In one of his current projects, British YouTuber Robert Murray-Smith combines two mechanical principles to create an experimental gearbox concept – completely manufactured using a 3D printer. The components used are available free of charge on Thingiverse.
The starting point of the project is a combination of two previously presented concepts. One is the so-called “scroller-roller” – a variant of a linear bearing with rotating rollers – and the other is what Murray-Smith calls “Wolf’s lever principle”. Both components are used for power transmission and offer interesting mechanical properties. Murray-Smith combines these systems into a modular gearbox whose transmission ratio is controlled by several influencing variables, including the diameter of the rollers, the number of toothed belts and a targeted height offset in the axis center.
The design consists of a central carrier housing, several TPU-coated rollers, a conically designed axle system and specially designed bearings. Cross roller bearings are used for the bearings, in which cylindrical bodies are guided in a circumferential groove. These enable high-precision rotation in a compact design. The lever mechanism is realized via a stepped axis and a fixed anchorage in the housing. The TPU components have a resilient function, as they are printed with a reduced wall thickness and 15% triangular infill – which gives the component targeted elasticity.
Murray-Smith sees his design not only as a demonstrator of mechanical relationships, but also as an invitation to experiment. He makes the files available free of charge on Thinigiverse.
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