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I need a winding mechanism for a project. This would be small toy sized. It would be optimal if it were multidirectional winding. Either way winds like a watch. Not a lot of torque so that small hands can wind it, but not as small as a watch winding mechanism or as complex. I would like to add gears to change the speed of the output or torque as needed. Or if anyone knows where a sawing type input such as a worm gear winding. Both of these would be super helpful. I can tear apart winding toys of course. In an information gathering stage right now. 

Has anyone developed a detachable magazine with internal follower mated to a weapon which isolates the cocking and chambering of a round? i.e. the weapon is automatically chambered when the ram rod is cocked.

Picture a threaded rod, with a hex nut on it. The rod is inside a hollow tube. You move the nut down the rod by inserting an outside hex wrench into the hollow tube from the top. But what if you only have access to the rod from the side, through a hole in the tube (which is fixed and can't rotate around the rod)? Is there a way to tighten a nut down a threaded rod from the side through a hole in a tube? Context: the application would be a grip for a fencing weapon. The base of the blade of a fencing weapon turns into a threaded rod (the tang). The bell guard (metal disc to protect your hand) has a hole in the middle, and is inserted onto the tang. The standard grip is a straight tube-ish thing (usually solid except for a hole the diameter of the tang). You stick the tang through the central hole in the grip. Then you stick a nut on the end of the tang (which just extends beyond the end of the grip) and tighten the whole assembly down. Some special grips are curved, which means that you have to bend the tang in a curve to match the grip first in order to fit it onto the tang. Another kind of grip is straight and hollow, with a plate with a central hole over the end butting against the bell guard, to give the nut a surface to press against, and the tang is cut much shorter than the grip, and you tighten the grip with an outside hex wrench from the back end of it, as I described initially. The advantage is that a shorter tang weighs a lot less, and the weight savings can be really good in fencing. I want to combine the advantages of these two types of grips- a curved grip, which is hollow and lightweight, with a tang that is shorter than the grip itself. Obviously, it would be impossible to tighten the hex nut through a curved grip, hence my question. 

Well, I've got some explaining to do.  It turns out my K'nex was never actually sold.  My parents hid my K'nex from me, telling me they sold it, only to give it back to me extremely recently under one stipulation: I can't build guns anymore, unfortunately.  Trust me, I'm not complaining; I'm just ecstatic that I can build with them again.  I'm sorry for the huge lack of activity lately, but I haven't had that many ideas before I got my K'nex back.  My first K'nex creation in a while is this really cool compact lock.  Being K'nex, of course, I wouldn't advise that you lock anything with it, but it is nigh on impossible to open with force unless the button is pushed, or you deconstruct the lock itself.  It is powered completely by tension, and doesn't need any rubber bands or power source other than the K'nex from which it is made.  It is also extremely fun to mess around with, and I could spend about an hour just fiddling with the mechanism; such is my attention span.  I'm thinking about working on instructions, but I wanted to see what you guys thought of it first. The second thing I'd like to share with you all is this 3D Owl I printed over at Fab Lab in Chicago at the Museum of Science and Industry.  I would like to sincerely thank Matt Chalker, the head executive of the Museum of Science and Industry's Fab Lab, the museum itself, and all that make Fab Labs possible for such a wonderful experience.  Along with this owl, we made many things out of wood via the wood laser engraver, and finger puppets for each member of my family, depicting our faces, of course. (I have more pictures of both the owl and the lock.  If anyone is interested, I could post them in the comments.  They're pretty much the items on different backgrounds, though.) Enjoy! -DarkOwl

Can anyone advise what is the maximum length of time the mechanism on a mechanical hand-wind timer can last for (approx range will do) i.e between 60/70 minutes, 3/4 hours.

Text and photos on mechanical switches for electronic circuits

These mechanical sculptures by Brett Dickins are awesome. I'd really love to see his workshop with a bunch of these moving at once. via BoingBoing

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I would like to know if a Mechanical Iris's Cam Wheel Size dictates how much the shutters close.  Please and thanks.

Same as the title, which single shot mechanism is the most sturdy and his th easiest to load? EDIT:This was posted in the knex section for a reason ><

This year I'll choose a study, and I'm still hesitating between Artificial Intelligence and Mechanical Engineering. Which one do you think is the best choice, and why?

If you want  to enjoy life, you should make mechanical pencil guns and launchers. All you need to do is take the mechanical pencil out and add springs however you like and you can make a gun thing.

Does anyone know how the lever mechanism of a traditional pump car work? I'm thinking of building a miniature model but I can't find any design schematics for it. Thank you.

Does anybody do anything in this group? 

Im planning for a project on alternator control mechanisms. can anyone provide me relevant ideas about the topic?

I want to make a simple cooling mechanism(not talking about a fan here) which is simple to build, as little mechanical(moving) parts as possible, i don't have a huge budget...

I'm planning to build a mechanical calculator which can add, subtract and multiply.. I cant find any help. Can anybody give me some links where i can be guided better?

I am doing a project of making a geneva mechanism and then employing this mechanism i have to constructing a working model of film projector. First part regarding the making of geneva mechanism is complete but i can not find anything regarding the design and construction of such a projector that uses this mechanism.

Hello everyone, My wife and I both feed the dog, but we're never sure whether the other's already done it or not.  (the food disappears pretty quickly)  I'd like to build a track with a slider that takes about 10 hours to slide from 'fed' at the top to 'not fed', and make it so that the slider is easy to slide back to the top. What immediately comes to mind is a counter weight escapement mechanism, but I though I'd hit up the brain trust to make sure there wasn't a simpler way to pull this off.  (I could also envision a timer chip hooked to a mechanical release, but I'd prefer to stay wholly mechanical for this one.) Many thanks!

I want to a mechanism that turns a drum very slowly for a few hours.  It should work just like an egg timer: You wind it up and then it turns slowly. Is there mechanism available that works like this or do I have to built it from scratch?

Looking for ideas to make the mechanics of a zooetrope or other mechanical devices that could be used to play with sequence. Thanks for any suggestions.

I need to build a device for a competition that can measure time acurate to the tenth of a second, but from its starting position it must be no more than 30cm in dimension, but can exceed that once it begins.  Even if you know of something that can do seconds that would be fantastic.  If you have any ideas or places to find plans please do tell.  IT CANNOT USE ELECTRICITY

Well I was flipping through my August 2008 issue of Popular mechanics, and what do I spy on page 16? The Ibles Robot! In his green sci fair outfit! No idea what he's doing there, and I intend to email PM about it.

I am a mechanical engineer and solidworks expert with over 10 years experience in new product design and development. I offer services for hire and free advice when I'm available. Feel free to contact me for advice or assistance.

I'd love to try this one out.

I'm a gainfully employed bicycle mechanic. Anyone have a request for a bicycle related instructable that's been done poorly or doesn't exist? Hit me up and I'll see what I can do!

I am wanting to make an old fasion music box and actually make the music mechanism. I'm not finding anything on line to tell me how to do this and wondered if any of you kind people could help me out.

What is wrong with the block trigger mechanism because I have yet to see a powerful gun without the mechanism. and the sear system has it's flaws. So what I think you hate is the mechanism and what do you think about the mechanism with the true trigger attached?

I invented this new pull-back mechanism a few days ago. It uses a sort of lever to pull the ram rod back. You pull the lever, and the ram rod goes back. It gives you a great mechanical advantage when pulling back. Any thoughts, questions, comments or haikus?

I have been looking for a way to create a similar mechanical iris like this one. I tried some things but I'm just completely lost on this one. You guys any ideas?

Alright, I'll keep it short and sweet: Catch-up time. Mechanisms from '08-'10, all different versions. Why not a slideshow? 'Cause I hate them. More stuff coming up. Also, these are only a few pictures of each thing, there are many more of each of them (except the mechanical hand, unfortunately).

   The video basically describes my project, I want to make a rideable mechanical horse and a full size mechanical mountain lion. Right now it is in the early stages. I am just designing, building, and testing parts for a small scale prototype.

It should be replaced in a bot.

I want to make a assasins creed hidden blade but i need to know if my mechanism would work. I drew it in paint . red means when the ring is pulled

10 DIY Gifts for Friends and Family. A roundup of instructables projects from Eric Wilhelm: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/workshop/4295927.html

Hello Community, I would like to know if someone has any idea about how to design a mechanism that works like this one:By pressing a button, I should enable the rotation. Whitout pressing, it should be locked.Thank you!!

What mechanism should i use for automatic window swing shutter for a model house ? Look at picture

My frined wants our band name to be mechanical but i think its a stupid name. p.s. he  and my other two friends don't want to change it.

What are the primary differences between the two? Which is a more rewarding career path? Which major is better for someone who wants to get a broad understanding of engineering? Is it feasible to get a double major?

What are all the different kinds of knex gun triggers not just block and true triggers 

Hey everyone, does anyone have plans or know a website that explains how to make your own mechanical bucking bull? Doesn't have to be as complicated as a proper one, just something to have a bit of fun on, and not too expensive to make. Thanks!

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