Prototype Clay Pulley/Gear System
Introduction: Prototype Clay Pulley/Gear System
This project showcases simple machines working in tandem to pull a small weight. The construction of the project will mostly be made out of clay and wooden sticks (and glue).
The simple machines in this project are a pulley, wheel and axle, and inclined plane.
This prototype can be seen how a crane works. There is a motorized part (the gears) and a mechanical part (the pulleys). The gears transfer mechanical power through the gear belts and one of the gears is attached to the pulley wheel that will then transfer the power through the tension in the rope (in this case, the ribbon) between the pulley wheels to pull the weight.
Steps 1 through 4 is optional, as this part is to create an elevated position for the simple machines to do work with a ramp that connects below the simple machine. Overall, the elevated position does not change the project's core idea, simple machines working together in an unified system to pull a weight.
Self Reflection
When everything was done, I saw some issues in the final build.
The ribbon would slip off of the pulley's wheel, a simple fix would be making the pulley wheels larger and the grooves deeper. And using string instead of a ribbon, so the orientation would not change unlike a ribbon which could and did shift. Same goes with the rubber band, gluing two small strands proved to be difficult, so much so that at one of the combined ends was a large chunk of glue that would sometimes would not fit in between the grooves of the two gear wheels.
Not all axles were leveled as I expected them to be, this is due to the supporting structures not being done properly. With a second pair of hands, this supporting structure design would have worked as intended.
I do know if I continuing on and enhancing this prototype, it can become a more functional long lasting simple machine system made from clay and wood (and glue).
Supplies
* Air-dry clay
* Wooden sticks
* Hot glue gun
* Glue sticks
* Cardboard box
* Scissors
* Ribbons
* Rubber bands
* Paper Clip
* Ruler
* Wax Paper
* Acrylic Paint
* Paint Brush
* Cup of Water (if needed for the clay)
Step 1: Making the Foundation (Optional)
To create the rectangular box shape, cut two strips of cardboard approximately 14 inches by 6 inches.
On the width side (the 6 inches side), fold the ends roughly two inches straight up. Do this for both ends of each strip.
When you place one strip over on the other strip with the flaps up (bottom strip) and down (top strip), it'll create a box with no internal supports - as you can see in the first picture showing the lengthwise side.
Note: There are different ways to create a box. I used a method that would allow me to view the supporting structures and to easily attach the two strips together.
Step 2: Making the Support Sticks (Optional)
Place a wooden stick on the inside of one of the cardboard strips with the flap going up.
Grab a pair of scissors and mark the wooden stick at the height of the flap as shown in the first picture. 215
To mark the wooden stick, attempt to cut the wooden stick to leave a small cut in the wood. *1
Continue to cut into the wooden stick (all around in 360 degrees) to deepen the cut as shown in the second picture.
Place the smaller end of the wooden stick over the edge of a table. Then push down the longer side as to hold it in place against the table. Next, with your other hand, push down the smaller end to break the wooden stick approximately. This would look similar to the third picture, flip the stick over and as done before, push down the smaller piece to break it off. *2
Set the small piece against the larger stick. Mark on the larger stick like on the fourth picture to start the process to create another small piece.
Create 24 of these small pieces to use in the next step.
*1 Note: You can mark the wooden stick with a pencil and then cut slightly into the wooden stick to break off the piece.
*2 Note: Do be careful with this step, as splinters can appear from the broken ends of the wooden stick. Trim the rough pointy ends off by using the scissors.
Step 3: Making the Support Structures (Optional)
Make six marks on one of the cardboard strips similarly to the second picture. On the lengthwise side, the lines are separated by 1/4 of the length (2.5 inches). On the widthwise side, the lines are separated by 1/3 of the width (2 inches).
Next, place four small sticks in each quadrant of each cross on the cardboard strip. 276