{
 "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-mesh-disc",
 "name": "Regenerator matrix disc Ø44 / Ø32 × 0.5 mm (mesh counts #40–#200)",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Stirling engines",
 "group": "Heat & regenerator",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What mesh size is used for a Stirling engine regenerator?",
 "tags": [
  "regenerator",
  "mesh",
  "matrix",
  "disc",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "stirling regenerator mesh size",
  "mesh 100 wire diameter",
  "astm e11 mesh",
  "regenerator matrix",
  "regenerator disc size"
 ],
 "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-mesh-disc/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-mesh-disc/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "ASTM E11 wire-mesh geometry (mesh count, wire diameter, opening); discs drawn at the regenerator cage bores, Ø44 and Ø32 × 0.5, Ø3 centre hole",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "The file is one regenerator matrix disc at its exact size: the bore of its cage (Ø44 or Ø32) × 0.5 mm, with a Ø3 centre hole the displacer rod passes through, drawn as a solid disc (the mesh weave is not modelled).",
   "Mesh count → wire Ø / opening (ASTM E11): #40 0.25 / 0.42 mm, #60 0.19 / 0.25, #80 0.14 / 0.18, #100 0.10 / 0.15, #150 0.066 / 0.104, #200 0.053 / 0.074.",
   "Regenerators use #100–#200 discs stacked loosely to 60–70 % porosity; #40–#60 suits low-temperature demonstrators where flow loss matters more than heat capacity.",
   "On my engines the regenerator is a split cage filled with a stack of #100 matrix discs."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "mesh",
    "wire_mm",
    "opening_mm",
    "use"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "#40",
     0.25,
     0.42,
     "low-temperature demonstrator"
    ],
    [
     "#60",
     0.19,
     0.25,
     "low-temperature demonstrator"
    ],
    [
     "#80",
     0.14,
     0.18,
     "regenerator"
    ],
    [
     "#100",
     0.1,
     0.15,
     "regenerator"
    ],
    [
     "#150",
     0.066,
     0.104,
     "regenerator"
    ],
    [
     "#200",
     0.053,
     0.074,
     "high-temperature regenerator"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Regenerator matrix disc Ø44 / Ø32 × 0.5 mm (mesh counts #40–#200) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-mesh-disc/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: ASTM E11 wire-mesh geometry (mesh count, wire diameter, opening); discs drawn at the regenerator cage bores, Ø44 and Ø32 × 0.5, Ø3 centre hole\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- The file is one regenerator matrix disc at its exact size: the bore of its cage (Ø44 or Ø32) × 0.5 mm, with a Ø3 centre hole the displacer rod passes through, drawn as a solid disc (the mesh weave is not modelled).\n- Mesh count → wire Ø / opening (ASTM E11): #40 0.25 / 0.42 mm, #60 0.19 / 0.25, #80 0.14 / 0.18, #100 0.10 / 0.15, #150 0.066 / 0.104, #200 0.053 / 0.074.\n- Regenerators use #100–#200 discs stacked loosely to 60–70 % porosity; #40–#60 suits low-temperature demonstrators where flow loss matters more than heat capacity.\n- On my engines the regenerator is a split cage filled with a stack of #100 matrix discs.\n\nmesh  wire_mm  opening_mm  use\n#40  0.25  0.42  low-temperature demonstrator\n#60  0.19  0.25  low-temperature demonstrator\n#80  0.14  0.18  regenerator\n#100  0.1  0.15  regenerator\n#150  0.066  0.104  regenerator\n#200  0.053  0.074  high-temperature regenerator\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-mesh-disc/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=regenerator-mesh-disc\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-cage",
  "tri-clamp-spool",
  "tri-clamp-displacer",
  "insulating-firebrick",
  "ceramic-standoff"
 ],
 "fits": [
  {
   "role": "Goes in or on",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "regenerator-cage",
     "why": "discs stacked inside the cage bore"
    },
    {
     "slug": "tri-clamp-displacer",
     "why": "matrix in the regenerative displacer's slots"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "role": "Also needed",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "tri-clamp-spool",
     "why": "the spool that holds the regenerator"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "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": "mesh disc OD",
   "exact": "Ø44 / Ø32",
   "mates": "regenerator cage bore Ø44 / Ø32",
   "fit": "socket",
   "files": "mesh-disc-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "mesh disc centre hole",
   "exact": "Ø3",
   "mates": "Ø3 displacer rod (passes through)",
   "fit": "run",
   "files": "mesh-disc-"
  }
 ],
 "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 mesh size for a Stirling regenerator?",
   "a": "#100 to #200 (0.10–0.053 mm wire) stacked loosely to 60–70 % porosity; #40–#60 for low-temperature demonstrators."
  },
  {
   "q": "What is the wire diameter of #100 mesh?",
   "a": "0.10 mm with a 0.15 mm opening (ASTM E11); #200 is 0.053 mm wire, 0.074 opening."
  },
  {
   "q": "What diameter is the regenerator disc?",
   "a": "Ø44 × 0.5 mm for the 2 in regenerator cage (its Ø44 bore) and Ø32 × 0.5 for the 1.5 in cage, each with a Ø3 centre hole for the displacer rod."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "mesh-disc-44mm",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/mesh-disc-44mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/mesh-disc-44mm.stl",
   "note": "regenerator mesh disc Ø44 × 0.5 with a Ø3 centre hole for the displacer rod: the bore of regenerator-cage-47-5x40 (Ø44), one disc of the stack that fills it"
  },
  {
   "file": "mesh-disc-32mm",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/mesh-disc-32mm.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/regenerator-and-heat-materials/mesh-disc-32mm.stl",
   "note": "regenerator mesh disc Ø32 × 0.5 with a Ø3 centre hole for the displacer rod: the bore of regenerator-cage-34-8x30 (Ø32), one disc of the stack that fills it"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/regenerator-mesh-disc/index.md"
}