CUSTOMIZE YOUR RATIOS WITH A 3D-PRINTED GEARBOX

little DC motors are simple to discover — you can gather lots from old printers as well as copiers. You may even get a few with respectable gearboxes too. however will you get precisely the motor with precisely the gearing your job needs? Unlikely, however you can always just print a gearbox to get precisely what you need.

There’s nothing elegant about [fortzero]’s gearboxes. The motors are junk bin specials, as well as the gears are all basic spur gears 3D-printed from PLA. There are four gears in the train, each with a 2:1 reduction, providing a 16:1 general ratio. The gears trip on brass shafts that are press-fit into the housing, as well as there’s not a bearing in sight — just a few washers to keep the gears spaced apart as well as lots of grease. in spite of the simplicity, the gearboxes [turned out to be] quite capable, lifting a 3.5 kg load. The style data are offered as well as must make it simple for you to get just the ratio you want for the motor you have.

Of program a lot more challenging gearboxes are possible with a 3D printer, including a split-harmonic planetary gear, or a strain wave gear utilizing a timing belt. No 3D printer? No problem! just develop a LEGO gearbox.