Opposed Piston Motor

[solinear]

Well, I think that having a working motor, the only way you're going to get any acceptance is if you have a big name sitting there next to you doing the actual announcement.  Bill Gates or Steve Jobs?  Maybe not, though Bill Gates did just come out stating that we need to get away from the carbon (coal, natural gas, petroleum, etc...) economy and move towards a solar/wind/renewable economy, so he might not be in the "no hope in hell" category, provided you have a working design.

That being said, we can get back to more relevant discussion - design and testing.

I have been doing some small tests and have noticed that it takes a LOT of power to repel 2 magnets that are in attraction.  This might be because I'm using 2 thicker magnets (you're using thin magnets, right?), so their field extends quite a bit, compared to a pair of thinner magnets.  I've got a few thoughts on what to do about this.  I'll let you know more tomorrow evening about my tests with that.

[solinear]

After a small amount of testing, repelling a magnet with metal on the other side (think of your 2-piston motor with 1 magnet and 1 piece of metal) and, while the pull force is around half (actually around 45%), the repel wattage is less than a tenth.

2 magnets in attraction:

56.7 volts @ 14 ohms = 4 amps, 230 watts - not enough.

1 magnet with steel:

9.15 volts @ 14 ohms = .65 amps, 6 watts - not enough
18.3 volts @ 14 ohms = 1.3 amps, 24 watts - more than enough

I'm going to have to look this over and do some thinking.  I might test with 12 volts to see how that works (12v @ 14 ohms = .85 amps, 10.3 watts).

I need to wind some more electromagnets, both thicker and wider (.9" wide, .25" thick) to see how much of a difference that makes.

[tropes]

Well, I think that having a working motor, the only way you're going to get any acceptance is if you have a big name sitting there next to you doing the actual announcement.  Bill Gates or Steve Jobs?  Maybe not, though Bill Gates did just come out stating that we need to get away from the carbon (coal, natural A, petroleum, etc...) economy and move towards a solar/wind/renewable economy, so he might not be in the "no hope in hell" category, provided you have a working design.

That being said, we can get back to more relevant discussion - design and testing.

I have been doing some small tests and have noticed that it takes a LOT of power to repel 2 magnets that are in attraction.  This might be because I'm using 2 thicker magnets (you're using thin magnets, right?), so their field extends quite a bit, compared to a pair of thinner magnets.  I've got a few thoughts on what to do about this.  I'll let you know more tomorrow evening about my tests with that.

These are the magnets: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/
Part# DX8C-N52.
Check out http://www.theowlnest.com/hopgy.html
Tropes

[tropes]

I'm going to have to look this over and do some thinking.  I might test with 12 volts to see how that works (12v @ 14 ohms = .85 amps, 10.3 watts).
I need to wind some more electromagnets, both thicker and wider (.9" wide, .25" thick) to see how much of a difference that makes.

It is very important to match the coil to the magnets. Spend time on this aspect of the motor. 2 magnets on each side of a coil act differently than one especially when they are in motion.
Tropes

[solinear]

These are the magnets: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/
Part# DX8C-N52.
Check out http://www.theowlnest.com/hopgy.html
Tropes

Much more powerful than I had expected.  Are you still using an iron/steel core EM or are you using an air core?