Saturday, January 30, 2010

Whirligig #54

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Whirligig #54, front view, largest diameter 24″ (61cm)

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Whirligig #54, rear view

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Whirligig #54, detail

WIRLIGIG #54 has three sets of blades, each set bigger that the one in front.  After having finished the drawings, I decided to increase the number of blades from six per set to 10 per set.

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Whirligig #53

Whirligig #53 (front), 26″ x 20″ x 16″(66cm x 51cm x 41cm), aluminum, brass, steel washers, African mahogany, assorted hardware, sign paint


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Whirligig #53 (back)

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Whirligig #53 (detail)

Whirligig #53

Four Sets of Rotating Arms

Eight Industrial Bearings

Zephyr Rated*


movement in 3 mph air

see it move


Posted by Chuck in 03:42:29 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Gears for Whirligigs

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Spur Gear for a Whirligig, large 12 tooth gear 4 1/4″ dia. (10.9cm), small 6 tooth gear 2 3/8″ dia. (6.1cm), .032″ 5052H32 aluminum sheet

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Detail of meshing teeth


I have spent several weeks studying gears about which I knew nothing. I have succeeded in simplifying fashioning the gear so that it is easy and quick to make and reliable.  In coming weeks I’ll provide information about how to make the gears. (Interestingly enough, my father and his father spent nearly all of their working lives, a total of about 80 years or more, employed in some way making gears at the axle division of Eaton Yale and Towne in Cleveland, Ohio.  The plant made heavy-duty truck axles among other things.  At the time of this photo, 1966, my father, acting plant manager, probably knew the man at the machine.)

Posted by Chuck in 02:48:24 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Spur Gears for Whirligigs

THE past few weeks I have been dealing with the mystery and melancholy of meshing gears, in particular, spur gears, which are sexy and complex.  Wow, those involute curves make me breathless.  Maybe it’s mechanical engineers, blond or otherwise, who have more fun.  Any way, a conquest is in sight.

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Thursday, December 3, 2009

Whirligig #53

Preliminary assembly of Whirligig #53

Posted by Chuck in 06:26:22 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sketch for Whirligig #53

Whirligig #53, rotation diameter 20″ (51cm), front view

Whirligig #53, rotation diameter 20″ (51cm), rear view

See links at top of side bar for free whirligig plans at Whirligig Design & Development and to see videos of previous whirligigs.

Posted by Chuck in 06:09:14 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Whirligig #52

27 1/2″ x 23″ x 12 1/2″(70cm x 58cm x 32cm), aluminum, African mahogany, assorted metal parts, sign paint.

detail

Spectacular Action

in even the lightest air

industrial bearings

see it move

free whirligig plans

at

Whirligig Design & Development

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Monday, October 26, 2009

Whirligig #52 Preliminary Assembly

Whirligig #52 Ready to be Painted

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Whirligig #49

Whirligig #49, 25.5″ x 25.5″ x12.5″ (65cm x 65cm x 32cm), aluminum, brass, African Mahogany, assorted hardware, sign paint

Whirligig #49
Compound Blades
Curved Arms
Industrial Bearings
Zephyr Rated*

*movement in 3 mph breeze

see it move

Posted by Chuck in 00:18:10 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Whirligig #48

Whirligig #48, 22″ x 22″ 9.5″ (56cm x 56cm x 24cm), aluminum, brass, African mahogany, assorted hardware

Whirligig #48 detail

Whirligig #48

New from Chuck Dunbar’s

Whirligig Design and Development

Dazzling Eye Play

Six Industrial Bearings

Zephyr rated*

 *movement in 3 mph breeze

see it move

Posted by Chuck in 23:18:04 | Permalink | Comments (1) »