Build Your Own Jet Engine

Darwin Award in the making by cheinz · 2004-05-07 13:57 · Score: 5, Funny

'Nuff said! ;)

Oh great, by demonbug · 2004-05-07 13:57 · Score: 4, Funny

Now I'm going to have to start worrying about real rice rockets on the way home from work.

now i can... by hellmarch · 2004-05-07 13:57 · Score: 2, Funny

attempt to win the x prize. w00t

Re:now i can... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-07 14:08 · Score: 2, Informative

now i can... attempt to win the x prize
Yes, you can attempt, but unfortunately you're going to fail....
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.)
Re:now i can... by penguinoid · 2004-05-07 14:24 · Score: 4, Insightful

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.

Wrong! You *can* use a jet engine to go into space. You just need to accelerate to 11,000 km/h, the escape velocity (lower if you are at higher altitude, or just want to go into orbit). You can even go into space with a (really big) cannon.

Your jet engine will come crashing down.

And if you do reach space, you will be wishing that you did come crashing down.

--
Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
Re:now i can... by RayBender · 2004-05-07 18:47 · Score: 2, Informative

You can even go into space with a (really big) cannon.
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?

Excellent! by AndroidCat · 2004-05-07 14:00 · Score: 5, Funny

Combined with the Slashdot articles on Build Your Own Cruise Missle, I'm good to go!

--
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.

Re:Excellent! by slickwillie · 2004-05-07 14:18 · Score: 5, Funny

Let's see. Aurora-type cruise missile, homemade rail gun, webcam, and 802.11g with high power antenna. I think we've got something here.

DId I leave anything out?
Re:Excellent! by AndroidCat · 2004-05-07 18:02 · Score: 3, Funny

Combine it with the Wireless Beer Pitcher Monitoring System and Pizza ordering, and you've got a system that would make the Deliverator (Snow Crash) look pretty tame.

--
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.

Mirror Site?!?!?! by graveyardduckx · 2004-05-07 14:01 · Score: 2, Funny

Two slashdottings for the price of one!

Another one... by simcop2387 · 2004-05-07 14:02 · Score: 5, Interesting

Another site that shows you some of the steps in building a gas turbine engine (also known as a jet engine) this one uses a turbo charge, probably not quite as good though

http://asciimation.co.nz/turbine/

he also uses it to cool beer.

http://asciimation.co.nz/beer/

Other homebuilt gas turbines by airbatica · 2004-05-07 14:04 · Score: 5, Informative

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!

turbojet and turboprop homebuilt engines by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-07 14:04 · Score: 5, Interesting

If you like small engines, take a look at 5bears.com -- he's made a turbojet (centrifugal compressor and turbine) and a turboprop, complete with microcontroller-based starter/fuel system, in addition to a couple of radial engines, a CNC mill, and a homebuilt spotwelder.

Re:turbojet and turboprop homebuilt engines by AndroidCat · 2004-05-07 14:11 · Score: 2, Funny

All that in one project? What's he building, an SCV?

--
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
Re:turbojet and turboprop homebuilt engines by Temple+23 · 2004-05-07 14:27 · Score: 4, Interesting

If you want to see some really tiny engines, check out this site: http://cpl.usc.edu/eschuste/ Speciffically, http://cpl.usc.edu/eschuste/turbine.htm I worked with this guy while doing research at USC in combustion physics. Taking models out into the engineering quad and taxing them around was entertaining (despite the small size, these things are quite loud).

Re:Yeah... not tough. by The-Dalai-LLama · 2004-05-07 14:08 · Score: 5, Funny

The FBI were right to go after you.

I had a friend who knew this guy one time and his sister's cousin built a jet engine just like the one in the article and bolted it to the top of this old Nova that he had. He took it for a test run in the desert in, like, Arizona. He forgot that his normal brakes wouldn't be enough to stop it, and the accident investigators found the remains of the jet engine 80 feet up the side of a mesa.

Dude, his teeth were still embedded in the melted steering wheel. That's how they identified him. Don't mess with home-brewed jet propulsion, it's a recipe for trouble. You could put someone's eye out.

The Dalai LLama
...true story, I swear...

--
My sig could be your sig!

Inexpensive by acceber · 2004-05-07 14:14 · Score: 3, Interesting

A real jet engine, say the one used on a F-16, runs around the figure of $350,000 USD...Finding used parts at the junk yard will yield much less cost. A complete engine can typically be built for less than $300 USD.

It's interesting how price isn't an obstacle when it comes to building your own jet engine. The average person may think that it's impossible but these guys have proven that you don't need high tech equipment, just a couple of basic tools to be able to build something so out of the ordinary.
This would definitely be a source of inspiration for those budding innovators and inventors.

Re:Inexpensive by DerekLyons · 2004-05-07 16:21 · Score: 3, Insightful

It's interesting how price isn't an obstacle when it comes to building your own jet engine. The average person may think that it's impossible but these guys have proven that you don't need high tech equipment, just a couple of basic tools to be able to build something so out of the ordinary.
These guys haven't proven that you can build your own jet engine, they've proven you can modify a turbosupercharger into a gas turbine. The Really Hard Part is the turbines, which they *bought*, as opposed to being made.
It's cool, it's semi impressive, but it's not what it's hyped to be.

mis-engineering? by grepistan · 2004-05-07 14:18 · Score: 3, Interesting

I like the drill being used as an oil pump, but what happens if some bright spark hits the reverse direction button?

I hope those chaps have good home & contents insurance!

--
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
-- Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

Mental note to self..... by j3ll0 · 2004-05-07 14:21 · Score: 4, Funny

When building an engine that will potentially operate at over 1000 degrees Celsius, be sure to build frame out of wood.

Re:Mental note to self..... by pipingguy · 2004-05-07 15:25 · Score: 2, Interesting

When building an engine that will potentially operate at over 1000 degrees Celsius, be sure to build frame out of wood.

The hottest stuff comes out the business end, not the support points.

Not the best setup, I admit, but I presume this is not long-term durability testing. All they need is a good insulator between contact points. Or maybe a liquid helium cooling system with lots of piping design engineering hours.

NZ government killed his Cruise Missile project... by Recoil_42 · 2004-05-07 14:23 · Score: 3, Interesting

Just a side note, the New Zealand government recently shot down bruce's $5,000 cruise missle project. read about it here.

Very sad, i was looking forward to its completion.

--

Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com

Re:No proprietary crap here by IamGarageGuy+2 · 2004-05-07 14:26 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm with you. I don't want to have to put real crap on a machine unless absolutely necessary, e.g. bomb threat, man with gun, summons from SCO...

--
Stay tuned for new sig...

let's be safe out there by jamie · 2004-05-07 14:26 · Score: 5, Informative

Kids, if you build your own jet engine, then unlike the nice fellow in the videos, please wear ear and eye protection.

Especially if you plan on titling one of your videos "Ooops! Forgot to make sure the fittings were tight!"

Jeez...

Re:Frozen Chickens by DigiShaman · 2004-05-07 14:34 · Score: 2, Funny

Will little frozen chicken McNuggets work? That turbo is rather small to swallow a big bird.

--
Life is not for the lazy.

555 timer? by kd5ujz · 2004-05-07 14:44 · Score: 4, Informative

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.

Garuntee win on the strip! by CherniyVolk · 2004-05-07 14:45 · Score: 3, Funny

Let's see, super chargers are ungodly expensive....
Adding turbo or even replacing turbo, out of this world....

But! Two 300 dollar jet engines welded to the side of your Ford Escort!?!?!?!? Francine Dee! Here I come!

Turbojets, pulsejets, and... by Dread_ed · 2004-05-07 14:46 · Score: 2, Funny

"We've had a couple of previous stories about a guy building pulsejet engines - the type of engine described above is a turbojet

We just invented a new one...serverjet! That is where fire shoots out of the drive bays of a server so fast that the whole thing flies across the room!!

Sometimes I just think yall pick random servers to destroy. Kinda like that guy from the Jerk who flips through the newspaper and then just pops his finger down on a person and then he kills them. Likewise, you probably put in a topic to Google and hit "I'm feeling lucky!" Whoever the unlucky site is gets the slashdotting!

I can feel you laughing from here.

--
When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.

junkyard wars did this.... by dvd_tude · 2004-05-07 14:48 · Score: 3, Informative

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)

Re:junkyard wars did this.... by NewtonsLaw · 2004-05-07 18:58 · Score: 4, Informative

I was the pulsejet "expert" on the Jetcar episode of Scrapheap Challenge (aka Junkyard wars) and the turbocharger turbojet *did* produce a very healthy amount of thrust (probably about 65lbs).

They didn't win because they had reliability problems and their vehicle was much heavier than our lightweight pulsjet-powered creation.

Pod race! by AtariAmarok · 2004-05-07 14:48 · Score: 3, Funny

Once you'd built one of these, build another. Then tie a lawn chair in between, and start 'em up! Should be a real blast.

--
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.

Re:No proprietary crap here by Resident+Netizen · 2004-05-07 15:00 · Score: 2, Informative

No problem- get Real Alternative.

--
My other sig is a Porsche!

Re:Yeah... not tough. by pyrrhonist · 2004-05-07 15:03 · Score: 3, Funny

I had a friend who knew this guy one time

In the Bibical sense?

and his sister's cousin

Wouldn't it just be easier to say, "his cousin"?

--
Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.

Re:Yeah... not tough. by kpwoodr · 2004-05-07 15:08 · Score: 2, Informative

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.

goggles aren't enough by blitz487 · 2004-05-07 15:10 · Score: 2, Informative

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.

For pete's sake by Tablizer · 2004-05-07 15:33 · Score: 2, Funny

It probably started out as an attempt to improve a blow-dryer for a chronically late person.

--
Table-ized A.I.

A co-worker built one by Boyceterous · 2004-05-07 15:46 · Score: 4, Interesting

back in the mid 1980's. He was a mech engineer and used the company machine shop to fab the parts. He said it got up to about 200 lbs of thrust - until the turbine blades flew out the back end ( he used aluminum instead of titanium) - luckily he only got slightly injured.

Laserjet by Rhodnius · 2004-05-07 15:56 · Score: 3, Funny

Pulsejets, turbojets... what's the big deal? They invented Laserjets years ago. Can get one of those for $400 or less, and the laser just runs on electricity, doesn't need fuel...

This is great! by tennistoad · 2004-05-07 16:04 · Score: 2, Funny

Next these guys will duct tape 10,000 model rocket engines to a tin can and send it into orbit as a homemade sputnick! oh wait John carmack has got this one covered!!! http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Ho me

Radio controlled Jets by barjam · 2004-05-07 16:36 · Score: 2, Informative

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.

Cute DIY, But Been Done: See Links by cmholm · 2004-05-07 17:40 · Score: 4, Informative

First, full points to the builder for moving beyond the web research stage and getting his hands dirty. For those wanting to play with turbines, but want a design that's ready to slap onto a r/c model, some gents in the Netherlands implemented a cheap design using a smaller turbocharger and an empty Gaz propane camping stove cartridge back in '99. The original links to this design are harder to Google nowadays, now that the designers have gone commercial.

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 ... Just for once, let me butterfly kiss you with my own eyes.

The pulsejet guy does turbo-turbines too by NewtonsLaw · 2004-05-07 17:41 · Score: 3, Informative

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!

Actual Use for this....sorta by black_umbrella · 2004-05-07 17:43 · Score: 2, Interesting

Actually we used a turbojet made from a car turbo in my undergraduate mechanical engineering energy conversion lab.. Needless to say these thing get efficiency values around 10% to 12% or much less( I thin I remember a value 3% in my lab report). If I can recall my gas turbine design class, normal aircraft turbojets are closer to 60% or even 80%...

Jet engines - how they work by andyr · 2004-05-07 20:49 · Score: 2, Informative

Check out the Wikipedia featured article on Jet engines

--
Andy Rabagliati

I think I.... by zogger · 2004-05-08 02:27 · Score: 2, Interesting

...actually remember that ad, back classified pages of popular mechanics.

As an aside, those ads were the coolest place to browse far out inventions/gadgets evah. They ruled the garage inventor space. I'd like to see a website were all of them are reproduced, going back to day one of that magazine. Like build your own pedal kayak, send off here for plans for your electric bulldozer, etc. Carbide cannons give big boom (heh), and etc. Neat stuff.

45 of 148 comments (clear)