Watt's Parallel Motion #1

prusaprinters

This is a representation of one of two mechanisms James Watt invented around 1784. (There's a more complex version I'll upload in a few weeks when I've worked the bugs out). This mechanism runs backwards; i.e. it can be made to do its thing with a motor and crank disk as I show here or the beam may be moved by hand to illustrate the straight line 'output' on the right hand side. In Watt's world the steel rod would have been attached to a piston in a cylinder and driven by steam pressure. The piston would move the mechanism and drive a flywheel around. Flywheel would provide the impetus to keep the whole thing going. What Watt did is find a way to make the piston rod travel in a straight line and still impart motion to a rocking linkage. Here's a link to the thing in action: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steamboat_ed/51765879537/in/album-72177720295454568/ --In addition to the printed parts you will need: -Three pieces of '8020' (but actually 2020) measuring: -1: 25 cm long -1: 20 cm long -1: 16 cm long -Some angle brackets to keep them connected to one another -A piece of plywood to locate the pieces accurately relative to one another. I used a piece of 1/4 x 6 x 12in.stuff from the local hobby shop. -50 cm of 5mm shaft, cut as follows: -7: 5 cm long -1: 10 cm long -You will also need 10 to 12: 5mm shaft collars to hold the shafts in place Fasteners: -4: M4 x 5mm SHCS to fasten shaft_sockets to T_nuts -2: M4 x 10mm SHCS to lock T-nuts to 20-20 slots at the correct height. -2: M4 x 15mm SHCS and nuts to connect motor output to the first beam with the Motor_Drive_Link -4: M4 x 20mm BHMS and nuts to connect Beam_Anchor to plywood base -2: M4 x 25mm BHMS to connect the horizontal section of 20-20 to plywood base. Note: you'll have to drill two holes through the 20-20 and the plywood base to connect the dots. Tap the two: Tee_Nut_Unthreaded M4, slide them into position and fasten the 20-20 with the long screws. Tools: -Hand drill and some metric bits -M4 tap -Metric hex keys -A flat file or single edge razor blade to remove burrs from drilled holes. --And let me know how it goes: feedback means a lot! :-) Category: Mechanical Toys