Tiny (12cc) Hand-Machined V12 Is A Holiday Miracle

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Need an engineering project? Got 1,200 hours to kill with nothing to do? Take a tip from this heroically patient Spaniard, and hand-machine your own tiny (12 cc displacement) V12. This would be amazing feat of handwork even if it weren’t fully operational (using compressed air injection), but the fact that it works, runs and was made without a single CNC machine is nothing short of astounding.. If, as the book suggests, Shop Class is Soulcraft, this guy is like an engineering bodhisattva, inspiring us with his precision, patience and skill. In a world where not much is made by hand anymore, this achievement is worth taking a few minutes to marvel over… [Hat Tip: Dean Huston]


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 12 comments
  • Hakata Hakata on Dec 27, 2011

    At the Maker Faire in Detroit (at the Henry Ford Museum), I spoke at length with the fellow that built this 1/16 replica of the USS Monitor's unique horizontally opposed dual-piston steam engine, using the original specifications. All hand-machined. Truly mesmerizing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWn8gQ9Ykpk BTW The Henry Ford Museum has hundreds of 19th century scale-model steam engines - mostly used as salesmen's samples at the time. They had pulled out a few of the best and had them running for Maker Faire. Best part of the show.

    • Ronnie Schreiber Ronnie Schreiber on Dec 27, 2011

      It's not well known but Henry Ford's primary interest was not cars, it was power generation. Before starting his car companies, Ford was chief operating engineer at Detroit's Edison Illuminating Co. The huge steam powered powerplants for the Highland Park plant are also at the Ford museum. Henry also had a fascination with hydroelectric power, calling it "white coal". He built a series of small factories called the Ford Village Industries, on mill sites. Some used the original buildings, others were purpose built, designed by Albert Kahn, complete with hydroelectric generators. Much as he liked water power, Ford found that he needed diesel standby units to keep those small factories running. http://www.carsindepth.com/?p=2120 icon BTW, people ask me what the Makers' Faire was like. I tell them "burning man without drugs, for nerds". The 3D printers were cool but I was disappointed that there were more car culture folks there.

  • Old Guy Old Guy on Dec 27, 2011

    Be more impressive it were a hybrid. But seriously: what amazing craftsmanship! Such a pleasure to see someone do something for the sheer beauty of it, and do it so well.

  • Newfdawg Newfdawg on Dec 27, 2011

    That is simply incredible...my hat is off to the gentleman for his incredible achievement.

  • Neb Neb on Dec 27, 2011

    Amazing; what a work of art. A similar model project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIsvW_yhhjs

Next