Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 59
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    259

    Default New Project - Working Title "Mouse Wheel"

    The idea for this automaton has been fermenting in the brain for some time. Until I acquired a mini lathe/mill, attempting it was looking like a distant prospect. Now, the steep learning curve of the machine presents interesting challenges, raising the possibility of doing it. It opens up the world of brass and plastics which present many possibilities previously unavailable. That, remains to be seen......
    A man is trapped inside a mouse wheel, running towards distant rewards, shimmering, tempting, unattainable. A mouse,
    bemused, looks on.
    A crude sketch,

    Sketch.jpg

    Gus

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    259

    Default WIP - Leg Mechanism

    The attached short video is a test prototype to see which leg is more realistic. The right leg, nearest to camera, is a fixed shape, the other has a moveable knee joint. I am not convinced that it is better than the fixed. And, I don't think that the knee movement is correct yet. I intend to build the character using brass which is harder to modify than a carved one. The constant moving of the parts will have a wear factor which may be short, so the movement must be accurate prior to brassworks.

    Leg prototype.mp4

    Meanwhile the wheel is under construction.
    Wheel plan.jpg
    The template, generated in Illustrator is glued to two pieces of ply,
    Cutout.jpg
    Drilled for rods, and cutout on scrollsaw
    Wheel parts.jpg

    Assembly follows.

    Thanks for looking,
    Gus

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Torquay
    Posts
    4,421

    Default

    Good one Gus

    Looking forward to seeing more of your excellent work

    All the Best

    Keith

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    259

    Default WIP - Wheel

    The wheel is complete, and installed for testing.

    Wheel complete.jpg

    To imply that the character is trapped in a mechanical life, the wheel's rotating gears and the leg and arm movement cams and controls will be left exposed behind the wheel, the first parts of which are seen in this video.

    Wheel installed.mp4

    Thanks for looking,
    Gus

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Torquay
    Posts
    4,421

    Default

    Top work Gus

    The video shows it off well

    regards

    Keith

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Richmond, Ky.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    120

    Default

    nice work.

    Jim
    Last edited by James_; 12th April 2017 at 03:34 AM. Reason: change post

  8. #7
    crowie's Avatar
    crowie is online now Life's Good, Enjoy each new day & try to encourage
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Faulconbridge, Lower Blue Mountains
    Age
    68
    Posts
    11,164

    Default

    Apologies Gus, I somehow missed this Work In Progress...
    Your ingenuity and engineering along with the craftsmanship is brilliant sir...
    I too appreciate the videos on the "How It Works", Thank You..
    Cheers, Peter

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Richmond, Ky.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    120

    Default

    Gus,
    I am curious, are you going to use a cam to oscillate the movement of "his" legs ? If you have a tab that pushes back then his leg could move forward before going down again.


    Jim

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    259

    Default

    Thanks very much Peter !
    Gus

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    259

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by James_ View Post
    Gus,
    I am curious, are you going to use a cam to oscillate the movement of "his" legs ? If you have a tab that pushes back then his leg could move forward before going down again.


    Jim
    Hi Jim,
    The leg movement at the knees is what I think you are referring to. I am using a combination of internal and external cables and spring wire. As the leg rotates to the rear, the knee is bent by a cable attached to the torso. As it rotates to the front, a spring wire straightens the leg before the next cycle. The arm above is connected inside the torso to the leg by cable and a small return spring. The leg "front to back" movement will be via a piston governing reciprocal arms, driven by a pulley which also drives the wheel.
    I hope that answers the question, and thanks for the interest,
    Gus

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    259

    Default WIP - The skeleton

    The body will require better than timber moving elements, so it is made of brass, which will be clad with carved timber.
    Telescoping tubes with the legs soldered to them go through the large tube to the rear where the mechanisms operating them will be located. The knees are hinges used by aero modellers to actuate wing flaps. Not sure they will stand the test of time however. At the top is for the arms, and the head.


    Skeleton.JPG

    Installed temporarily in the cage,

    Skeleton inside wheel.JPG

    Looks a bit lost....

    Next is the timber bodyworks and the actuating cables, springs bith internal and external. Stainless steel fishing cable, spring steel and springs will be the "veins" which hopefully will result in realistic movements.
    Thanks for looking,
    Gus

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

    Default

    Pulling up a chair to watch this one.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Richmond, Ky.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    120

    Default

    Hi Gus,
    I know getting the movements to work in synchronicity will take some trial and error. This morning I was thinking of the movie Running Man only in this instance it's like the daily grind. The attached image shows one way the upper leg might be lifted and rotated. It's just the basic idea. I hope you don't mind. With some of what you're doing this might help you to keep the movements isolated to different parts of your man in the cage.


    Jim
    Attached Images Attached Images

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Richmond, Ky.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    120

    Default

    Gus,
    There is something you might consider, if my project works then it could power your mouse wheel.
    The outside diameters should be close so Bessler's Wheel would be like a water wheel at a mill. And I do believe what I posted in my thread is simple enough to wprk.
    Besides I know a lot of people are interested in seeing your mouse wheel work.

    Jim

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Richmond, Ky.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    120

    Default

    Gus,
    I know what I've suggested is unusual. And it might be that a basic demonstration of perpetual motion would be a let down because of how it's been hyped and considered impossible. Yet with something like what you're working on people might find the whole thing more interesting. With me I do plan on having a wood shop to work on different projects but need to get there first.
    With the mechanics you're working with, I'm not sure how you'd feel about it but some of the people in here might be interested in helping with some of the research and development. I know with what I've worked on in the past that working out the mechanics and what I like is, we had one inventor who said 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration and you've had the inspiration and have started the perspiration.
    I'll explain the math of the motor in my thread so you can consider it.


    Jim

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 42
    Last Post: 11th October 2019, 08:49 AM
  2. New Thread Title to Replace "today's tool gloat"
    By Oldneweng in forum METALWORK FORUM
    Replies: 104
    Last Post: 7th June 2014, 03:58 PM
  3. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 27th August 2013, 11:27 PM
  4. Oughtred Puffin "Miss Mouse"
    By Seafarer in forum MISC BOAT RELATED STUFF
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 22nd February 2011, 11:15 PM
  5. Grinding wheel "bounce"
    By philly in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 25th January 2006, 11:54 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •