Johnny, you can save yourself a lot of work & grief if you watch the Video below.
They have several examples of working units that you want to build.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=287qd4uI7-E&feature=channel&list=UL
.
FatBird,
I did watch the video. So far in the few years I have spent trying to understand Bessler, I haven't
seen anything like this. it's okay if it doesn't work, it is my hobby
I could waste more money on something that I would find less interesting. And if it works, then
it'll be the coolest pm device on the net
Bessler did leave an explanation of how some of it worked in his drawings. He used both word clues and
pictographs (I think that's what they're called). You know, obvious picture clues. But like the quote
Chris Wells posted, it takes understanding how many of his drawings work together. It does take quite
a few of them, not just 3 or 4, but a lot more.
In understanding how his mechanics work, Mt's 20 and 24 I think are a good start. But to consider how
pumping a fluid can maintain a constant imbalance, that would be Mt's 66 and 67. One of them actually
shows a piston on a shaft. And it has a cylinder around the piston. He understood at least some principles
of hydraulic theory.
With Mt 20, the quote he gives lets someone know how to reconfigure that wheel so it can "lift" his special
weight. Considering he showed in his drawings that he understood that fluids could be pumped, I believe
his special weight is a fluid of some type. What he actually used will probably never be known.
What is missed about Mt 20 is that if the rotation of the short lever is reversed, it would press against the
outside of the wheel. In other drawings, he references a channel going around the outside of the wheel with
a weight in it. I think when considering Mt's 26 and 27 that in Mt 27, E is a weight wheel but not one that rolls.
Hold it, a curved board that is shaped like the wheel could be considered in the same vein, a rolling weight. It
would have the appearance of rolling around on the inside of the wheel. And if the fluid is in a channel (tube),
it would be pumped because of compression. Also, Mt 67 shows "bellows" around the outside of the wheel.
Putting the 2 concepts together allows for an ingenious thought. It might take some time for it to sink in to the
point where everyone can understand it. But in learning to understand something new does take time.
I think one of the reasons why he used so many drawings to "hide" his design is that he wanted someone
willing to take the time to learn his engineering and to make it difficult for someone to find, you know, not let
someone find it who might not appreciate what he (Bessler) knew. I think this is something that is important
to him that someone has respect for his work while making it known. This would go to his using the name
Orrfyreus which is a reference to the Lyre of Orpheus. In mythology, Hermes invented the lyre but it was
Orpheus who made it sing. Everyone has considered Bessler to have Latinized his name because they asked
him in his time if he thought he was Orpheus to which he correctly answered no. You see, he would be
Hermes and I would be Orpheus. And why would i be Orpheus ? Because I will be the one makes his wheel sing.
This will not just be building a working model. It will be relating Bessler's intelligence, understanding the history
that he has surrounded it with and those things he saw which inspired him. Also, I think all those things in his
drawings where he is referencing things and yet those references are consider to be workable when they are not.
One thing I have thought of is that I will not make everything known. I will leave some things for people to
wonder about to so there will always be a little mystery and intrigue in the works of Johann Bessler.
By the way, I'll need to stay with the 40 inch radius I've been planning on building. With a smaller wheel, while
it can be tempting wouldactually prove to be a more difficult first build.
Johnny
http://www.besslerwheel.com/wiki/index.php?title=Portal:MT#Drawings p.s. a drawing of how I outline the basic wheel. I break it down into 8 - 45 degree sections (8x45=360).
Then I break down a 45 degree section into 2 - 22.5 degree sections (22.5x2=45). This allows me to know
how much space the part will occupy and what the size of material I will need. And by taping the 8 sections
together, I can test fit them to make sure they all fit together (mate) so when the parts are routed, they will
all fit together to make a nice inner and outer rings to support the warped boards.
This part is called design engineering. The concept of fitting form to function. The working wheel would be
mechanical engineering, building it and keeping it working. Different disciplines.

Engineering might not
be the most popular hobby but I like it. And who knows, maybe I'll end up with a family. You know, people
cause me problems because of my hearing loss and I come up with a response like this while going through
all my medical issues. I just wonder if I have any sanity left. I do, but I'm not the same person I was a few years ago.
edited to run spell check