{
 "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": "regenerator-cage",
 "name": "Regenerator cage for 2 in and 1.5 in tri-clamp spools (Ø47.5 and Ø34.8)",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Stirling engines",
 "group": "Heat & regenerator",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How do I hold regenerator mesh inside a tri-clamp spool?",
 "tags": [
  "regenerator",
  "cage",
  "tri-clamp",
  "spool",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "regenerator cage stl",
  "stirling regenerator holder",
  "tri clamp regenerator",
  "2 inch spool regenerator",
  "regenerator sleeve"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": true,
 "free_files": 2,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-cage/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-cage/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Split tube drawn at the tri-clamp spool bore (2 in Ø47.5, 1.5 in Ø34.8), 2 mm split so it closes for insertion",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "The 2 in cage is Ø47.5 OD (= the 2 in spool bore) × 40 long, Ø44 ID, 1.75 mm wall.",
   "The 1.5 in cage is Ø34.8 OD (= the 1.5 in spool bore) × 30 long, Ø32 ID, 1.4 mm wall.",
   "Each has a 2 mm split through one wall (designed), so it closes slightly to slide into the bore and springs out against it.",
   "The regenerator matrix fills the cage bore: Ø44 × 40 on the 2 in size, Ø32 × 30 on the 1.5 in."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "cage",
    "od_mm",
    "id_mm",
    "length_mm",
    "split_mm",
    "spool"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "regenerator-cage-47-5x40",
     47.5,
     44,
     40,
     2,
     "2 in"
    ],
    [
     "regenerator-cage-34-8x30",
     34.8,
     32,
     30,
     2,
     "1.5 in"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Regenerator cage for 2 in and 1.5 in tri-clamp spools (Ø47.5 and Ø34.8) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-cage/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Split tube drawn at the tri-clamp spool bore (2 in Ø47.5, 1.5 in Ø34.8), 2 mm split so it closes for insertion\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- The 2 in cage is Ø47.5 OD (= the 2 in spool bore) × 40 long, Ø44 ID, 1.75 mm wall.\n- The 1.5 in cage is Ø34.8 OD (= the 1.5 in spool bore) × 30 long, Ø32 ID, 1.4 mm wall.\n- Each has a 2 mm split through one wall (designed), so it closes slightly to slide into the bore and springs out against it.\n- The regenerator matrix fills the cage bore: Ø44 × 40 on the 2 in size, Ø32 × 30 on the 1.5 in.\n\ncage  od_mm  id_mm  length_mm  split_mm  spool\nregenerator-cage-47-5x40  47.5  44  40  2  2 in\nregenerator-cage-34-8x30  34.8  32  30  2  1.5 in\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Wikipedia: Mesh (scale) — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesh_(scale)\n- Wikipedia: Regenerative heat exchanger — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenerative_heat_exchanger\n- Wikipedia: Steel wool — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_wool\n- McMaster-Carr: Wire cloth (free STEP per part, for your own design use; no redistribution) — STEP, PDF — McMaster-Carr site terms [verify license at link] — https://www.mcmaster.com/products/wire-cloth/\n- Long Earth Society: Engine and rig builds — web, video — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 2 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-cage/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=regenerator-cage\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Mesh (scale)",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesh_(scale)",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Regenerative heat exchanger",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenerative_heat_exchanger",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Steel wool",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_wool",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "McMaster-Carr",
   "title": "Wire cloth (free STEP per part, for your own design use; no redistribution)",
   "url": "https://www.mcmaster.com/products/wire-cloth/",
   "formats": [
    "STEP",
    "PDF"
   ],
   "license": "McMaster-Carr site terms",
   "license_verified": false,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Engine and rig builds",
   "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": [
  "regenerator-mesh-disc",
  "tri-clamp-spool",
  "tri-clamp-ferrule",
  "tri-clamp-clamps",
  "thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger"
 ],
 "fits": [
  {
   "role": "Goes in or on",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "tri-clamp-spool",
     "why": "cage OD = spool bore Ø47.5 / Ø34.8 (socket)"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "role": "Also needed",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "regenerator-mesh-disc",
     "why": "matrix discs stacked in the cage bore"
    },
    {
     "slug": "tri-clamp-clamps",
     "why": "clamps the spool between hot and cold ends"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "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": "cage OD",
   "exact": "Ø47.5 / Ø34.8",
   "mates": "tri-clamp-spool bore 47.5 / 34.8",
   "fit": "socket",
   "files": "regenerator-cage-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "cage split",
   "exact": "2",
   "mates": "closes for insertion",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "regenerator-cage-"
  }
 ],
 "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 regenerator cage for a 2 in tri-clamp spool?",
   "a": "Ø47.5 OD × 40 mm, Ø44 ID, drawn at the spool bore with a 2 mm split."
  },
  {
   "q": "Why is the cage split?",
   "a": "The 2 mm split lets it close for insertion into the Ø47.5 or Ø34.8 bore; it is a designed gap."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "regenerator-cage-47-5x40",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/regenerator-cage-47-5x40.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/regenerator-cage-47-5x40.stl",
   "note": "regenerator cage for a 2 in spool bore: Ø47.5 OD (= bore) × 40, Ø44 ID, 1.75 wall, 2 mm split; pack with mesh or scrubber"
  },
  {
   "file": "regenerator-cage-34-8x30",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/regenerator-cage-34-8x30.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/regenerator-cage-34-8x30.stl",
   "note": "regenerator cage for a 1.5 in spool bore: Ø34.8 OD (= bore) × 30, Ø32 ID, 2 mm split"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-cage/index.md"
}