Modelling Gears
From DT Online
Description
Working model Gears can be made by arranging short lengths of material (e.g. Dowel, Stripwood, Lolly Sticks, Matchsticks, Cocktail Sticks) around discs of Card, Ply or MDF.
Gears provide an alternative to Pulleys when transfering power between revolving shafts or axles. Gears have to be positioned more carefully than Pulleys if they are to Mesh successfully. Two Meshing Gears will always rotate in opposite directions whereas Pulleys will only do so if the Drive Belt is given a half twist.
'Real' Gears provide a much more positive drive than Pulleys and can transfer much more power but this is not usually of concern when making models. The construction of Stripwood model Gears, however, can lend some realism to models such as Windmills and Watermills.
Construction
| Construction | Simple Gears for working models can be made by arranging a number of Spokes around a disc of Card, Ply or MDF.
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| Templates and Jigs | A degree of accuracy is required when spacing the Spokes around the discs.
Note: Cover the Template with tracing paper to stop glue sticking to it. If required, an assembly Jig can be made by gluing the Template on to a piece of Softwood or Insulation Board and fixing small Nails or Panel Pins in place to locate the Spokes. |
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Lantern Gear
| Lantern Gear | Also known as Cage Gears and so named because of their resemblance to those items. They are simply made by gluing short lengths of Dowel between two discs of Card, Ply or MDF.
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| Peg (or Pin) Gear | These Mesh with each other or with a Lantern Gear and can be regarded as another Lantern Gear with one disc removed.
Note: In old Windmills, the large Brake Wheel which meshes with the smaller Wallower, often had wooden teeth (i.e. made from Hornbeam or Fruitwood). This made for quiet running and easy gear tooth replacement when worn . . . but wear was minimised by having an extra gear tooth on the larger gear such that the same two teeth did not keep coming into contact with each other. This extra gear tooth was known by Millwrights as the 'Hunting Cog'. (See Wilton Windmill and the Teacher’s Guide – Technology in the Education Resources section) |
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Spur Gears
| Spur Gear | The simplest form of Gear is a rotating disc with straight teeth projecting from its rim.
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Meshing Gears
| Gear Geometry | Different size Gears can be used to speed up or slow down an axle they are connected to but if they are to Mesh at all, the gear teeth must all be the same size.
Note: As with Pulleys, a 6 tooth Driver gear would cause a 12 tooth Driven Gear to rotate at half speed - and vice versa. |
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Animations
- Examples from Nguyen Duc Thang's YouTube Channel 2100 Animated Mechanical Mechanisms
| Pin Gear Drive | Worm Gear Drive - spring and pins give alternate ways for producing the worm and worm-wheel. | ||
| Pin Gear Driving a Rack | Pin Rack (try making a Pin Rack which is driven by a Pin Gear?) |
Notes:
- MDF Discs which are pre-drilled are most useful if available, otherwise this might be done as preparation before using with younger children - alternatively a Hand Drill Stand could be used (if neccessary, adults or older children can cut them out of strips of MDF or Ply using a Holesaw).
- Dowels 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm are useful sizes for axles.
- Florist Wire is easily bent into shape whereas stiff wire, such as Brass Brazing Rod, is more suitable for connecting rods.
