Question.....

[chrome700]

Maybe I'm missing something easy, but what would be the best way to create a series of wheel an pinion pairs where the ratios are different but the distance between centers is fixed?

I'm still just playing around with the demo for now.

[JustinO]

The number of teeth is proportional to the circumference, which is proportional to the radius, and the radii have to add to the same number, so the number of teeth have to add to the same number.

So,
100:100
99:101
98:102
...

--Justin

[ArtF]

Yup.. As Justin says....

  If the number of teeth are a limitation, you can also use the Calculator button when you have any set of gears on the screen,
you can ask the calculator what Mod  woudl give you what center.. so you can make any set of tooth counts equal in total
count or not by changing the module on each set...the calculator will tell you what module that is...for that set...

Art

[chrome700]

Man, that calculator thing makes it easy. In truth, I think I need to watch some more YouTube tutorials to get a better idea of what all the variables are.

One other quick question, if I may. On the project page, is it possible to have gears freely rotate on a shaft? Said another way, I need multiple gears on one shaft rotating at different speeds.

Edit: After playing with it for a bit, it looks like if the centers are share the same X & Y coordinates the project page will automatically draw a shaft along the Z.

[JustinO]

Look up Ferguson's Paradox if you want to be confused -- the gear radii ratios are the same, but the speed ratios are different!

(Ferguson cheated)

--Justin

[ArtF]

Hi:

  There are a couple of ways to make gears share shafts. Using linkage editing you can make anything drive anything,
but to do it automatically, place a gear on the screen, roll another off that one. Now you have two shafts and 2 gears..
Place a thrid gear on the second gears shaft. Now make sure the 4th gear you place will create the same center distance
when placed on gear #3 that gears 1&2 make. Roll it off Gear#3 and place it atop gear #1's shaft.

  As long as your close, the system will ask if youd like to share the shaft, if you say yes, the gear will spin freely on the
shaft. You can actually make a transmission type of thing that way, use hex stock and use hex shaft holes on gears you lock,
and round holes on the gears that will spin freely. Makes it so you dont need locking screws and pins and such.

Many ways to go.. :)

Art

[John T]

I built a clock that only has two shafts. Brass bushings in the actual gears allowed  them to rotate at different speeds on the one shaft. By using the same techniques as described above I was able to get what I wanted including a moon dial. It was a lot of fun to make and very satisfying to see it work.

http://jtwoodenclocks.com/Learning_Agai ... ock_2.html

If your interested take a look

John

[drezal]

Very cool clock, John.  Building a clock is next on my list of things to try. 

Dan L.