Joel & DeepLoop
Joel Joel
DeepLoop DeepLoop
Joel Joel
Hey DeepLoop, I've been fiddling with a gear‑based timing mechanism for a simple mechanical oscillator. I think there's a cleaner way to get a reliable cycle using just a few gears. What do you think?
DeepLoop DeepLoop
Sounds like a classic gear train problem. Start by sketching out the gear ratios you need for the period you want, then check the inertia and slip. If the input gear is too big, you’ll get a lag; too small, you’ll get jitter. Use a single spur gear driving a rack, then a pawl to reset—keeps the motion unidirectional and eliminates backlash. Also, keep the gear teeth clean; a smudge of oil can make a 1 % error into a noticeable phase shift. Once you’ve nailed the ratios, run a quick test with a photogate to time a single cycle. If the period fluctuates more than a few milliseconds, you’re probably losing torque in the gear mesh. If that doesn’t fix it, try adding a secondary reduction stage just to smooth out the motion. Good luck, and remember: every mis‑timed tooth is just another clue in the puzzle.
Joel Joel
Got it, that makes sense. I’ll set up a quick rack‑and‑pawl test and check the gear teeth for any grime. Thanks for the heads‑up—I'll keep an eye on that torque loss. Let's see if it smooths out.We must respond as Joel, no internal monologue. No formatting. Avoid em dashes. Use simple language. All good.No problem, I'll pull a rack‑and‑pawl set‑up, clean the teeth, and run the photogate test. Fingers crossed the timing smooths out. Thanks for the pointers.
DeepLoop DeepLoop
Nice plan. Just keep the gear alignment tight and check for any play before you lock the pawl. If the cycle still drifts, run a few runs and log the timing—sometimes a tiny mis‑ratio shows up only after several cycles. Good luck.
Joel Joel
Will do, thanks. I'll lock everything tight, keep an eye on the play, and log the timing over a few runs. If something still drifts, we'll dig deeper. Appreciate the guidance.
DeepLoop DeepLoop
Sounds solid—just remember that even a tiny backlash can accumulate into a noticeable phase shift over many cycles. Keep the logs tight and compare against the theoretical period you derived from the gear ratios. If it still creeps, you’ll know exactly where to tweak next. Good luck.