looks like when built per plans.
Gas Turbine Builders Association
Photos from the GTBA of various completed motors, note the small sizes.
Luke, help me take this mask off
The guy who built the cruise missile and those pulsejets (me) also built a turbo-turbine back in 2001 and documented it here
Then I added the afterburner
And if you want to see a really cool turbine-powered gokart check out Nick's website.
More pulsejet/turbojet links and things here.
Now we're all really keen to enter the chinese version of full metal challenge!
But you can't go into orbit. Also, of you were to start from the surface of the Earth with several times excape velocity you will a) be vaporized by the atmosphere, b) likely be slowed down such that you don't ever reached space, c) killed by the deceleration forces.
A while back this topic came up over a lunch discussion and I did some looking into it. Check this link for some interesting background. As best I can estimate the lid made it up to about 10 km altitude before it came back down.
So, what does all this mean? Simply that a jet engine will NEVER get you into space.
Human genome = 3 billion base pairs = 6 GBit. Windows + Office = 20 Gbit. Which is more impressive?
A scramjet will. Go NASA!
Check out the Wikipedia featured article on Jet engines
Andy Rabagliati