4 ms·

Which books/courses do I need to build a miniature jet engine from scratch

5 points by vivzkestrel 2y ago

As a hobby I would like to build mini planes that can fly. The first step would be to understand how to build a jet engine. I know a lot of physics is involved in building one. is there a course or a series of books that would teach me the how to build a jet engine from scratch

bell-cot 2y ago
IANAAE (Aerospace Engineer), but... - Is your government okay (both in theory and practice) with you building such a thing? - How high-performance do you want it to be? - What's your budget, both time and money?
- vivzkestrel 2y ago
  1) government of india i believe would have no issues 2) define high performance 3) i am honestly not aware of what goes into building a jet engine (even a mini one) so not sure how much it would cost, how about we take a number 300$ and work from there for the time being
codingdave 2y ago
This is not my area of expertise, but I'd think that starting with a jet engine is not the "first step". Wouldn't making an ultralight, or even just a glider be first? Make sure your creation fly... then give them lots of power?
ahazred8ta 2y ago
https://www.minijetengine.com/ https://www.minijetengine.com/ has kits. To build a jet engine from scratch you would need a $50000 machine tool shop and several years of prior experience.
- atrettel 2y ago
  I agree that it would be difficult to build a turbojet engine completely from scratch --- that is, you build every single component yourself --- but you can take some off-the-shelf components and hack together a working jet engine if you know what you are doing and get all of the right parts [1]. It won't be pretty or efficient, but it could work. Alternatively, if you really do want to build a "jet engine" from scratch, consider building a pulse jet engine [2]. You might be able build one with parts from a home improvement store over a long weekend. It won't be a great engine, but it might be possible. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh34A0b8MrE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh34A0b8MrE [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsejet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsejet
runjake 2y ago
My first stop for building anything is YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=build+a+mini+jet+engine https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=build+a+mini+je...
JoeyBananas 2y ago
You have to define what you mean by "jet engine." A gas turbine? Solid fuel (like a bottle rocket?) Liquid fuel?
- vivzkestrel 2y ago
  i am assuming a very small one can be powered by a battery, slightly bigger ones might need diesel i guess or does it have to be aviation fuel all the time?
  - kingkongjaffa 2y ago
    Sorry but > I know a lot of physics is involved in building one. + your comment here makes me think you have a lot of research to do. You should focus on getting an off the shelf propeller based remote controlled plane if your budget is also only $300 and not $3000+ See something like this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/aermacchi-mb-339-arf-with-kingtech-k-85g4-turbine-combo/HAN3390CKT85.html https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/aermacchi-mb-339-arf-wi... And http://modelaircraftcompany.com/newshop/en/micro-jet-turbines/850-amt-pegasus-with-16-17-kg-of-thrust-micro-turbine.html http://modelaircraftcompany.com/newshop/en/micro-jet-turbine...
defrost 2y ago
Famously, in recent history: A New Zealand handyman with a passion for jet engines says he is building a cruise missile in his backyard using parts and technology freely available over the Internet. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/6/5/new-zealander-builds-missile-in-backyard https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/6/5/new-zealander-builds... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Simpson_(blogger) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Simpson_(blogger) https://www.youtube.com/@xjet https://www.youtube.com/@xjet
perilunar 2y ago
Sorry what? Why would your first step in building planes be to build a jet engine? That's crazy. If you want to build a jet engine then go for it, but if you really just want to build planes then you can buy electric/piston/jet/rocket engines for much less than it would cost to build your own.
flessner 2y ago
"mini planes that fly"... that doesn't require a jet engine, and certainly not one built from scratch. As many have already mentioned, building a jet engine from scratch isn't exactly easy or cheap. In your position I would get a battery, electric motors, propeller, microcontroller and a 3D printer, then figure it out from there. I know it's probably a bit off from what you wanted, but it's a "cost efficient" way to actually built something. Once you have something flying you can upgrade from there... I am currently in the process of building my own drone from scratch this way, designing the drone and programming the remote control, flight controller completely myself... it is/was a lot harder than I expected. So, what I am trying to say is: don't be afraid to use of the shelf components and don't make things harder than they have to be. Get started, then get creative. Just my experience with this.

5 points by vivzkestrel 2y ago

bell-cot 2y ago

IANAAE (Aerospace Engineer), but... - Is your government okay (both in theory and practice) with you building such a thing? - How high-performance do you want it to be? - What's your budget, both time and money?

vivzkestrel 2y ago
1) government of india i believe would have no issues 2) define high performance 3) i am honestly not aware of what goes into building a jet engine (even a mini one) so not sure how much it would cost, how about we take a number 300$ and work from there for the time being

codingdave 2y ago

This is not my area of expertise, but I'd think that starting with a jet engine is not the "first step". Wouldn't making an ultralight, or even just a glider be first? Make sure your creation fly... then give them lots of power?

ahazred8ta 2y ago

https://www.minijetengine.com/ https://www.minijetengine.com/ has kits. To build a jet engine from scratch you would need a $50000 machine tool shop and several years of prior experience.

atrettel 2y ago
I agree that it would be difficult to build a turbojet engine completely from scratch --- that is, you build every single component yourself --- but you can take some off-the-shelf components and hack together a working jet engine if you know what you are doing and get all of the right parts [1]. It won't be pretty or efficient, but it could work. Alternatively, if you really do want to build a "jet engine" from scratch, consider building a pulse jet engine [2]. You might be able build one with parts from a home improvement store over a long weekend. It won't be a great engine, but it might be possible. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh34A0b8MrE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh34A0b8MrE [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsejet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsejet

runjake 2y ago

My first stop for building anything is YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=build+a+mini+jet+engine https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=build+a+mini+je...

JoeyBananas 2y ago

You have to define what you mean by "jet engine." A gas turbine? Solid fuel (like a bottle rocket?) Liquid fuel?

vivzkestrel 2y ago
i am assuming a very small one can be powered by a battery, slightly bigger ones might need diesel i guess or does it have to be aviation fuel all the time?
- kingkongjaffa 2y ago
  Sorry but > I know a lot of physics is involved in building one. + your comment here makes me think you have a lot of research to do. You should focus on getting an off the shelf propeller based remote controlled plane if your budget is also only $300 and not $3000+ See something like this https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/aermacchi-mb-339-arf-with-kingtech-k-85g4-turbine-combo/HAN3390CKT85.html https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/aermacchi-mb-339-arf-wi... And http://modelaircraftcompany.com/newshop/en/micro-jet-turbines/850-amt-pegasus-with-16-17-kg-of-thrust-micro-turbine.html http://modelaircraftcompany.com/newshop/en/micro-jet-turbine...

defrost 2y ago

Famously, in recent history: A New Zealand handyman with a passion for jet engines says he is building a cruise missile in his backyard using parts and technology freely available over the Internet. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/6/5/new-zealander-builds-missile-in-backyard https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/6/5/new-zealander-builds... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Simpson_(blogger) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Simpson_(blogger) https://www.youtube.com/@xjet https://www.youtube.com/@xjet

perilunar 2y ago

Sorry what? Why would your first step in building planes be to build a jet engine? That's crazy. If you want to build a jet engine then go for it, but if you really just want to build planes then you can buy electric/piston/jet/rocket engines for much less than it would cost to build your own.

flessner 2y ago

"mini planes that fly"... that doesn't require a jet engine, and certainly not one built from scratch. As many have already mentioned, building a jet engine from scratch isn't exactly easy or cheap. In your position I would get a battery, electric motors, propeller, microcontroller and a 3D printer, then figure it out from there. I know it's probably a bit off from what you wanted, but it's a "cost efficient" way to actually built something. Once you have something flying you can upgrade from there... I am currently in the process of building my own drone from scratch this way, designing the drone and programming the remote control, flight controller completely myself... it is/was a lot harder than I expected. So, what I am trying to say is: don't be afraid to use of the shelf components and don't make things harder than they have to be. Get started, then get creative. Just my experience with this.