I can only wish I spoke this language. This is pretty neat. I think so anyway.

Very cool. That'd make a great kit and/or a desk item. Reminds me of those beautiful little steam engines people have on their desk. Updated for this century.

 

I can only wish I spoke this language. This is pretty neat. I think so anyway.

That is cool alright. But to be honest, it looks suspiciously like a perpetual motion machine (to be clear: a scam).

Maybe @justtrying could translate it for us.

 

When he lifts the rotor out it looks like there are four solar cells on it. So I think it is light powered. I think there is some switching electronics inside the rotor to sequence the power to the coils so that it rotates in the static magnetic field from the magnets on the base.

Les.

 

When he lifts the rotor out it looks like there are four solar cells on it. So I think it is light powered. I think there is some switching electronics inside the rotor to sequence the power to the coils so that it rotates in the static magnetic field from the magnets on the base.

Les.

Good catch... I hadn't noticed that.

 

Or the cells and the accompanying coils are a step out of phase so the energy from the solar cell energizes the coil closest to the magnet, causing the resulting magnetic repulsion to bring the next cell in line, ad infinitum...?

 

Besides the solar cells, we don't know what is inside that "box". For all we know, there could be batteries and other electronics doing the work.

 

Another thought occurred to me about this device. The timing of the drive to the coils may be controlled by which solar panel is most illuminated. This made me look at the video again to see if the illumination is directly from above. It does look to be that way as the shadow of the rotor is directly below it. Also when the device is being moved I feel it is being moved in such a way to keep the shadow below the rotor.

Edit. After looking back through the thread I see that "metermannd" realised this yesterday.
Les.

 

Hello,

When you translate the text from the video on the youtube page you will read this:
Photocells 0.5 V 100 mA: http://ali.pub/i098g
Photocells 0.5 V 220 mA http://ali.pub/546rja or http://ali.pub/546s4o
Photocells 0.5 V 150 mA: http://ali.pub/lmhvg
Photocells in stock: http://ali.pub/hrnj8
Stator magnets: http://ali.pub/54765g or http://ali.pub/54779i
Rotary ring magnets: http://ali.pub/5474eu or http://ali.pub/5475jv
Support magnets: http://ali.pub/5477ov (if the rotor is low, then you can put 3-4 pcs.)
You can wind with a wire of 0.15 to 300 vit. http://ali.pub/9liw3
Winding wire 0.25 mm 100 m http://ali.pub/uf9pj Winding wire red 0.25 mm 50 m http://ali.pub/76pgi
Assorted wire http://ali.pub/547aeo Telescopic antenna 6 sections http://ali.pub/1jvt0c or http://ali.pub/547auf
Telescopic antenna 7 sections http://ali.pub/1jvsi2 It is necessary to test with an INCIDENCE LAMP !!!
Modern savings and LEDs have a depleted spectrum, this motor does not like them.
If you do not operate the motor in direct sunlight, the photocells practically do not degrade for decades.
Some weakening of the magnets will not affect the performance, only the rotor will drop a little lower.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to replace the side support with a magnet !!! Do not ask this question again!
Here is an article explaining everything https://habrahabr.ru/post/280216/
It is possible to get rid of the side support only if energy is constantly supplied to the system for electromagnetic stabilization of the horizontal position of the rotor.
When powered by an external source, this toy will lose its magical power.
My detailed video instruction on how to make it

If you are a regular customer of Ali-Express, then register using this link http://epngo.bz/cashback_index/61900 and you will be guaranteed a refund (cashback) of a part of the cost of all your purchases from now on and forever!
Opposite photocells are connected in counter-parallel (minuses with pluses) and each pair has its own coil soldered in parallel (100 vit. Wire 0.3). One half scheme https://yadi.sk/i/NPm1kdSmstQYb
Before winding, it is necessary to glue all the photocells, with pre-soldered thin wires (from the mounting wire), threaded through the side cartons pierced with a needle to the outside.
There are 2 holes in each side, and a pair of twisted and shortened to 2-5 mm segments will come out of each of them. After winding, the leads of the coils are soldered to them.
I connected everything inside, but it's more difficult. If, after assembly, it does not spin, but sways, swap the leads of one of the coils.
Perform the initial setting with a 75-95 W incandescent lamp at a distance of 30-50 cm from it, the optimal direction of light at an angle of about 45 * from only one of the sides. All magnets face the rotor with the same poles.
The support magnets are attached with superglue, and when set up, double-sided tape.
The axis is a 3 mm brass tube from the telescopic antenna. All photocells are brought to the same weight by soldering buns of solder on the contacts and weighing with an accurate balance. The layout of the cardboard square sides must be perfect!
The final balancing is done with plasticine crumbs, in the twilight.
The Mendoza motor was invented in 1994 by Larry Spring, an American designer and popularizer of science.
Named for Mendocino County, California, where the inventor lives.
The idea of a light-commutated motor, where solar energy would be converted into solar panels and powered by individual motor coils, was first described by Daryl Chapin in an experiment with solar energy in 1962.
Your humble servant once caught a glimpse of a similar engine on some foreign channel.
I did not find information at that time, but I decided that if this is possible, then I will do it, no matter what.
All design details are established empirically (intuitively and experimentally).
In Russia, apparently, no one knew about such a miracle as the Mendoza motor.

Bertus

 

Hello,

When you translate the text from the video on the youtube page you will read this:
Photocells 0.5 V 100 mA: http://ali.pub/i098g
Photocells 0.5 V 220 mA http://ali.pub/546rja or http://ali.pub/546s4o
Photocells 0.5 V 150 mA: http://ali.pub/lmhvg
Photocells in stock: http://ali.pub/hrnj8
Stator magnets: http://ali.pub/54765g or http://ali.pub/54779i
Rotary ring magnets: http://ali.pub/5474eu or http://ali.pub/5475jv
Support magnets: http://ali.pub/5477ov (if the rotor is low, then you can put 3-4 pcs.)
You can wind with a wire of 0.15 to 300 vit. http://ali.pub/9liw3
Winding wire 0.25 mm 100 m http://ali.pub/uf9pj Winding wire red 0.25 mm 50 m http://ali.pub/76pgi
Assorted wire http://ali.pub/547aeo Telescopic antenna 6 sections http://ali.pub/1jvt0c or http://ali.pub/547auf
Telescopic antenna 7 sections http://ali.pub/1jvsi2 It is necessary to test with an INCIDENCE LAMP !!!
Modern savings and LEDs have a depleted spectrum, this motor does not like them.
If you do not operate the motor in direct sunlight, the photocells practically do not degrade for decades.
Some weakening of the magnets will not affect the performance, only the rotor will drop a little lower.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to replace the side support with a magnet !!! Do not ask this question again!
Here is an article explaining everything https://habrahabr.ru/post/280216/
It is possible to get rid of the side support only if energy is constantly supplied to the system for electromagnetic stabilization of the horizontal position of the rotor.
When powered by an external source, this toy will lose its magical power.
My detailed video instruction on how to make it

If you are a regular customer of Ali-Express, then register using this link http://epngo.bz/cashback_index/61900 and you will be guaranteed a refund (cashback) of a part of the cost of all your purchases from now on and forever!
Opposite photocells are connected in counter-parallel (minuses with pluses) and each pair has its own coil soldered in parallel (100 vit. Wire 0.3). One half scheme https://yadi.sk/i/NPm1kdSmstQYb
Before winding, it is necessary to glue all the photocells, with pre-soldered thin wires (from the mounting wire), threaded through the side cartons pierced with a needle to the outside.
There are 2 holes in each side, and a pair of twisted and shortened to 2-5 mm segments will come out of each of them. After winding, the leads of the coils are soldered to them.
I connected everything inside, but it's more difficult. If, after assembly, it does not spin, but sways, swap the leads of one of the coils.
Perform the initial setting with a 75-95 W incandescent lamp at a distance of 30-50 cm from it, the optimal direction of light at an angle of about 45 * from only one of the sides. All magnets face the rotor with the same poles.
The support magnets are attached with superglue, and when set up, double-sided tape.
The axis is a 3 mm brass tube from the telescopic antenna. All photocells are brought to the same weight by soldering buns of solder on the contacts and weighing with an accurate balance. The layout of the cardboard square sides must be perfect!
The final balancing is done with plasticine crumbs, in the twilight.
The Mendoza motor was invented in 1994 by Larry Spring, an American designer and popularizer of science.
Named for Mendocino County, California, where the inventor lives.
The idea of a light-commutated motor, where solar energy would be converted into solar panels and powered by individual motor coils, was first described by Daryl Chapin in an experiment with solar energy in 1962.
Your humble servant once caught a glimpse of a similar engine on some foreign channel.
I did not find information at that time, but I decided that if this is possible, then I will do it, no matter what.
All design details are established empirically (intuitively and experimentally).
In Russia, apparently, no one knew about such a miracle as the Mendoza motor.

Bertus

What an amazing thing of elegance and beauty... heck, I might even turn that toy into my next personal project.... right after I finish my geek clock... which I'm currently working on.

 

The way I took it initially was that the PVP with the greatest amount of light set up which coil and polarity would be attracted to the stator magnets. Also, watching the way the motor accelerates suggests low power. Not a lot of torque. The fan was plastic and small, and produces a little bit of wind. Not a lot of work going on there. I tag the video with being legitimate. It COULD be faked, but to me it looks legitimate.

I saw a video many years ago where a guy glued some magnets to a CD and mounted the CD onto a PM motor. He demonstrated how moving a magnet NEAR to the CD made the CD spin and an LED attached to the motor lit up. That one was definitely fake because at the instant the motor began to turn it was spinning at near full speed and the LED came on immediately. There was certainly some trickery there.

 

 

This is WAY cool.

 

This, explosive welding is even more cool-

 

This, explosive welding is even more cool-

Never seen the process, but I knew that was how stainless steel was clad upon carbon steel. Worked in a metals shop from 2006 to 2009. Was a "Weld Inspector" but not ASW inspector. They have huge rollers that can turn a 6" steel plate into a cylinder. Then over to the long seamer to weld the two rolled ends together to make a tube. Then the tubes were welded together to form the tank body. Semi-hemispherical heads (formed by explosion methods) was welded onto the ends and thus you had a tank. Before closing the tank we'd go inside and inspect all the welds and plumbing attachments as well as any specific parts that were to exist within the tank. They make water tanks, oil cracking tower tanks and many other types of tanks. It was an interesting job. Hot in summer, cold as a witches tit in winter and always dusty, dirty and noisy. My favorite job was pressure testing the tanks. Take a 12' diameter 100' long tank of 3 1/2 inch steel to a water pressure of 275 PSI for one hour. Leak check. Certify with an Authorized Inspector (the AI). Drain the tank and paint it. Then ship it.

Intermountain Rigging & Heavy Haul was responsible for transport of two the tanks and they dropped one on the highway. Have contacted the local news agency to see if they have archival pictures of the scene. It was my tank (not mine personally) and I told the boss they were going to drop the tank. He kept saying they weren't, but I knew there was a good chance because one of the dolly's was being fussy. The trucks began to sway uncontrollably from side to side. One truck pulling and two pushing. The whole thing flipped over on its side and gouged a newly paved highway. Reporters were saying it was going to be "A Few Hours" to clean up. Heck! It took them 8 hours just to rig one of the two tanks.

I-15 is pretty much the only corridor through Bountiful UT. There was a long way around, to take 15 south to 80 east to 84 west back to 15. Then, for me it was south bound a few exits and I was home. The wife said I should just get a hotel for the night. But I like my own bed when possible.

If I can get pictures of the tank I'll share them.

 

Very interesting mechanism at work with these so-called "pop pop boats".

I wonder if it could be harnessed to efficiently power pumps directly, with only the input of heat?

 

Here's a small levitated motor you can buy, similar to the one in post #61, but not nearly as nicely made.

 

 

Don't blow a rod man! Explosion at 5:33 (not a spectacular one - but it blows up)

 

This girl gets her ankles higher than her shoulders!

 

This girl gets her ankles higher than her shoulders!

Not what I expected. Thought it was going to be like a girl I used to date.