Subject: Rotamax
From: Rotary Engine
Date: 2/3/2008, 9:44 AM
To: AARotary Engine



       Today I had the pleasure to visit the Rotamax plant where I was
   toured
       around by the RotaMax president Eric Barger. For a number of hours I
       looked at every part they make (which just happens to be every
   part of
       their rotary engine) and  to ask questions.  Frankly, I was way more
       impressed than I thought I would be.  So in a series of e-mail, this
       being the first,  I will try to describe the Rotamax engine and the
       company too.  But for this first e-mail, here are some teasers.  No
       order, just as I think of them.

       The Rotamax engine is charge cooled and has needle roller bearings
       that are pressure fed oil.
       The Rotamax engine is both side port and p port.  The p port is
       operated by manual butterfly valve.   The engine I was told
   idles very
       smoothly at low RPM  just using the side port.   I did not see it
       myself but I have no doubt it is true.
       The Rotamax engine has cool side intake.

       The Rotamax engine has no oil sump.  Among other things, this is a
       perfect set up for aerobatics. It has a total loss oil system. In a
       nut shell, oil is pulled from a small tank on the firewall.   It is
       pumped to the needle bearings  which are fully lubricated.  Some
   of he
       oil travels through the eccentric and flows out of ports to add more
       lube to the inside to the bearings.  From this point the oil is
   flung
       onto the tip seals where it is eventually burned.  It does not use
       much oil, and it is totally clean.  There is no dirty oil ever
   in this
       engine.

       The Rotamax is very light weight. The two rotor weighs  130 lbs  No
       [PSRU] drive, "yet".

       The Rotamax is produced by a small, talented crew, that includes
   a CAD
       driver (Pro E) a couple of machinists,  an engine guy who knows his
       stuff.  They have a room full of cnc lathes, mills, grinders
   that are
       obviously being used a lot.

       The Rotamax rotor housing is aluminum without a steel liner.
    Instead
       it is coated  You can forget trying to find  out about the
   details of
       this operation--It is something they are not going to share.
    Same for
       side housings.  A pair of side housings were pulled after
   40hours and
       had absolutely no wear.  No step at all. Housings and ends are
   ground
       in house.  NICE... NICE... NICE!


       First photo:  Paul do you know this guy ?
       Second photo:  The eccentric before and after machining.
       Third photo:   Beautiful workmanship on the rotor.  Note the seal
       groves.  The three holes are for charge cooling.
       That is it for tonight.  Jerry



   Could someone please confirm the weight of the engine?
   Photo *P1010022.jpg shows it being held in both arms against your chest.
   Is this the **130 lb** engine?
   Thanks,
   John


   http://www.rotamax.net/

   According to the web site it is 140 pounds for the two rotor.
   Of course that is less PSRU.

   Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.


Paul,
Thanks, the figure listed in one of the emails was 130 lb. He must "Pump
Iron" to hold it in his arms that way.
John


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