The desktop V twin engine is balanced to ensure smooth operations and minimum vibration at 1,500 rpm. The engine has two 1½ cc aluminum cylinders connected to exhaust pipes made with stainless steel. The engine’s cylinders are operated with butane, which one can purchase from drug stores. With full tanks, one can operate the engine for a maximum ten minutes.
Starting the engine requires one to turn the flywheel made of solid brass. This is attached to a timing disc, which sends electrical impulses to the spark plugs, which in turn ignite the butane in the cylinders. One can easily observe the movements of the crossheads, crankshaft and valve rods when the engine is operating at low revolutions. The noise produced in this process is equivalent to the same in a kitchen blender. Since the emissions are non-toxic, the engine can be operated indoors in a well-ventilated room.
