Gearbox-operated Drilling Device

grabcad

Created by Chance Vionis and Bobby Vionis.Description for Extreme Redesign Challenge: Tedious rotation, sore wrists, and a slippery grip––these are but a few of the issues that one encounters when handling a typical screwdriver. On the other hand, more powerful alternatives like power drills are often found to be unwieldy, hard-to-use, and limited by battery life. It was problems like the above that inspired us to design a device that would not only offer the same convenience and practicality as a screwdriver, but also the enhanced speed and torque provided by a drill. The result was a simple, powerful, affordable, and easy-to-assemble tool that offers an escape from compromise. This device is entirely mechanically operated and utilizes a relatively simple custom gearbox consisting of a rack-and-pinion system, several sets of both standard and compound involute gears, and a pair of bevel gears. The device itself was designed to be assembled with screws (1-64 bolts, twelve of which are 1/2" and four of which are 3/8"), nuts, and glue (the only place where glue is necessary is in the attachment of the rail to the internal framework of the device, listed as the "endoskeleton"). A .625" inch long extension spring is also recommended to provide tension when pulling the device's lever (can be attached to hooks on rail and rack). Its combined dimensions are 5.687" x 2.005" x 4.837"; each individual part is less than or equal to 4.75" x 4.75" x 4.75". A simple design makes this device both easy-to-use, easy-to-print, and reliable. A simple yet effective screw-operated clamping system at the end of the device (uses two 1-64, 1/8" bolts) allows the user to insert any kind of traditional screw bit, whether it be a slotted (“flat-head”), Phillips, Torx, or Allen wrench bit. To operate this tool, one has to simply pull with his finger a lever connected to the gearbox’s rack; this pulling motion is manipulated by the gearbox into a clockwise rotational motion perpendicular to that of the lever. To achieve a counter-clockwise output rotation, one can first pull the lever back, line up the bit where it needs to go, and then push the lever forward. Thus, one can simply move a single finger to accomplish what would normally require many unnecessary rotations in a traditional screwdriver. Because of the device’s 7/72 gear ratio, the input speed is multiplied by more than a factor of 10, allowing for quick, convenient drilling; if the user desires more torq...