Christmas model

Ello ello!

I have been keeping a low profile recently as I haven't been getting to my workshop as often as I would like (Mainly because it's so cold!). But, I am on annual leave this week and have therefore been pressing ahead with my model for Christmas. Check out the pics:

I started using tracing paper to work out the dimensions of the models ( I saw from his blog that Keith Newstead does this on his models). It worked out well and I was able to keep the design symmetrical. It didn't turn out symmetrical after carving but it's pretty close. Now all I have to do is make the frame (nearly done) and work out the design of the cam to make the movement. I also have to paint the chimney.

After struggling to use my green belting for pulleys, I put out a message on the Mechanical Adventures Facebook Group. I had a reply from a chap called Tony Compton (I think he's from Australia) and he informed me of the correct method. After doing this I managed to get the ends connected. Here is a model that Tony made. I personally think it's excellent.

Having the green belt will allow me to work on the pulleys for the Turtle and the Hand and also my Christmas model. I want a pulley system to slow things down. 

I haven't finished the design for my friend Zuleika yet and her commission. I'll get right on it after I finish the Christmas model.

My Crankaheads model is also coming along. The guy who is running the competition (Sergio Pinese) is asking for updates from people taking part. I'm not sure how much to tell him or not to tell him. I'll send him a picture of the prototype and give a little detail. I kind of want to make it a surprise though.

New project

My good friend Zuleika has asked me to do a commission as a present for her Mother's birthday. The brief is her Mum likes dogs and beach huts. I'll get my thinking cap on. 

The crankahead model is coming along nicely. Time is creeping up so I'll have to get a move on with it as it is still in the prototype stage. I need it to be complete by the end of January. 

My Christmas themed model is taking priority so I can sell it before the big day. It's going to be of Santa stuff in a chimney, struggling to pull himself out. 

Onward and upward I say.

Things on hold

Once again my habit if getting bored easily has risen so I have decided to put the Turtle and the Hand on hold for a while and concentrate on other things. 

The thing which really did it for me this time was trying to strengthen the whole frame. Screws didn't really work as I couldn't get them tight enough to securely hold the individual pieces in place. I then tried using dowel rod as pins (which meant I could easily take it apart whilst designing) but my measurements were off slightly which meant other parts didn't fit. 

I'm gonna put in on the back-burner for a while and probably come back to it in the new year. My colleagues at work have suggested I try and make something for Christmas so I think I'll concentrate on that. 

There's also that tin can model to work on but that can wait...

Hopefully I'll have a more productive blog post in the future.

04/11/10

I haven't really been doing much apart from working on the model for the Crankahead competition. The model is coming along nicely and the mechanism within the figure is set. I just need to work on everything else now. I have a prototype stage in which I can start adding things to check how everything works. The email I received states that over 30 people have entered the competition so I think it's going to be quite interesting to see what comes out of it. Professional automata makers are also entering so I don't think I'll win, but it'll be nice to have a model placed next to theirs (so to speak). 

I received the material for the pulley belts.

 I was initially concerned about the black rubber and how it would hold together if I superglued the ends but the bond is really strong with regular superglue. I put considerable pressure on it trying to pull it apart and it would not break. I wonder how much grip it has though. The green belt has a rough surface which would give it more grip but superglue would not work. From a facebook group in which Keith Newstead talks about it, he says it is melted, so I would need to try and use a heat source. I will try this when I get back to my workshop. 

Not a lot else happening. I have been experimenting with a scissor lift set-up, just using Popsicle sticks for the moment. It works well but I need to think about how to transmit the movement to it. 

There is also not a lot happening with my tin can model. I got as far as cutting out a chicken but no further in working out the movement. 

On a happy note, I sold my pumpkin headed automata on eBay. It sold for £22 which is double what I thought it would go for so I am pleased with that. I hope the person who bought it is happy with it and that it arrives safely.

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.

Bits and Bobs

I had to go to hospital yesterday and I booked today off work in order to recover and it also gave me some time to go to my workshop and do some more work.

I have cut out a couple of new snail cams for the Hand and the Turtle model. I have attached bearing blocks and will fit screws inside in order to attach them to the shafts. (Incidentally, my hardwood dowel shafts arrived which will have much better torque strength than softwood). I have cut the new cams out of plywood rather than the MDF board I was using, as it was too thin.

I have also printed a couple of gears from this website:

http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html

I'm sure that nearly all automata makers are aware of this website and how useful it is. The online version is great but there is another version which has a lot more features. Unfortunately, I am a poor boy who cannot afford such things as yet. When I can afford it I will get a copy but I hope it has an option to input the diameter of the gear and then apply the pitch, as this is easier for me. These gears will be used to turn both of the shafts. If this doesn't work I might investigate the use of a belt drive, but I don't see why it shouldn't.

I started to drill in between the teeth in order to start cutting out but the glue had not yet dried so I will wait. There is a guy next door to my workshop who has a band saw who said I was welcome to borrow it. This will saw me some time.

I also started working on the tin can model. It's going to be of a chicken pecking away. It's going to be a very simple model with not too much going on. 

I have to figure out a suitable mechanism and then shape the cam to get the desired effect. Then I have to make the chicken. 

I have also decided to enter the automata competition. This is being organised by Sergio Pinese who runs www.crankahead.com.  I think he has got together with Keith Newstead and others to get this competition off the ground. As said before, I am not allowed to show any pictures of the model and it doesn't need to be completed until the end of January 2011!


I have had an idea for a model for a long time and I made a mock up of the mechanism to see if it would work (in principle) and it seems OK. now all I have to do is put it together. I want to try and incorporate a lot of detail into this model. 


I'm not sure if I'm going to do the Dracula model. I have too much stuff to do and not enough time. My problem is that I get bored very easily so if I don't start something quickly then it is likely that it'll never happen. Another one for the ideas bin.