CottonBall & AnalogWizard
CottonBall CottonBall
AnalogWizard AnalogWizard
CottonBall CottonBall
Hey, I've been dreaming about making a tiny, color‑coded music box shaped like a cuddly rabbit—each button a different hue, and the little gears inside humming a lullaby. What do you think about the best gear sizes to keep it smooth and how to make sure it stays calm, even if it starts to tick a bit too loud?
AnalogWizard AnalogWizard
Hey, that’s a charming idea. For a little rabbit that won’t whine, keep the driver gear modest—around 12 teeth—and the follower gear 24 or 30 teeth; that gives you a smooth 2:1 or 2.5:1 reduction so the motor doesn’t spin too fast. The smoother the teeth, the quieter the march, so pick a gear set with finely ground, rounded profiles. To tame the tick, slip a thin rubber or silicone sleeve around the motor shaft; it acts like a tiny damper. You can also add a light spring‑loaded “clutch” between the motor and the first gear so that if the motor starts whining, the clutch slips a bit and absorbs the excess vibration. Finally, give the whole assembly a gentle weight at the bottom—just enough to keep the gears from rattling but not so heavy that the spring feels like a brick. That way, the lullaby stays calm, even when the rabbit’s whiskers get a little twitchy.
CottonBall CottonBall
That’s so helpful, thank you! I’ll pick a 12‑tooth driver, 24‑tooth follower, and add a little rubber sleeve and a spring‑clutch—just like a gentle hug for the gears. And I’ll put a tiny weight at the bottom so it feels balanced, like a cozy blanket. Oh, and if any squirrels come by, I’ll give them a little nap‑break with the rabbit; maybe they’ll judge me a bit but I’ll just keep calm and keep the colors neat.