Build yourself a VERY unusual heat engine!
The heart of this engine is a thin ring of Nitinol wire (0.3mm). Some warm water is enough to make the Nitinol Engine run. Nitinol is an alloy of nickel and titanium which has exceptional properties: at low temperatures it is soft and bendy, but as soon as it is heated above a certain transition temperature, it instantly becomes hard and flexible like spring steel. As soon as the temperature drops again, it returns to its bendy state. Nitinol is a so-called memory metal: above the transition temperature it instantly assumes any shape that has been impressed on it during manufacture.
The transition temperature of our wire ring is 45ºC above which it becomes stiff and straight. Nevertheless the part of the wire that is immersed in the warm water lies around the drive wheel. When it straightens out, it is forced to move off the wheel and out of the water where it becomes bendy again. At the same time it pulls a new piece of wire into the water and the process continues, leading to a constant rotation of the drive wheel. The principle of this engine was developed by Frederic Wang in 1985. It works with only a small temperature difference and shows great potential for future applications.
This AstroMedia kit is the first mass-produced engine of its type, worldwide. Anybody interested in engineering and physics will be fascinated by this kit. A fantastic model and a great present!
More power? No problem!
For all those who want to get even more out of their Nitinol Engine, our Booster set with second nitinol wire ring and additional set of grooved wheels offers the option of simply doubling the tractive power of the drive.
Another exciting item available in our shop is a Ferris wheel that can be powered by the Nitinol Engine.
This kit contains:
- 6 pre-cut and printed sheets of construction cardboard, DIN A4
- accessories:
1 nitinol wire ring, Ø approx. 10 cm, cross-section Ø 0.3 mm, also available separately as a replacement
6 hard plastic discs, 20 mm (OD) x 3.3 mm (ID) x 1 mm, (shaft bearing)
12 nylon discs, 7 mm (OD) x 3.2 mm (ID) x 0.5 mm (sliding discs)
2 shafts made of hard aluminium, Ø 3 mm, length 115 - 130 mm
1 plastic grooved wheel, 60 mm (OD) x 3.1 mm (ID) x 4 mm, (impeller)
1 plastic grooved wheel, 30 mm (OD) x 3.1 mm (ID) x 4 mm, (drive wheel)
1 silicone tube, 4 mm (OD) x 1.5 mm (ID) x 120 mm
1 round timber, Ø 3 mm, length 200 mm - 1 template sheet
- detailed construction manual
Not included: drinks can, tea light
Dimensions of the built model: approx. 16 x 19 x 14.5 cm
Construction time: approx. 5 hours
Producer: AstroMedia GmbH, Im Wirrigen 30, 45731 Waltrop, Germany, astromedia.de
Below you can download the instructions for this kit.
Things you will need for assembly:
- a firm and even work surface, e.g. a cutting mat is helpful
- sharp craft knife or a scalpel
- blunt knife or a folding bone
- good all-purpose glue
- some fine sandpaper
- empty drinks can for the oven and kettle
- small pair of sharp scissors, e.g. nail scissors
- some adhesive film
- tea light
Optional:
- golden spray paint
- small syringe (10 ml)
Supervision by adults:
Children under the age of 14 should use the kit under adult supervision to avoid risks due to improper handling.
Take care with small parts:
Choking hazard! Keep small parts out of the reach of small children.
Risk of injury:
Take particular care when handling pointed and sharp parts! Use sharp tools carefully and take suitable safety measures to avoid injury if necessary.
Do not touch the oven and boiler during and after operation until they have cooled down completely. Keep children and unauthorised persons away during operation.
Fire hazard:
Handle open sources of fire and heat with care. Product contains highly flammable materials. Never leave unattended during operation.
Use of tea lights:
When using tea lights, follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. Never leave burning tea lights unattended.
Use of glue:
When using glue, follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. Work in well-ventilated areas and avoid skin or eye contact.
Intended use:
The kit should be used in accordance with the enclosed instructions. Independent modifications may impair the functionality and safety of the model built.
