Tiny 2.2cc Engine Is a Machining Masterpiece
Kirill machined this tiny 2.2cc internal combustion engine that revs up to 6,500rpm.
In the hobby machining community, mini steam engine builds are very popular. They’re relatively safe at low pressures, don’t require insane tolerances, and give hobbyists an outlet to practice their skills. But steam engines don’t really do it for some of us. Kirill agrees, so he machined this tiny 2.2cc internal combustion engine that revs up to 6,500rpm.
2.2cc is tiny. For comparison, small weed eater engines bottom out at around 25cc. Even the little nitro engines for RC cars tend to be at least 5cc. Kirill’s design is a two-cylinder gas-powered boxer engine, like an itty-bitty version of what you’d find on a BMW motorcycle. If you removed the miniature exhaust system, you could easily fit the entire engine in the palm of your hand.
That would be cool no matter how it was made, but Kirill’s project is especially interesting because he turned all of the parts on a manual lathe. Other than the fasteners, spark plugs, and ignition system, Kirill custom-made every part by hand. The precision is impressive, because internal combustion engines are sensitive and have to be made to fairly tight tolerances.
It did take some troubleshooting and a switch to RC nitro-style glow plugs to get the engine running smoothly, but the project was ultimately a success. A quick spin of the flywheel gets the engine firing and tweaking the throttle adjusts the engine speed. When revved up to the maximum, Kirill’s micro engine was able to reach a very impressive 6,500rpm.
It doesn’t run very smoothly on gasoline, which is a problem Kirill is keen to figure out. But at a mere 299g, I’m prepared to say that this engine is allowed to run at less than perfect efficiency.