{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets are written by Xem Studio from the cited sources and are free to use (CC BY 4.0, attribute 'Xem Studio'). Linked files belong to their publishers under the license shown; Xem Studio does not host them. 'license_verified: false' means the license shown is from memory or the publisher's page as last read and should be confirmed at the link before commercial use.",
 "slug": "can-engine-cap",
 "name": "Can-engine cap for 53.3, 58, 66 and 76.2 mm cans",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Stirling engines",
 "group": "Can & LTD engines",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What are the dimensions of the cap for a soda-can Stirling engine?",
 "tags": [
  "can engine",
  "cap",
  "displacer cylinder",
  "hose barb",
  "soda can",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "soda can stirling engine cap",
  "can engine cap stl",
  "66 mm can cap",
  "can stirling top cap dimensions"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": true,
 "free_files": 4,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/can-engine-cap/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/can-engine-cap/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Bore drawn at the can body OD of the can entries (Ø66 12 oz, Ø58 sleek, Ø53.3 slim, Ø76.2 steel 300); rod bore at the 2 mm rod, hose barb at the barb-4mm profile",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "The cap closes the open end of the can and is the cold end of the can engine's displacer cylinder. Its bore is the can body OD exactly (Ø66, Ø58, Ø53.3 or Ø76.2), 11 mm deep, under a 3 mm top wall; the outside is the can OD + 4.8 (Ø70.8 for the 66 mm can).",
   "On centre a Ø16 boss carries a Ø2 bore straight through for the 2 mm displacer rod (fit: run). The bore is the rod guide and the seal; nothing is pressed into it.",
   "The transfer port is an integral Ø4 hose barb, the same profile as barb-4mm on the silicone tube page, set 0.3 × the can diameter off centre (19.8 mm on the 66 mm cap); the 4 × 6 transfer tube goes from it to the power cylinder.",
   "Three Ø2.5 holes (M3 tap size) at 120°, 6 mm above the open face, take grub screws that grip the can wall. Every mating size is in the Mating features table."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "file",
    "can",
    "bore",
    "outside Ø",
    "height"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "can-cap-66",
     "12 oz standard",
     66,
     70.8,
     17
    ],
    [
     "can-cap-58",
     "sleek",
     58,
     62.8,
     17
    ],
    [
     "can-cap-53.3",
     "slim",
     53.3,
     58.1,
     17
    ],
    [
     "can-cap-76.2",
     "steel 300 food can",
     76.2,
     81,
     17
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Can-engine cap for 53.3, 58, 66 and 76.2 mm cans — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/can-engine-cap/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Bore drawn at the can body OD of the can entries (Ø66 12 oz, Ø58 sleek, Ø53.3 slim, Ø76.2 steel 300); rod bore at the 2 mm rod, hose barb at the barb-4mm profile\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- The cap closes the open end of the can and is the cold end of the can engine's displacer cylinder. Its bore is the can body OD exactly (Ø66, Ø58, Ø53.3 or Ø76.2), 11 mm deep, under a 3 mm top wall; the outside is the can OD + 4.8 (Ø70.8 for the 66 mm can).\n- On centre a Ø16 boss carries a Ø2 bore straight through for the 2 mm displacer rod (fit: run). The bore is the rod guide and the seal; nothing is pressed into it.\n- The transfer port is an integral Ø4 hose barb, the same profile as barb-4mm on the silicone tube page, set 0.3 × the can diameter off centre (19.8 mm on the 66 mm cap); the 4 × 6 transfer tube goes from it to the power cylinder.\n- Three Ø2.5 holes (M3 tap size) at 120°, 6 mm above the open face, take grub screws that grip the can wall. Every mating size is in the Mating features table.\n\nfile  can  bore  outside Ø  height\ncan-cap-66  12 oz standard  66.0  70.8  17\ncan-cap-58  sleek  58.0  62.8  17\ncan-cap-53.3  slim  53.3  58.1  17\ncan-cap-76.2  steel 300 food can  76.2  81.0  17\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Wikipedia: Stirling engine — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine\n- Long Earth Society: Can engine build — video, web — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n- Long Earth Society: Engine builds (videos and write-ups) — web, video — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 4 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-cap/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=can-engine-cap\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Stirling engine",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Can engine build",
   "url": "https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/",
   "formats": [
    "video",
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "LES site",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Engine builds (videos and write-ups)",
   "url": "https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/",
   "formats": [
    "web",
    "video"
   ],
   "license": "LES site",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "can-engine-displacer",
  "can-engine-crank-stand",
  "syringe-cradle",
  "beverage-cans",
  "silicone-tube",
  "list-can-engine"
 ],
 "fits": [
  {
   "role": "Parts that fit it",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "cd-dvd-discs",
     "why": "Ø15 hole on the hub's Ø15.0 spigot"
    },
    {
     "slug": "hdd-platters",
     "why": "Ø25 hole on the hub's Ø25.0 spigot"
    },
    {
     "slug": "bamboo-skewers",
     "why": "the can engine's crankshaft"
    },
    {
     "slug": "coat-hanger-and-paper-clip-wire",
     "why": "2 mm wire rod through the Ø2 bore in the can cap (run)"
    },
    {
     "slug": "steel-and-airsoft-bbs",
     "why": "BBs as guides along the displacer rod"
    },
    {
     "slug": "ping-pong-ball",
     "why": "lightweight displacer in a small demonstrator"
    },
    {
     "slug": "hose-barbs",
     "why": "the cap's integral Ø4 barb uses this profile"
    },
    {
     "slug": "displacer-rods",
     "why": "Ø2 rod in the cap's Ø2 bore"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "role": "Goes in or on",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "beverage-cans",
     "why": "Ø66 bore over the 12 oz can body"
    },
    {
     "slug": "steel-food-cans",
     "why": "Ø76.2 bore over the steel 300 can"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "role": "Connects to",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "can-engine-displacer",
     "why": "the displacer's 2 mm rod runs in the cap's Ø2 bore"
    },
    {
     "slug": "silicone-tube",
     "why": "4 × 6 tube on the integral Ø4 barb"
    },
    {
     "slug": "syringe-cradle",
     "why": "transfer tube from the cap's barb to the syringe tip"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "role": "Also needed",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "craft-sticks",
     "why": "2 mm wire displacer rod"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [
  {
   "feature": "can-cap bore",
   "exact": "Ø66 / Ø58 / Ø53.3 / Ø76.2",
   "mates": "can body OD (three M3 grubs grip it)",
   "fit": "slide",
   "files": "can-cap-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "grub holes",
   "exact": "Ø2.5",
   "mates": "M3 tap drill",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "can-cap-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "rod-guide bore",
   "exact": "Ø2 × 6",
   "mates": "2 mm wire displacer rod",
   "fit": "run",
   "files": "can-cap-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "transfer-port barb",
   "exact": "Ø4 shank, 3 ridges to Ø5.2, Ø2.5 bore, 14 proud",
   "mates": "4 mm ID tube",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "can-cap-"
  }
 ],
 "fit_classes": {
  "press": "stays put: pin, tube, bearing or magnet held by interference. Typical FDM: hole +0.0 to +0.1 mm on diameter.",
  "slide": "assembles by hand and is held by a grub, pinch or clamp: shaft in a hub, rod in a socket, spigot in a bore. Typical FDM: +0.2 mm.",
  "run": "turns or slides in use: pin in a link, rod through a guide. Typical FDM: +0.3 mm.",
  "socket": "large sliding fit: syringe barrel, sleeve, bobbin in a bore. Typical FDM: +0.3 mm.",
  "clamp": "split part that closes on the mating part with screws: make it at size.",
  "designed": "a gap that is part of the design (piston fit option, displacer gap, air gap): do not change."
 },
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "What size cap fits a 12 oz soda can?",
   "a": "Can-cap-66: Ø66.0 bore (the can body OD), 11 mm deep, Ø70.8 outside, 17 mm tall overall."
  },
  {
   "q": "How does the displacer rod pass through the cap?",
   "a": "Through a Ø2 bore straight through the Ø16 centre boss, drawn at the 2 mm rod (fit: run); the bore itself is the guide."
  },
  {
   "q": "Where does the transfer tube connect?",
   "a": "To the integral Ø4 hose barb (barb-4mm profile) 0.3 × the can diameter off centre, 19.8 mm on the 66 mm cap."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "can-cap-66",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-66.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-66.stl",
   "note": "cap for a Ø66 can: bore Ø66 (the can body OD, exact), Ø2 rod-guide bore for the 2 mm wire rod, integral transfer-port barb for 4 mm ID tube (Ø4 shank, three ridges to Ø5.2, Ø2.5 bore, 14 proud), 3 × M3 tapped (Ø2.5) grub holes"
  },
  {
   "file": "can-cap-58",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-58.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-58.stl",
   "note": "cap for a Ø58 can: bore Ø58 (the can body OD, exact), Ø2 rod-guide bore for the 2 mm wire rod, integral transfer-port barb for 4 mm ID tube (Ø4 shank, three ridges to Ø5.2, Ø2.5 bore, 14 proud), 3 × M3 tapped (Ø2.5) grub holes"
  },
  {
   "file": "can-cap-53.3",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-53.3.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-53.3.stl",
   "note": "cap for a Ø53.3 can: bore Ø53.3 (the can body OD, exact), Ø2 rod-guide bore for the 2 mm wire rod, integral transfer-port barb for 4 mm ID tube (Ø4 shank, three ridges to Ø5.2, Ø2.5 bore, 14 proud), 3 × M3 tapped (Ø2.5) grub holes"
  },
  {
   "file": "can-cap-76.2",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-76.2.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/can-engine-printed-kit/can-cap-76.2.stl",
   "note": "cap for a Ø76.2 can: bore Ø76.2 (the can body OD, exact), Ø2 rod-guide bore for the 2 mm wire rod, integral transfer-port barb for 4 mm ID tube (Ø4 shank, three ridges to Ø5.2, Ø2.5 bore, 14 proud), 3 × M3 tapped (Ø2.5) grub holes"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/can-engine-cap/index.md"
}