3D printed Gearbox

This is a small 3D printed gearbox that we have tested for the Shapeways 3D parts database. The gearbox was designed by Dick Tiekink. The nifty thing about the gearbox is that the middle gear is printed in the "up" position. You then click the gear in place to make the gearbox work. This design means that the clearance constraint in 3D printing is circumvented and the gearbox is works much smoother than a regular gearbox assembly.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 3D printing
• Shapeways
• mechanical parts

[LineMasterJorbob]

So do the middle to gears move back and forth so that they can be locked into place?

[Shapeways]

The middle gear is printed in the up position so you have more clearance and the gear box is more efficient.

The middle gear is then clicked downward for use.

The resulting gearbox has very little side to side movement. Usually you have to compensate for clearance and so doing will make an inefficient gear box whereby the gears move side to side a lot.

[laserindie]

AND gate?

[greyspot00]

VERY cool.

[sharpnova2]

think about it. it's a gear box.

[kargaroc386]

the point is that they can turn the gear off and on

[anotherelvis]

Nice