Bob, Basically this system will be an indexer with the tooth shape pre-cut so that a person could cut the teeth with hand tools or a shaped router bit. I'm trying to work out the most versital design so we could make gears of different sizes (I would like to make a clock with all wood gears as well) but we do have several limitations. First, of course, is that complexity and size = high cost. I want this to be !well! under $100 per unit if possible. The system could be built out of wood (see Fine Woodworking March 1986 reprinted in Small Woodworking Projects, Taunton Press) but then you wouldn't get exact tooth spacing without a lot of time, patience and scrap (at least for me) and the jig would have a limited life. Making it out of steel would get us jig that could last a lifetime. Also, as I said earlier, the more of us that get one will drive the cost down as well. Also, the CNC machine will do a great job of cutting the shape of the teeth to the correct dimensions so we won't have to get too detailed about that side of the construction although I can say that the gear teeth will be typical involute gears that can be used in rack and pinions. Obviously, you won't be cutting helical or worm gears with this. So far it looks like the list is myself and Phil McCourt. I'll keep the list informed of the plans and as I get them into Power Point I'll post it on my website so you all can see what I'm doing.
Dan Rhoades www.rhoadescameras.bizland.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Mueller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 2:14 AM Subject: Re: [Cameramakers] Rack and pinion template system > Would it not be easier to mill the teeth (router) with a shaped cutter and > just some device to advance the cutter by one tooth spacing after each row > of cuts. Making cutters should be quite easy. The rack can have straight > sided teeth and it is not hard to make an involute cutter for the > gear. Metal workers have all the details worked out. > > Bob > > > > At 21:47 24.10.01 -0600, you wrote: > >I was wondering in anyone would be interested in a template/jig to be able > >to shape and cut a rack and pinion out of wood. I'm working with a > >engineer with a good CNC metal shop to build a jig system for cutting the > >pinion and rack by hand using files and chisels. I think African > >Blackwood, Cocobolo, Hard Maple or other hard stable woods would be great > >for gearing since there isn't a lot of pressure on the gear teeth. The > >design we are working is based on hardened steel runners in which you > >would place the piece of wood in between two jigs, clamp the wood tight, > >drill the center hole using a predrilled hole in the steel that would > >guide the bit straight, and then cut and file each tooth. The rack will > >be a similar design but won't need the center hole. > > > >Now, I'm going to build one for myself since I like having rack and pinion > >focusing on my cameras and a wood system is so much cooler than adding > >metal to the system. My friend (Kirk Kovel of Kovel Precision Machine in > >Colorado Springs) can build the system cheaper in production than one at a > >time so if others want this type of system we can all benefit from a > >cheaper price. He is also great since he knows that this is just a hobby > >and none of us are out to make money doing this so he charges a reasonable > >price. I have no idea at this time what the cost per unit would be since > >more units will bring down the price, but the price would be at cost. > > > >My current camera is using a 16 tooth system and is quite stable with no > >stress on the gear teeth. I think a 32 or even a 64 tooth system would be > >quite reasonable and workable but I want to see what any other interested > >parties would like. The other size requirements we need to work out > >amongst ourselves is the size of the pinion and the length of the > >rack. My current system has the pinion at a 2" diameter and the rack at > >16" long and that seems to work well. > > > >Alright, let's see if anyone is interested and we'll work out the details > >and see if anyone has good ideas to make this system work. > > > >Dan Rhoades > ><http://www.rhoadescameras.bizland.com>www.rhoadescameras.bizland.com > > _______________________________________________ > Cameramakers mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers > _______________________________________________ Cameramakers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
