Build a simple Home lever machine

[mathias]

For a long time now I've been thinking of making my own lever machine. Sofar not much more than thoughts. The idea is to use as much parts or measurements as possible that can be found on already existing machines. If I was to make it tomorrow with the parts I already have it would be:

-Portafilter from a Brasilia Duo.
-Portafilter holder from the above Duo.
-A lathed piece of brass that forms the cylinder for the piston, and above the water boiling volume. Portafilter holder from the Duo bolted beneath this piece (from now on called Brass Cylinder). It will either be appr. 100 or 80 mm outside diameter.
-A lathed brass piston. Type of sealing not decided (could be copied from Gaggia, Cimbali or why not the Presso?).
-A piston rod long enough to place the spring on top of the Brass Cylinder.
-Spring (or springs) from either a Gaggia or a Cimbali.
-Chassis with a lever function.
-Heater (maybe from the Duo for the 100mm Brass Cylinder version).
-Temperature controller.

This would be an open boiler design with a boiler volume enough to make at least 4 doubles. Piston/Cylinder designed to make doubles (2*30ml + 15ml for the coffegrounds ??). This "Thing" could look like a presso with an added cylinder on top of it containing water and a heater. The spring(s) on top or on the back and a lever at the base a la Peppina.

Pieces I need to buy are the springs, sealings and the shower screen. Anybody here that can help me out?

Anybody here that can give me the exact measures of the piston/cylinder/shower screen/spring of a lever machine?

I look forward to your information and comments.

PS. The boiler from the Duo could be paired with another boiler (+pump and water tank) to make a double volume boiler for steaming purpose. Would that work?

[hbuchtel]

Sounds cool! I don't have any advice, sorry, but would like to ask where you are getting your information from. . . . are there some good resources on the web or have you taken apart an old lever machine?

I recently came across a great picture on the 'chrome peacock' site - http://pavoni.varnelis.net/repairs.html, perhaps you've already seen it.

What do you mean by open boiler design? Is that like the difference between a Pavoni and Peppina?

Henry

[mathias]

Henry

I get info from internet homepages and people with experience who spend time on internet and are kind enough to help me. The pages you linked to are amongst my bookmarks. You are right about the open boiler design, so there is no possibility to steam milk with it.

The machine I'm thinking about is inspired by the Peppina and commercial lever machines, not machines like the Pavoni and Elektra home lever machines.