The Stirling Engine, absorb energy from candles, coffee, and more!

Step 2 Cut CD tower

This step is pretty easy, measure an inch from the top of where you'll make the cut and mark. With the CD case I'd suggest filling it with CD's up to the point where you're making the mark, take it slow, and use that as a guideline for drawing all the way around.

Now, for a really nice pretty cut, I used a drill press and a cut off wheel and was able to make a very level cut just by spinning the case (see pictures) HOWEVER, this isn't needed, a saw will work just fine, that's why you need to make sure you mark level all the way around the case. It helps a LOT. Also, cut the top off last, it'll provide support and make it a LOT easier to cut.

Comments

[Alterman]

Does this part have to be plastic? If I use metal or another heat conducting material will the machine still work ?

[adledoux]

The displacer cylinder needs to either be made of a non-conducting material (plastic, glass, rubber, etc) or have a non-conducting spacer separating the upper section from the lower section if you use conducting materials (metal) to make the cylinder. The fundamental idea is to have distinctly separate "sides" of the cylinder, one to collect energy, and one to disperse it, in a manner that is controlled by the position of the displacer, in order to facilitate the contraction-expansion cycle of the enclosed gas.

[gaspa]

about 1 inch?

[gaspa]

how much high is it finally? i cannot understand it from your photos.