Jan Ridders (Roosendaal, August 14, 1941 - January 28, 2026) was a Dutch machinist, engineer and machine designer.
Ridders' designs, freely distributed,discussion on Ridders' quick reply to emails on HMEM - machine builder hobby site. along with assistance to engineers building these motors, has brought him world reputation.Jan Ridder's engines at the "Machinist Blog" website He has designed and created motors which had previously been conceived only theoretically, such as a low temperature difference Stirling engine which works on heat at the tip of the hand.Easy to make LTD (Low Temperature Difference) Stirling engine These motors, besides spurring engineer's imaginationExample (one of many) of discussion on self made design inspired by Ridder's design . This design has been shown extensively on the web, for example at the TreeHugger site have also been followed up by some companies selling products based on these Ridder's design.See external links
He was the maker of small Stirling Engines, "flame eater", steam engines and other types of small practical heat engines. Ridders gave free plans for building his motors and offered advice with his experience in various places on the web.
After years of stagnation, once shown working models and the simplicity of the design, companies began to invest in developing concentrated light thermal solar energy solutions.An example of recent development of thermal solar solutions using concentrated light. This solution was developed with funding from Boeing.
Biography Ridders studied physics at the Technical College of Eindhoven and continued to work for 40 years at Philips company in Roosendaal.Bio (in Dutch) at Majosoft scale models (online hobbyist) website
Upon retiring in October 2001 he began designing and building machinery, with skills which he taught himself at Philips, by closely observing their practice, while working with the mechanical department.According to the bio on his personal website In 2004 he received the Dutch Glacius award for his continued contribution to the Dutch National Association of Model BuildersNLS Dutch model builders association and image of award on Jan's personal website. He regularly wrote in articles in "De Modelbouwer" Magazine, as well as the UK based Model Engineer magazine and the US "ModelBuilder" magazine.The carborator page on the magazine's website, among other articles.
Until 2007 he had been building steam engine models, but then turned to more elaborate and unusual Heat Engines, especially vacuum engines such as the flame thrower, Stirling and Rankyne engines (closed cycle Butane based steam engines). He has also been building models of unusual 2 stroke and 4 stroke motors.
References
External links Jan Ridders' website Scuderi engine Jan Ridder's Stirling engines made from two 1 Euro coins