Machining Flywheels

[corolla_nut]

thanks for that Keith :bash:

 

I wish I had a lathe at work, it would make my day. Trouble is I'd use it for all my own stuff and probably not for anything work related. I was going to price the job at a few engineering places, central west engineering or maybe jeff hort, I've got to ring around a bit. I still haven't got anything else for the engine organised yet, so it might not happen for a while.

 

First things first, I need to make the interior inhabitable and put a bonnet/vent panel on and make it look presentable, no point having the engine without the car. I wish I could do blue slips sometimes too, but I really do know that is more trouble than what it is worth. But we digress from the topic of flywheel machining now, and I'm still logged in as kylie :y:

 

Robert.

[philbey]

Hang on a minute, is this Toymods or Rollaclub :bash:

 

Touche. My apologies.

 

I understand the logic of it, as i did physics in school....

 

...But since it is lighter the engine can spin easier and put more power out and possibly more torque?

 

No this is not the case. When you accelerate in your car, 2 things are happening; first, you cause your car to increase its speed in a straight line, this is linear acceleration.

 

Second, and not understood well, you are increasing the rotational speed of your drivetrain. Every rotating item needs to "speed up", this is called rotational accleration.

 

A simple analogy; if you decrease the mass of your car, this means you can accelerate faster. Similarly, if you reduce the rotating mass of the drivetrain, (or more accurately, the moment of inertia of the drivetrain) you allow it to accelerate harder - you can get the power to the ground more effectively.

 

Your motor, at constant rotational speed, will still produce the same amount of power.

 

In reponse to Philbey's question, yes the equation (and the other equations) τ1 = ½ x 10 x 0.22 x 0 = 0.2 Nm is wrong.

 

Your equation is wrong because you have multiplied it all by zero, thus it equals zero. The zero comes from you assuming constant revs (equilibrium) and as a result you wont see any torque or power loss in your maths.

 

I'm over it!

Edited June 2, 2009 by philbey

[trav_555]

Ok i get it now :bash:

 

I noticed the zero too but didnt want to say anything :P

 

O the prefect world, ie where there is no wind resistance and everything is constant and equal :wink:

 

Travis

[KENut]

Ha ha, gee I am very good at making myself look stupid. I'll go sit in the corner now.

[altezzaclub]

well, you did prove to me that a heavier flywheel means you slow down slower when you take your foot off!

 

..and smaller wheels make your car accelerate faster!

[KENut]

Good, at least one person found something useful. :bash: