Virtual Small Engine software

[sknutson]

The issue is not enough $$ for hands on small engines for our industrial tech type teacher... not so bright IT fellow says "hey there has to be a virtual program that will allow one to learn the ins and outs of combustion engines" ..... a few hours of searching later... *facepalm*

 

Any of you fellow edugeeks know of a program that virtualizes a motor for students to learn on?

 

Thank you in advance for any information or funny comments

[m25man]

 

Search for Deutz Engine....

 

There are a few sites with interesting media available and some 3d CAD stuff about still.

[Gerry]

Animated Engines

 

Not a program, but may be useful...

[m25man]

There's some good 3D stuff here Tell Your Story in 3D: 3D Software, 3D Content, and 3D Community on 3DVIA.com but you need to install the 3D Player to view them so not recommended for a large scale use but handy for a teacher to put on a whiteboard.

[sknutson]

Thank you for the help, still hoping to find something close to a lab but the teacher may have to be creative and use tools like you've linked as visual aids.

 

Thank You for the help!

[pcstru]

You could do something with Algadoo (free demo available but after that needs a licence) or Phun (the older free version). Although restricted to 2d the students can see the concepts and the software is accessible so students can play around with it, take the concept apart/break it etc.

 

Example :

Edited May 12, 2011 by pcstru

[sknutson]

WoW! Algodoo is cool, looks like I'll be showing this to my science teachers. Is there templates with engines already built or would the students need to have a working knowledge of building in Algodoo from a physics/science environment before being introduced this in a shop/industrial tech classroom?

[Marci]

Define "not enough cash"...? Minimoto 2stroke engines are available for £20 a pop on eBay... and they don't get any simpler/smaller (without delving into RC motors) than those.

 

Might also be worth grabbing Google Sketchup, and installing SketchyPhysics plugin , then hitting the SketchyPhysics search on Google's 3D Warehouse...

 

eg: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=7c2bde186118d7c2d6f2baad2c2b0f60&prevstart=24

 

All free...

Edited May 12, 2011 by Marci

[pcstru]

There is a Scenes link at the top of the algadoo page which leads to a gallery of creations which you can download. Use the search function there and you will find some reasonably nice combustion engines.