- The toy is aimed for middle school students. It requires an understanding of gears that may be too complex for some younger children. Middle school is the perfect time to instill an interest in engineering in this next generation of potential engineers.
How do gear ratios work?
- Gear ratios are actually fairly simple. The main principle behind gear ratios is that the ratio between the speeds of any two gears is inversely proportional to the ratio between the radii of the gears and the ratio between the number of teeth. In addition, the direction of the final gear in relation to the first gear is directly related to the number of gears in the series. If there is an odd number of gears, the final gear will move in the same direction as the first. If the number is even, the final gear will move opposite the first gear. More information about gear ratios can be found here, at HowStuffWorks.com.
- The gears rely entirely on mathematical accuracy. If anything is off, the toy will not run as it should, as the gears will not connect correctly. Laser cutting the gears allows the mathematical accuracy to be computer-programmed and tested thoroughly before using any physical materials. It is a non-labor intensive way to ensure that the gears come out exactly as they should. In addition, laser cutting is considerably faster than 3D-printing, which is another option for making the gears.
How were the gears designed?
- The gears were designed using a software called AutoCAD. The design was saved as an .dwg file, which is a type of file accepted by the laser cutter.
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