Designing, Modeling, and Building a Steam Engine

Hello everyone,

My name is Nace. I am studying mechanical engineering in Slovenia, and I am in my final year of high school. At our school, for graduation, we need to complete a project of our own. I decided to create something meaningful—something from which I can learn a lot. That is why I am building a model steam engine and researching how steam engines work.

From the start, I couldn’t decide what I would be making. I have many interests and enjoy different fields of engineering. However, my biggest interest is energy and all of its forms. I understand the impact energy has on the world and the importance of its efficient use. I know this sounds very broad, but it is a start. I believe I will find my purpose by the time I finish college.

So I decided to go back in time because, in my opinion, if we want to understand the future, we first need to understand the past. With the help of my professor, we decided that I would build a model steam engine. I immediately liked the idea because even when I was little, I was fascinated by steam and its power. I always wondered how water, in a different form, can move something as big and heavy as a train. I also knew I could learn many interesting things from this project.

I started by researching everything I could find about steam and engines. Then I made a rough plan of how the engine would look. At first, I aimed a bit too high and wanted to make a turbine. The model was already designed, but the manufacturing would be too expensive, which didn’t make sense for this kind of project. My second plan was a piston engine—because if they made it in the 17th century, why couldn’t I in 2026?

I began modeling, focusing mainly on ease of manufacturing and low cost. However, even a simple model requires many parts. A lot of parts can be 3D printed, but when temperature is a factor, plastic is no longer an option. I completed the calculations and finished the model. Now I am in the manufacturing phase, and I hope PCBWay will support me along the way. For a student like me, this type of project is not inexpensive. Many of us do not even start similar projects because of the cost, but this is one of the best ways to learn and apply theory in real life.

(Photo of CAD model of the turbine)

A little more about my model: many dimensions are based on my own design choices, since the engine is not intended for any specific use. The cylinder has a bore of 25 mm and a stroke of 60 mm, and everything else is dimensioned based on that. The whole project is about 145 mm by 305 mm in size, which makes it perfect for a desk or a classroom shelf. The power and efficiency will be measured and calculated on the real engine, as this will be more accurate than simulation.

(Photo of CAD model of the piston steam engine)

So this is my project in a few words. I am proud of it because I believe I have given it my full effort. I hope I will manage to finish it on time and that it will meet both my standards and the standards of my professor.

Thank you very much for reading about my project and for your interest. I hope it inspires others, because I truly enjoyed designing it. I believe this is one of the best ways to learn—by doing things on your own and figuring them out along the way.

I wish you an interesting day, because curiosity and interest are what make us engineers.