ChatGPT about Rob Dahm 12 Rotor Build

[AMGONE]

We are stopping EVERYTHING to get the 12 Rotor running ASAP

Rob Dahm
1.18M subscribers

Comment by @xilix
7 months ago
I told my cutomized ChatGPT about the 12rotor:

"Okay, J, so you've laid out a whole saga of rotary engine alchemy here, a deep dive into the guts of a mechanical leviathan. Here's the scoop for the folks tinkering with this 12-rotor titan:

Oil Residue and Cooling Issues: They need to rethink the cooling setup. Maybe a more efficient oil-cooling path to prevent hot spots, considering rotaries are like little furnaces.

Intake Port Seal: Auto-ignition is a real concern with the fuel mixture getting too cozy with hot spots. They might want to explore better sealing solutions and thermal barriers to keep the combustion in the chambers, not the intake ports.

Gear and Bearing Durability: The skeletal strength around the stationary gear and the bearing setup is making me sweat just thinking about it. They'll need to beef that up – we're talking serious reinforcement.

Apex Seals and Rotor Width Consistency: Good they're standardizing the rotor widths. It'll save them a migraine or twelve down the road. As for the apex seals, they've gotta ensure they're up to snuff for the power they're dealing with.

Oil System Complexity: They've got to simplify that oil pathway. It's like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded. Maybe a more direct, less Rube Goldberg-like system would prevent pressure drops and ensure consistent lubrication.

Turbocharging and Heat Management: They're gonna need a more robust solution for handling the boost pressure, especially with that aluminum dreaming of being a molten puddle. They'll want to look into materials and designs that can handle the thermal onslaught without warping like a Salvador Dali clock.

Timing and Firing Sequence: They've got to get the timing tighter than a duck's ass – and that's watertight. Even a few degrees off can turn that engine into a grenade. Fine-tuning the ECU to manage the firing order is critical.

Counterweights and Balancing: They've skipped counterweights, but that's playing with fire. Balancing is key unless they want vibrations that could shake bones.

Assembly and Quality Control: They need to be meticulous. Every piece must be checked, double-checked, and fit with precision. It's like performing surgery; no room for a "whoops" in there.

ECU and Ignition: They're clever using one ECU for the whole symphony, but they'll need to ensure it's up to the task. Otherwise, it's like using a Commodore 64 to run the International Space Station.

Materials and Engineering Solutions: Each problem they've got requires a material or engineering solution that might not even exist yet. They're pioneers, and they'll need to invent as they go along.

Community and Collaboration: They've got the right attitude about sharing knowledge. It's the gearhead way – spread the wisdom, ditch the gatekeeping.

In short, this 12-rotor behemoth is a beautiful nightmare. It's the kind of challenge that would make a seasoned engineer wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. They need to address each problem systematically, ensure quality control is God-level, and probably sacrifice a few chickens to the gods of engineering. If they pull it off, they'll have not just an engine, but a mechanical marvel – a testament to human ingenuity and sheer stubbornness. And, fuch, it'll be worth it just to hear that thing howl.

User
they're going to naturally balance it with the rotors themselves. it's ran once, and it ran so smooth a glass of water sitting on it didn't ripple

ChatGPT
That's fuchin' impressive, J. Running so smooth you could use it as a table for your whiskey glass without losing a drop? That's some next-level engineering.

Balancing with the rotors themselves is a smart move, especially considering the complexity and potential for a shake, rattle, and roll show. It seems they've got a handle on the balancing act which, let's be real, in the world of engines is half the battle won. But here's the deal: even with that voodoo magic of smooth running, they can't rest on their laurels. Each of those points is still a potential gremlin waiting to jump out. They've gotta keep a close eye on the factors that could turn that purr into a catastrophic bang:

Thermal Expansion and Material Stress: Continuous monitoring of materials and their behavior under different operating conditions will be key. They might've hit nirvana once, but engines are like divas: fickle and demanding.

Sealing and Combustion Integrity: Smooth running doesn't mean you're immune to seal failure or combustion issues. They should keep refining the sealing solutions to make sure they don't get a nasty surprise down the line.

Oiling System Efficiency: Even if it's running smooth, an inefficient oil system could be silently killing the engine. It's like having high cholesterol; you feel fine until suddenly you're on the floor clutching your chest.

Ignition and Fuel Delivery: The firing order and fuel delivery need to be precise. Even a small misstep here could turn that smooth run into a backfiring beast.

Continuous Testing and Refinement: They've got to test, refine, and test some more. Each run should be smoother than a con man at a high-stakes poker game.

Community Knowledge Sharing: They should continue to share their findings because two heads are better than one, and in the car community, there's always someone who's faced the same head-scratching problems.

So the advice?
Stay vigilant, keep fine-tuning, and always, always keep an eye out for the devil in the details. Because with engines, especially one this complex, the devil doesn't just lurk in the details; he's doing the fuching Macarena."