British YouTuber Robert Murray-Smith has presented a Torsen balancer design that is suitable for production using 3D printing. The model is characterized by its compact design and clever use of worm and spur gears.
The special feature of this design is the use of worm gears at the center of the construction. These cannot be driven backwards, which gives the gearbox additional stability. The design consists of two identical halves, each containing a central sun gear with a helical shape. This is surrounded by three spur gears, which help to distribute the load.
The mode of operation is based on two fundamental principles: Firstly, all movement is relative, and secondly, the differential can not only divide force but also combine it. When driving straight ahead, the entire system rotates as a unit. When cornering, the design allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds, with the spur gears providing compensation.
The design also offers practical advantages: When a wheel is locked, the design prevents excessive spinning of the other wheel – a common problem with conventional differentials. Murray-Smith has designed the individual components in such a way that they are ideal for 3D printing. The gears in particular were split into separate parts to achieve a higher print quality.
Interested parties can download the STL files free of charge from Thingiverse. The printed components are assembled by gluing them together, whereby only a few additional pins and retaining rings are required. The model is suitable both as an illustrative object and as a functional gearbox for smaller projects.
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