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This project is so easy it only takes one step to explain. Hooray!
A sample 5 minute construction using duct tape, a rubber band, clamps, wood, and some hex-shaped spacers is in the pictures.
Here's a video (not my own):
Read about Rolamite history
Read about some of Rolamite's uses
Still not inspired?
- You could switch the rubber band for a bike chain and use gears to drive your CNC/Makerbot/etc.
- You can put a groove in the band to make it "snap" to a particular spot.
- You can change the tension on each end to create different effects.
- You can put more than two wheels - you can even put small wheels inside a big wheel separated by a band!
- You can force the two wheels further apart in case they are not "playing nice" with each other.
There are a ton of interesting ways to use this simple mechanism. Post your ideas in the comments!
A sample 5 minute construction using duct tape, a rubber band, clamps, wood, and some hex-shaped spacers is in the pictures.
Here's a video (not my own):
Read about Rolamite history
Read about some of Rolamite's uses
Still not inspired?
- You could switch the rubber band for a bike chain and use gears to drive your CNC/Makerbot/etc.
- You can put a groove in the band to make it "snap" to a particular spot.
- You can change the tension on each end to create different effects.
- You can put more than two wheels - you can even put small wheels inside a big wheel separated by a band!
- You can force the two wheels further apart in case they are not "playing nice" with each other.
There are a ton of interesting ways to use this simple mechanism. Post your ideas in the comments!
There's a really good site about rotary rolamite: http://www.scrollermechanics.com/. On that site, it says "Belts can be any kind of flexible, low / no elastic material: cable, hose, tubing, wire, etc"
The Rex Research page does mention the possibility of an elastic belt for shock absorption, but all the examples refer to non-elastic belts, usually springy metal.
Your instructable uses a rubber band, which is very elastic and stretchy.
It might be good to try your instructable with something non-stretchy. This is key to getting the rolamite to function as it should. As it is now, your instructable could lead people to build non-working rolamites, and give up on the concept.
I will unpublish this instructable until I have had a chance to test what you say and confirm the results.
I think I might try out a Rolomite bearing as a slide for some drawers in my garage workshop. The sawdust, dirt dabber nest and other detritus often foul up the smoothly operating drawer slides. I think a Rolomite slide might prove more resistant to such jamming.
I wasn't aware I wasn't allowed
I might not have given full attribution, I didn't steal it either. Embedding is allowed.
I'm waiting for the owner to confirm permission as per your request.
When I have a nice video of my own, I'll swap it.
Good enough?