September 26, 2005

Glubot

Gluebot250 I'm doing a layout on the Robot model to make it into a printed kit. I need to number the parts for the assembly instructions. To that end I lay out the parts in Illustrator then print them out at 70% normal size - so that they fit on my A4 printer.
As the model goes together I think that it will make a nice addition to Martha's collection of small small animation kits. That is until I turn it over and the body falls into my glue pot. Curses!
So, the layout and numbering is complete but no nice new model. A lesson in care perhaps?
Posted by robives at 06:54 PM | Comments (0)

September 18, 2005

Fun with Bevel Gears

Bent Bevel My Dad was doing a test / proof-read / trial run of the Bevel Gear model. Having completed the main sixteen tooth gear he set it aside, happy in the knowledge of a tricky job well done. On his return he found exhibit A.
Number one suspect is the cat. Little needle teeth marks and an innocent look? All the proof you need.
Posted by robives at 07:30 PM | Comments (1)

September 12, 2005

Bevel Kit

BevelinstI've completed a working Bevel Gear. I'm really rather pleased with it so am currently working on a set of instructions to make it available for download. This will be the first download that I have designed which will be pure exemplar mechanism. It will be interesting to see how many people choose to purchase it!
I'm sure that I will use the bevel gear mechanism for another paper animation kit. I have a couple of things in mind and my son Elliot says that I should make a dog chasing its tail!
Posted by robives at 01:30 PM | Comments (1)

September 07, 2005

Bevel Solution

Envelope Using two different diameters of bevel gear. Rather than the bevel being at 45 degree as I used in the original prototype I suspect that the angle should be as shown in this sketch. The red line shows the bevel angle for the two gears. It's the line joining the point where the two axles intersect with the point where the two gears intersect. Not yet sure how I'm going to calculate the net of the gear. Hmmm.
Posted by robives at 08:42 PM | Comments (1)

More Bevels

BevelboxI've completed a bevel gear and mounted it in a box. Two gears twelve teeth and fifteen. I was telling Rod about the difficulty I was having making a 45 degree angle on the bevels when he pointed out that the gears are only at 45 degrees when the number of teeth were equal. So back to the drawing board - again.
Posted by robives at 04:36 PM | Comments (0)

September 02, 2005

Bevel Gear

Bevelgears After a long absence - noted in the forum I'm back with more Workshop Notes.
I'm designing a model that needs a ninety degree rotation in drive direction so I am trying to construct a bevel gear.
Pictured here is an early prototype. the lower gear with have fifteen teeth, the upper one twelve. The teeth are constructed in groups of four, one cut off for the larger gear. It seems to work as is but I am worried about teeth bending, rectangular tubes are obviously not a rigid structure.
Next step is to construct a complete pair of gears and mount them into a frame, see if they work.
I am slightly uneasy about the shape of the gear. I wonder if it is not really a card project. I have simply taken the shape of bevel gears from their metal counterparts and recreated it in card, perhaps I should be looking for a different solution more suited to the material. It reminds me of the construction of Iron Bridge. The bridge was the first to be constructed from iron. The arch shape was designed by engineers more used to using wood, so, using their well know techniques, parts were joined using dovetail joints...
Posted by robives at 09:24 AM | Comments (3)