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To prototype the gears, we considered using 3D-printing, wood working, water-jet cutting, and laser cutting. We attempted to first cut them from wood by hand since it was the most cost effective method; however, due to equipment problems in the wood shop, we decided to laser cut the gears from acrylic because we only had an acrylic sheet that fit the restrictions of the laser cutter. To use the laser cutter, the raw material must be 1/4" or less in thickness and must not have chlorine in its chemical makeup.The gears were cut at the Tech-Shop located in Round Rock, TX. As seen in figure #, the resulting gear was within the specified dimensions. Unfortunately, due to the brittleness of the material, it fractured quickly and when placed under stress. See Geneva Mechanism (Redesign & Second Implementation) for our next steps.
Figure 1. Sketch of Lantern-Pinion System in Gearotic Motion. |
Figure 2. 3D model of Lantern-Pinion System in Gearotic Motion |
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