Clock
From the large red and small blue K'nex gears came the idea of a clock with
different rotational speeds for hour and minute hands. To accomplish this in a
realistic-looking clock face, we had to construct two concentric axles (one
inside the other). Results using a "barrel" consisting of two white connectors
snapped on four or more parallel rods were unsatisfactory without the use of
blue axle spacers, which we didn't have at the time. As an alternative, we
created a semi-rigid minute hand from a red rod, a tan connector and a large
wheel. The assembly fits over the axle rod of the hour hand, and is
independently driven by means of a rubber band and another large pulley wheel
above it. A total of three gears were required on the back of the clock in
order to produce the same direction of rotation for each of the clock hands.
Both the directly-driven hour hand and the band-driven minute hand are put into
motion by a hand crank on the back of the clock. This motive power could be
replaced with a low-speed motor such as the battery-operated K'nex power pack.
Copyright © 2006 Balmoral Software. All rights reserved. Republication or
redistribution is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of
Balmoral Software.