Hi Non-Twisty Puzzles fans,

Variomatic Gears is the first of three experiments with non-circular gears. It is a set of gears with a varying gear ratio. At first, both gears make a quarter turn, which corresponds to a 1:1 gearing ratio. Then, one gear turns by 90 degrees, while the other turns by 180 degrees, corresponding to 1:2. Next the roles reverse to 180:90, which is 2:1. So this set of gears could be described as having a 1-1-2:1-2-1 gearing ratio. The total adds up to 360:360, so the two gears have a 1:1 gearing ratio at average.

This gearing mechanism was inspired by the Heart-Shaped Gears jewels by Guofeng Guan.

Watch the YouTube video.
Buy the puzzle at my Shapeways Shop.
Read more at the Non-Twisty Puzzles Forum.
Check out the photos below.

Enjoy!

Oskar

• Attachment: Variomatic-Gears---view-01.jpg
  (Size: 47.74KB, Downloaded 178 time(s))

• Attachment: Variomatic-Gears---view-02.jpg
  (Size: 50.63KB, Downloaded 175 time(s))

• Attachment: Variomatic-Gears---view-05.jpg
  (Size: 53.74KB, Downloaded 176 time(s))

• Attachment: Variomatic Gears - gear curves - view 1.jpg
  (Size: 39.42KB, Downloaded 173 time(s))

• Attachment: Variomatic Gears - gear curves -view 2.jpg
  (Size: 67.19KB, Downloaded 181 time(s))

[Updated on: Sat, 04 August 2012 12:01 UTC]