(screwless) Hyperbolic Planetary Gearset

thingiverse

This is a remix of the cool Hyperbolic Planetary Gearset by jsteuben. I took the original tri-joint and connecting-rods and made some key modifications so that no screws are required; now, the entire thing just snaps together with ease. I also tweaked the central "24 90" gear to make it slightly narrower, which enables the gears to spin smoothly as they should. And, for added fun, I added a handle to the "small hex key," making it easier and more enjoyable to play with the gears. Note: While this gearset is an excellent representation of planetary gears, it doesn't strictly adhere to their definition. In an actual planetary gearset, there's an outer gear that rotates around the inner gears. Nevertheless, this gear assembly prints exceptionally well, looks stunning, and provides hours of entertainment as you experiment with different color combinations. Instructions This project can be printed using standard settings on a Makerbot Rep 2, along with rafts for optimal results. The gears, connecting rods, and hex key will print best when oriented vertically. To get started: Print: • 2 x tri-joint • 3 x connecting-rod • 3 x skewgear involute 12 90 • 1 x skewgear involute 24 90 • 1 x display base • 1 x hex key Don't be shy with the colors – the more vibrant, the better! To assemble this amazing gearset: Insert the three connecting rods through the outer (12 90) gears, ensuring they turn smoothly as they go. Place the central gear (24 90) onto one of the tri-joints at the bottom, carefully meshing them together. Connect the outer gears to the central gear via the bottom tri-joint, and check that it turns without any obstructions. Add the other tri-joint into the central gear, but hold off on inserting the connecting rods for now – you'll do that later. Now, slowly feed each connecting rod into the top tri-joint. It may require a little force, but once they're in place, they should snap together neatly. As your masterpiece comes together, spin those gears! The hex key is there to assist you as needed, and don't be afraid to experiment – the more fun you have, the better the gearset will look!