typing automaton

What is it?: 

Automata are mechanisms which contain one simple mechanical input that translate to a series of outputs. They are often created as artistic displays and are an effective way to show how simple mechanisms work together in a chain.

This project involved designing an automaton and bringing the basic structure to life through laser cutting the components of the inner mechanisms. The automaton is designed to take a user's cranking motion as input, and produces an output mimicking typing on a typewriter.

How did you contribute?

I worked closely with a partner from idea conception of what the automaton should display, all the way through physical construction of the inner mechanisms. I also helped create a final poster explaining our project (see below).

Biggest Takeaways?

• Translating one type of mechanical input to various different simultaneous outputs

• Automatons are really cool!

AUTOMATON STRUCTURE:

1. Turn crank to move the input gear A.

2. Gear A turns gear B. The ratio is 6:1; for every one rotation of gear A, gear B moves 1/6 a rotation. A dowel is connected through gears B and C and cam D together. Thus they all move at the same angular velocity.

3. A half moon gear with a bar extrusion is attached through a pin. As gear C rotates, the half moon gear moves back in forth to slide the typewriter  back and forth.

4. The uneven teeth on cam D move the automaton’s arm up and down

Contributors:

Abbie Lee