In from the cold

The seasons are changing and I've noticed how much colder it is getting in my workshop. I don't have any heating there so I have decided to take my wood carving operations back to my bedroom and leave the bigger tasks for my workshop space. 

Speaking of which, I received my lime wood and have started trying to carve for the Crankahead  competition. It feels strange after spending so long carving pine and it's taking me a while to get into the swing of things. My carving skills were never that great, so hopefully having this wood will help. I'm not allowed to upload any pictures of my efforts so far but suffice to say, they look pretty crap. I will keep trying. 

I've been continuing to work on the T & the H and have moved the lever for the turtle's limbs above the snail cam so it is lifted rather than pushed down. A spring is in place to snap it back down. 

I've had to string together a few springs as I don't have any of the correct length. I need to do some research into where I can find some springs. And people ask me why I don't have a girlfriend. 

Anyway, here's a quick video of the mechanism working. I had to move the left cam down but luckily the gears still meshed even though they were a little far away. Things are coming loose on the frame so I'll spend some time on that strengthening things.

 

I also wanted to add a link to a youtube video of one of Paul Spooner's models which I had forgotten about. It's clear to me why he is one of the best, with imagination like this. If I had a tenth of his skill I'd be happy.

Cam's made and gears fitted

I completed the gears for the Turtle and the Hand. They are made of plywood but the layer split off from the other side of the gears so these will not be the final gears, if I even use them. 

 

They  mesh nicely and the whole mechanism is working with not too much effort when the springs are attached, but the whole thing runs far too fast so I'm going to have to think about slowing everything down. I might try and use a belt drive. I've been looking at using rubber and found some on eBay. I need some proper rubber glue though. Sadly all these things cost money so that means saving up some. I'm currently saving up for a scroll saw though. If I do use pulleys, I'm not sure that gears will be needed, but it would be a shame to waste them. I'm surprised the gears worked so well. Usually they put a bit of a fight when meshing.

One thing I noticed though when everything was up and running. It looks like the mechanism for the turtle's limbs is back to front meaning that the legs will snap out of the shell instead of snapping back into it. I think I'll have to change the position of the lever so that it is above the cam rather than below it. A spring will be needed to pull it down and the cam will need to push it up. With a spring pulling down,this will "snap" the limbs back into the shell (hopefully).

Trial and error. 

I've also worked a little on the tin can. I have made a lever for linkage to be fixed onto. I might have made it a little short. Luckily, tin cans are abundant in my house so it won't take long to make another if it needs re-doing. The cam also needs shaping to get the desired movement.