As you may or may not know, this September is Mechanical Action Month! Last week we introduced bevel gears and this week we focused on a special type of gear called a worm gear and how it can interact with worm wheels or racks. 

 

Game of Gears 

The focus of this week’s lesson was how power can be transferred between linear and rotational motion. After a quick review of bevel gears from last week’s lesson, our instructors introduced the worm gear. Worm gears resemble a piece of rotini pasta, but have a multitude of practical applications. Throughout mechanical history they have been used to increase mechanical advantages with their unique design. To move a spoke on the worm wheel (or rack) that is meshed with the worm gear, it requires one full 360 degree turn of the worm gear. This type of gear ratio can produce a lot of torque for designs that need power instead of speed!

 

The Power Within

 Before moving onto their personal projects the students were asked to partner up and create a simple worm gear pair. Instructors kept a watchful eye on the energetic groups, while gently guiding them towards success. Instructors occasionally intervened and asked, “Gentlemen, show me your input,” or “Can we reverse it?” Once it was apparent that these budding engineers passed their hands-on project, they were encouraged to remember these concepts because they might come in handy building their next project!

 

Jedi Mind Habits 

Each week, we like to encourage a different “habit of mind” for the kids to think about. This week’s focus was on flexibility! Just like spoon-benders need mental flexibility, so do we in our everyday lives. What exactly do we mean by mental flexibility? Look at things in another way, shift your perspective, think of alternatives and weigh your options. There are a plethora of ways to fix a problem or create a project –  remember that you set the limit!

 

“The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.” – Brian Greene

 

Play Time 

Each class this week finished with a successful session of students making progress on their desired personal projects. We are beginning to see zombies emerge as the excitement for the October creature contest rises each coming week and creativity is flowing wild. Some students worked on programming the PCS robot RiQ to drive around the lab, others worked on structural design and the incorporation of motorized components and still others worked tirelessly on their delicately crafted virtual video game environments.

 

Check in next week for more Mechanical Action Mania in the lab!