The SteamRoller Riding Contraption

This a self balancing two wheel, two person vehicle. It self balances because the center of gravity is located below the center of the wheels.

Each rider controls one wheel. Pedal together and you move in a straight line forward or backward. Anything else is a turn including a spin in place by pedaling in opposite directions. I guessed a top speed of around 7mph would be a good start. I set the gear ratio accordingly. It was designed for kids around 5' tall, but it can easily handle taller. I am 5'6" and about 160lbs. I rode it with my daughter and it worked well.

This instructable details how to make a basic version. I designed everything in Pro/E. I have exported all the parts to DXF format so you can access with free software like QCAD. The drawings have basic dimensions for overall reference. They are 1:1 so you can scale off them or add additional dimensions. There are also PDFs too. I used my homemade CNC router so I added a lot of details that are not required. Need more info, detail, pictures...just ask.

The project took me about 16-20 hours over 3 weeks to build. A lot of that was design and testing, so it could take you less time. I had a lot of left over and found material that I used. If you started from scratch this could cost $150 to $200 to build. The bearings and drive train parts are the most expensive. I bought them at a surplus store. Hopefully you can find them cheaper.

The design worked pretty much as intended without any major problems. I did learn a few things along the way. I added "possible improvements" sections to each step that might make your version better and easier to build.

The working name is SteamRoller due to the steampunk look. The kids like Wheels of Doom and Portable Porch Swing. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Step 1 Materials

Here is the basic list of parts. The dimensional lumber is estimated because I had enough scraps to cover that. I ripped the various sizes needed on my table saw from larger lumber.

Wood
(2) 4' x 8' sheets of 3/4" Plywood (I used BC Exterior grade)
(1) 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" Plywood (I used BC Exterior grade)
(1) 2 x 4 x 6' pine board
(1) 1 x 6 x 6' pine board

Surplus Center Parts
(4) 7/8 4 Bolt Bearing Block (#1-205-14-4)
(2) 10' pieces .40 pitch chain (#1-1163-40)
(2) 11 tooth 7/8" shaft sprocket (#1-2123-11-D)
(2) 30 tooth sprocket. (#1-2123-30-4B)
(4) 7/8" dia. shaft collars (#1-2766-87)
(2) #40 Chain Connecting Link (#1-1087-40)


(4) 7/8" I.D. bearings (eBay)

6' of 3/4" heavy wall copper tubing
4' of 1" thin wall copper tubing.
(12) 3/4" 90deg copper elbows. (buy a bag/box of them...much cheaper)
(2) 1" copper end caps.
(2) 8" long 1/2" pipe (wheel Axles)
(2) 1/2" pipe flanges (mounts axles)

26' 5/8" I.D. Heater tubing
5/8" double barbed fitting.
1/8" NPT Schreader tire value

Comments

[Fred82664]

Admin on this site must be smoking Meth this should of made in the top five of  09. it did make it as 13  out of 50  still not bad ! but still yet it should be in the top 5

[ilpug]

agreed. except for the meth smoking part. i dont think they do that.

[louis.m]

What about "Weird Wheeler" as a name?

[richie_114]

Awesome! I made something similar (3 wheeled) several years ago, nowhere near as cool though!

[bdring]

It is still going strong after two years!

I am looking to clear it out of my garage. It takes up too much room. If someone in the Chicago area wants it, make me an offer.

The kids are going to be a little upset :-(

[ehudwill]

Great design!

[mr_rigo]

This is really cool and very nice wood project.
For the one person version we could use a a V- belt drive with a Variable speed pulley to change the speed of one wheel, so we can control the direction by adjusting the pulley.
The V-Belt variable speed pulley are not expensive and it is available for a range of torques and dimensions.

[jeffconnelly]

I wonder if there could be some sort of geared steering system for single rider use... I may have to research this...

[spudman]

You could use an individual brake on each wheel and put a diferental between them.

[rustymia]

we had to design the bike of the future for my science class, and this is almost the exact same as my design, except mine was a little taller and was only one person. The pedals werent attached to the axle directly, the go to a differential, so to turn you would pull a brake lever or handle, and it would slow down the tire.

Your design is AWESOME!!

[yggdrazil]

So so cool! And beautiful as well!
It's looks like something you would need to wait in line and pay to ride. The worry-wart in me is afraid of any little fingers or arms going into those spokes. Perhaps a little netting or wire would prevent that?
Keep building cool stuff!

[kyle brinkerhoff]

good job! hey all i have to suggest is make some sort of steel reinforcment that has spokes on each wheel that would meet up and be connected to where the wheel connects to the shaft, i noticed alot of warping between the wheels and the chassis. but still an awsome way to get around!

[Databanks]

I noticed the flex too. Maybe thicker axle and perhaps an extra ply or two when making the wheels? Hrm, maybe even a mud guard and make the axle held on both sides?
And yeah, still awesome even with the flexing.

I'd love to do a single seater version, hand cranked. Would then fit in bike lanes and also be suitable for disabled use as a bonus. I can almost see it but the models I've tried to generate in the PC so far suck.

Plus a hand cranked idea adds the option of hybrid human/electric - batteries under the seat for stability

[Kasm279]

I wonder what the neighbors think of all the crazy inventions rolling down the street xD

[JKibs95]

the legway's scary older brother...

[theburn7]

TRU DAT

[dragonsniper]

lol

[pie R []ed]

I love this! I will probably build one over the summer. one thing that I might change would be the two person part. I figure with the right gear box and some hand levers it could be converted to work with the same two wheel pedal powered design but could be much more efficient and could turn without the second person.

[sniffydogs]

This looks like something Government Motors might be interested in.

[bdring]

Yes, someone said this is the Steampunk version of the G.M./Segway Puma.

[jeff-o]

Yeah, except the Puma is a totally lame electric wheelchair with a windscreen. The SteamRoller is awesome!

[pie R []ed]

agreed

[DeusVult911]

For Non-Eccentric bearings.  Try this place.  There a bit cheaper but you will have to use larger shaft diameters.

http://www.thebigbearingstore.com/servlet/the-4-dsh-Bolt-Flange-Bearings-cln-Set-Screw-Locking/Categories

[corsi]

what was the diamiter of the 30 tooth sprocket. i can't find 1-2123-30-4B on surpluscenter.com

[oOKing HunterOo]

What was the total cost of this project?

[sir-zeke]

this is completely Epic!

[superant10000]

HAHAHAHAHAHA PERIOD CLOTHES >.<

[cryophile]

Do you think it's possible to add a transmission so you could have variable speeds? What I'm thinking of is something similar to what they have on mountain bikes. Also, I would like to see a rack-and-pinion steering setup, but I don't know if you could make the contraption that complex. I'm probably asking for too much. I'm going to have to try to build one of these.

[corsi]

When you say surplus center what kind of store was it and what was the name of the store. I need to find all the "tricky" thing first the other stuff is easy to find

[bdring]

www.surpluscenter.com

[corsi]

thank you. you were right the surplus parts are alot

[deemax]

How do you install the pedal gear, shaft collar and bearing into the wood? I've never used these before and am not sure how everything stays in place.

[bdring]

The bearings are not as thick as the wood. Drill a hole the outside diameter of the bearing with a spade or forstner bit only as deep as the thickness of the bearing, so you have a flat bottom hole. Then drill through about 1/4" diameter less than the outside diameter of the bearing to create a step about 1/8" all the way around. The bearings should press fit into the wood and sit on the step created. Use some tape to build up the diameter if it is not a press fit. The collars prevent the pedal shaft from sliding laterally in the bearings. Put a collar against the bearing on each side. You could actually use the gear as one collar if your steps are setup to install the bearings from the gear side.

[deemax]

Awesome, thanks again.

[deemax]

Is it difficult to find the perfect spot for the wheel axle in order to maintain the right balance, or will it balance automatically as long as the center of gravity is anywhere beneath this point?

[bdring]

I drew it in chalk on the floor and estimated the CG. Some small kids use a pillow behind them so they can reach the pedals. This shifts the CG forward, so I added a little shelf behind the seat to add weight. So far one 10 pound-ish brick does the trick. Big adults with higher CG tend to ride with feet high, but it works fine.

[deemax]

Thanks! That shelf for extra weights is a great idea.

[corsi]

awsome this will be the first thing i make in woodshop nest year. i already have people ready to ride it down the hallways of the school when it's done

[jeff-o]

Just make sure you can get it out the door!

[corsi]

Don't worry we have one of those big loading doors plus the outside doors are huge this will so make me in the yearbook