63 Speed Gearbox with multiple reverse speeds

[TechnicBrickPower]

I have made my first gearbox using differentials. It's a 63 speed gear box using 6 selectors. The gearbox implements all gear ratios from -32:1 to 31:1 using five differentials.

 

 

[Zerobricks]

It's almost like a binary counter with flip flops. Well done!

[1980SomethingSpaceGuy]

As a software engineer, I must admit I simply love this one 

Brillant job @TechnicBrickPower ! 

[aeh5040]

Ha ha, that's brilliant!  I wonder if this would be useful for spirographs?

It reminds me of Synchro Pods, where I needed ratios of

80:81:82:83:84:85:86:87:88:89:90:91:92:93:94:95:96

 

[ginger-snapped]

Well done! It looks so simple, but it is awesomely complex. Very impressive stuff!

[KevinMD]

This thread pleases me greatly. 

[BusterHaus]

Man, this is so much fun to watch.Excellent work, any chance for instructions or a digital build file?

[Jurss]

Impressive build.

I'm just thinking - could real load on output somehow affect final gear ratio?

[SamuelYsc]

You have a very great brain. I still have no idea what just happen.
Even I have already watch the few differentials video you made before.

Anyway, Good one and love your design!

[pleegwat]

It is a cascading series of differentials. Each 'bit' has the same structure:

• A switch, which either connects the axle to the motor or fixes it.
• A differential, with one side connecting to the switch, and the other to that 'bit' output
• The 'case' or 'barrel' of the differential is connected 1:1 to the next higher bit's output (so bit 2 output connects to bit 1 differential, bit 4 output connects to bit 2 differential, etc
• The final 'sign' bit does not have a differential, and connects to the previous bit's differential directly.

All axles on the input side turn in the same direction. Each differential barrel turns in the same direction as the connected output. So use an intermediate gear or axle in both cases.

The video shows a reasonable image at around 8:30. It's really all just one layer - the rest of the structure merely holds the switches in place.

[TechnicBrickPower]

On 3/5/2020 at 9:12 AM, Zerobricks said:

It's almost like a binary counter with flip flops. Well done!

 

On 3/5/2020 at 9:52 AM, 1980SomethingSpaceGuy said:

As a software engineer, I must admit I simply love this one 

Brillant job @TechnicBrickPower ! 

Hi guys, thanks for the compliments. My background is software and electrical engineering so yeah my ideas are inspired by binary, programming & circuits.

On 3/5/2020 at 4:03 PM, BusterHaus said:

Man, this is so much fun to watch.Excellent work, any chance for instructions or a digital build file?

Yeah am working with someone to make one available. The design is actually modular - you can repeat the middle unit to expand the design to any number of binary digits (may not work in practice - only theory!!). If anyone else is interested in the build instructions let me know.

22 hours ago, Jurss said:

Impressive build.

I'm just thinking - could real load on output somehow affect final gear ratio?

Haven't tried loading it much but that shouldn't affect the gear ratio long term - however initially it may as the gears can have some delay in them.

 

[TechnicBrickPower]

On 3/5/2020 at 10:56 AM, aeh5040 said:

Ha ha, that's brilliant!  I wonder if this would be useful for spirographs?

It reminds me of Synchro Pods, where I needed ratios of

80:81:82:83:84:85:86:87:88:89:90:91:92:93:94:95:96

 

Love those pods! Can I use that idea? Are actually lego pieces? Never seen them before.

Surely it could be useful for an adjustable spirograph? That's another topic I'd like to explore.

 

[KevinMD]

5 minutes ago, TechnicBrickPower said:

 

Love those pods! Can I use that idea? Are actually lego pieces? Never seen them before.

Surely it could be useful for an adjustable spirograph? That's another topic I'd like to explore.

 

47675, couple different colors to choose from!

[TechnicBrickPower]

Thanks @KevinMD - just looked them up - interesting part. It's amazing how many parts Lego has made that I've never come across.