Businka & FixItFox
Hey Businka, I’ve been trying to build a pocket‑sized gear‑driven clock and I’m stuck on getting the gears to mesh perfectly. I could use a hand with the precision alignment—got any tips on keeping everything tight and symmetrical?
Sure, I can help. First, lay all the gears on a flat, clean surface and line them up side‑by‑side. Use a fine ruler or a digital caliper to check that each tooth height is the same—tiny differences add up. Then, make a small wooden or metal jig that holds each gear at the exact center. When you set the gears together, slide the jig so that the teeth align one after the other. Keep a steady hand; you can use a small clamp to hold the jig in place while you gently push the gears together. If any tooth looks off, file it carefully with a very fine file, then recheck with the ruler. Lastly, once they mesh, run a few rotations to feel for any play—if there's a little gap, tighten the gear set with a tiny screw or adhesive, but be very gentle so you don’t distort the teeth. Small adjustments lead to big symmetry, just like in my threadwork. Good luck!