Comments on: Gearbox made from 3D printed parts and rubber bands http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 15:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: david85282 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-940589 david85282 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-940589 If he builds a bigger version of that it will probably create perpetual motion, or so we've been told. If he builds a bigger version of that it will probably create perpetual motion, or so we’ve been told.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-941873 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941873 Thanks, this reinforces my suspicion that 3D printers could be used to make non-metallic spare parts to order for things like washers rather then order them from some warehouse or get a new machine. There goes the disposable consumerism that fuels modern capitalism... How long before we hear about some *AA like corporate org raiding hackerhouses with the help of SWAT? Thanks, this reinforces my suspicion that 3D printers could be used to make non-metallic spare parts to order for things like washers rather then order them from some warehouse or get a new machine.

There goes the disposable consumerism that fuels modern capitalism…

How long before we hear about some *AA like corporate org raiding hackerhouses with the help of SWAT?

]]> By: func http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-940600 func Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-940600 The gears will probably last quite a while - the printed, plastic gears on my reprap extruder are mounted on a stepper motor and see a fair bit of torque, and I've got about 300 hours of continuous run time on them. One guy has printed over 60 Mendels with his geared extruder now; that's roughly 4 months of continuous runtime. He runs his machine day and night. Check it out here: http://hydraraptor.blogspot.com/ The geared extruder is thing #1794 - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1794 Not as fancy as the rubber band gearbox thing, but it's turned out to be pretty useful for a lot of people. The gears will probably last quite a while – the printed, plastic gears on my reprap extruder are mounted on a stepper motor and see a fair bit of torque, and I’ve got about 300 hours of continuous run time on them. One guy has printed over 60 Mendels with his geared extruder now; that’s roughly 4 months of continuous runtime. He runs his machine day and night. Check it out here:

http://hydraraptor.blogspot.com/

The geared extruder is thing #1794 – http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1794

Not as fancy as the rubber band gearbox thing, but it’s turned out to be pretty useful for a lot of people.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-941168 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941168 This is pretty much how one of the older exercise devices on ISS worked. More info/pic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0101/feature1/zoom1.html This is pretty much how one of the older exercise devices on ISS worked. More info/pic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0101/feature1/zoom1.html

]]> By: tylerkaraszewski http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-939913 tylerkaraszewski Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-939913 This is not a "gearbox" in the sense where gearbox means "transmission" (which is the only sense in which I've ever heard it used). It's just a rubber band winder with a reduction gear on it. This is not a “gearbox” in the sense where gearbox means “transmission” (which is the only sense in which I’ve ever heard it used). It’s just a rubber band winder with a reduction gear on it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-940434 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-940434 @JayConverse: It is for a rubber band powered record player, or that is what it was going to be for. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4775 @JayConverse: It is for a rubber band powered record player, or that is what it was going to be for.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4775

]]> By: JayConverse http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-939932 JayConverse Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-939932 I don't get it. What does it do? I don’t get it. What does it do?

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-939941 nixiebunny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-939941 It's weird to see all those Allen head screws and ball bearings used with that cream-colored plastic. I expect to see aluminum in that environment. Crazy thought for recycling old plastic consumer electronics waste: The 3D printer I visited earlier this year uses a spool of ABS plastic "wire" as its material. Why not make a machine that will grind up discarded ABS plastic gizmo housings and use the resulting granules as the raw material for 3D printing? Recycling and make-it-yourself, all rolled into one. It’s weird to see all those Allen head screws and ball bearings used with that cream-colored plastic. I expect to see aluminum in that environment.

Crazy thought for recycling old plastic consumer electronics waste: The 3D printer I visited earlier this year uses a spool of ABS plastic “wire” as its material. Why not make a machine that will grind up discarded ABS plastic gizmo housings and use the resulting granules as the raw material for 3D printing? Recycling and make-it-yourself, all rolled into one.

]]> By: hongaku http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-940208 hongaku Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-940208 It stores power in the rubber bands from the winding. It stores power in the rubber bands from the winding.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-940223 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-940223 Only two of those gears appear to be doing the work of a gear reduction. The rest is eye candy. Nice work none the less. I think I would replace useless gears with a latch and release lever mechanism. Only two of those gears appear to be doing the work of a gear reduction. The rest is eye candy. Nice work none the less. I think I would replace useless gears with a latch and release lever mechanism.

]]> By: muteboy http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-942280 muteboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942280 func, you should read Adrian Bowyer's original piece about RepRap and how it could change manufacturing for good. http://reprap.org/wiki/Wealth_Without_Money func, you should read Adrian Bowyer’s original piece about RepRap and how it could change manufacturing for good.
http://reprap.org/wiki/Wealth_Without_Money

]]> By: muteboy http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-939978 muteboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-939978 The RepRap guys are working on that. With the rise of home 3D printing, there will be lots of failed, broken or prototype parts, so they want to make the fabber eat them, chew them up and use the plastic again. The RepRap guys are working on that. With the rise of home 3D printing, there will be lots of failed, broken or prototype parts, so they want to make the fabber eat them, chew them up and use the plastic again.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2010/11/16/gearbox-made-from-3d.html#comment-940015 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-940015 i wonder how long those gears would last if one hooked up a electric motor and just left it running. i wonder how long those gears would last if one hooked up a electric motor and just left it running.

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