Steam Engine/Spec Metric

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Calculation of a Metric Score

Following questions are drawn from OSE Specifications and is used to determine how well the Steam Engine product meets OSE specs. There are no real guidelines on how to use these questions. Given that there are 42 questions and a max score of 42, we assume that each question is awarded one point. In those cases where partial results are present, a score of 0.5 is awarded, leading to the possible metric score as a decimal number.

Current score (see last section) is 21.5 out of 42 pts.

Economic Significance

01. Is it relevant for meeting the material needs of humans?
1pt - Yes, the steam engine can be used to reduce human labor and store energy for later use.

Distributive Economics

02. Does the economic model distribute economic power?
0pt - An economic model hasn't been defined yet.

03. Does it promote community and global resilience?
1pt - Yes, local power generation is essential to local resilience.

Systems Design

04. Does it consider the complete human and natural ecosystem?
.5pt - Some is done, but others (like exhaust steam and oil) haven't been considered yet.

Ecology

05. Is it good for the environment?
0pt - While not as bad as other engines, it does produce a waste stream that includes: steam, oil, water, and noise.

Development Process

06. Is participation in the process entirely voluntary?
1pt - Yes, currently two primary members, and several secondary.

07. Can anyone join or leave the development group at any time?
1pt - Yes, some have already left, new people have joined.

08. Does the collaborative development process utilize the input of diverse stakeholders?
.5pt - Some stakeholders are represented, others not.

09. Are the steps and results of the development process documented?
1pt - Yes, see Steam Engine Development

Simplicity of design

10. Is it low Cost?
1pt - Yes, the current projected cost is substantially less expensive than similar, off-the-shelf engines.

11. Does it have Long Life?
0pt - TBD It is designed so that worn or broken parts can be replaced.'

12. Is it modular?
1pt - Yes, different bore sizes, different crankshaft assemblies, etc.

13. Is it designed for disassembly?
1pt - Yes, the whole engine can be disassembled with a socket wrench and screwdriver.

Design for scalability

14. Can it be scaled up?
1pt - Yes, more cylinders can be added to a crankshaft.

15. Can it be scaled down?
1pt - Yes, bore size can be reduced.

16. Is it easily scalable?
1pt - Yes. Add cylinders, modify the crankshaft and go.

Localization

Materials

17. Are materials used in production local?
.5pt -Some materials can be sourced locally, others will come from distance sources.

18. Is raw material production local?
0pt - No, not at this time.

Production

19. Is product production local?
0pt - Since it is not in production yet, no.

20. Is the machinery used in production process open source?
1pt - Yes, OS lathe, milling, drilling.

21. Is the machinery used in production process locally fabricated?
0pt - Not at this time, no. RepLab is still being produced.

Economic Feasibility and Replicability

22. Is there minimal overhead?
1pt - Almost none, assuming a source of steam from a solar concentrator or biomass boiler. Some oil lubrication is needed.

23. Is there minimal waste?
.5pt - The steam is recondensed and can be recycled, but some maintenance need in anticipated, which will produce small amounts of waste.

24. Are R&D costs shared by a number of stakeholders?
0pt - Not really. There are very few stakeholders participating at this time.

25. Are services given away?
0pt - Not yet.

26. Are production facilities Crowd-funded?
0pt - Not yet.

Product Evolution

27. Is there continual produce maintenance?
0pt = TBD

28. Is there continual product development?
0pt = TBD

Fabrication Facilities

29. Is there a flexible fabrication mechanism?
0pt = TBD

Open Business Model

30. Is there a Business Plan?
0pt - No business plan at this time.

31. Are there technical details in the business plan?
0pt - No business plan at this time.

Open Documentation

32. Is content Open Source?
1pt = Yes, see Steam Engine/Index

33. Is content readily accessible (downloadable)?
.5 - Wiki pages only, at this time.

34. Are there design drawings?
1pt = Yes, many.

Designs

35. Are design drawings CAD?
0pt = No, TBd

36. Are fabrication procedures detailed?
0.5pt - Fabrication details are in progress.

37. Is ecoDnomic analysis available?
0pt - TBD

38. Is ergonomic analysis available?
0pt - TBD

Bill of Materials (BOM)

39. Is there a parts list?
1pt - Yes, see Steam Engine Bill of Materials

40. Is Sourcing of parts listed?
1pt - Yes, see Steam Engine Bill of Materials

41. Are prices of parts listed?
0.5 - Some, see Steam Engine Bill of Materials

Start-up Assistance

42. Is producer training available?
0pt - TBD

Metric Roll-up and Score

No. Desc. Pts
01. Human Needs 1
02. Economic Power 0
03. Community Resilience 1
04. Ecosystems .5
05. Good for Environment 0
06. Voluntary Partipation 1
07. Join/Leave 1
08. Diverse Stakeholders .5
09. Development Process 1
10. Low Cost 1
11. Long Life 0
12. Modular 1
13. Dissassemblable 1
14. Scale Up 1
15. Scale Down 1
16. Scalable 1
17. Materials Local .5
18. Raw Materials Local 0
19. Produced Locally 0
20. OS Machines 1
21. Local Machines 0
22. Minimum Overhead 1
23. Minimum Waste .5
24. R&D Costs 0
25. Service is Free 0
26. Crowd Funded Facility 0
27. Continuous Maintenance 0
28. Continuous Development 0
29. Flexible Fabrication 0
30. Business Plan 0
31. Technical Details in Plan 0
32. Open Source Content 1
33. Content Accessible 1
34. Drawing Designs 1
35. CAD Drawings 0
36. Fabrication Details .5
37. Economic Analysis 0
38. Ergonomic Analysis 0
39. Parts List 1
40. Parts Source 1
41. Prices of Parts 1
42. Training 0
Total Score 21.5