Question- Survey

[Michael]

How many people are actually working-building a machine/s ?

Sincerely,

Michael

[coylo]

um....................me!
Currently still building/experimenting. I've built so many glorious failures that I've lost count............................I'd say over 100.

[jim_mich]

I make about a dozen or more sketchs of ideas a week.

I build a virtual computer simulated wheel about every week or two.

I build a wheel or do an experiment maybe each month or two.

[Joel Wright]

I m still working on mine,refining basic design.

[epistemologicide]

im still learning,

[jim_mich]

I've had a general concept for a few months, which has jelled into a wheel idea, which I finaly got around to computer modeling the last few days. It looks promising so I'm working on drawings and deciding how to make it. I want adjustability on the first model for testing so it will be more complex than a finished wheel. Hope to have this done in a week or two.

I could torture and tantalize you with parts of the idea like Bessler did, while holding back the full details until I have build and tested it. Or I could just keep quiet.

[Jonathan]

I'm building ten wheels a week.
Jim if this new idea of your's pans out I'd like to be one to independently replicate it.

[jim_mich]

Sounds good to me, Jonathan. But I'm not sure if your K'nex would hold together. It must rotate at a minumum speed for it work. Maybe if you glued all the joints together?

[Lightwave]

I have built 3D machines with havok physics engine
but they are way over unity they explode and parts go everywhere
but its fun and cool to see them working

[Jeff L.]

I usually spend time percolating an idea until I am reasonably convinced it will work and then get to building, usually with wood, and late at night when I have more thinking time. So far, I've built somewhere around a dozen wheels (I haven't been counting) and have countless unbuilt ideas on paper. It's almost always in the back of my mind waiting to spring to the front whenever I see or hear something that might be even remotely related to it. There is nothing that could convince me the wheel is impossible, and I can hardly wait to get to the part where we are making improvements on working wheels. What, me obsessed???

Jeff L.

[Oxygon]

I have been researching for 10+ years but only actually built two or so machines...

The first one worked (I think...) for about 30 seconds, before I took it apart and have not re-built it since, 7 years ago.

"I am a horrible builder"...

I usually design or improve a design every week or so...

I have lots of designs, but little to show for it.

:(

[Jonathan]

Well I suggest you share your ideas Oxygon. K'nex can be strong, esp. when small and dense. There are many ways I can modify K'nex to make it stronger, and it really needn't be made of K'nex at all, that's just convenient. I look forward to news of this device.

[Michael]

Jim,

Does this have to do with what you have been talking about lately, for example the skater with the outstretched arms?


Thanks,

Michael

[MrTim]

Balsa wood is my friend :)

I'm up past 5,200+ mechanism designs.
> Most never get past being sketched.
> Interesting ones get 2 mechs (of 8) built and put on a test wheel. This (1) helps to see how they actually move (relative to each other), and (2) determines how 'out-of-balance' the wheel becomes.
> Some actually get to a full 8 mech wheel.

Sadly, most of these designs generated the horrible 'keel' effect. Designing these mechs is a hard habit to break, even when you (finally) recognize why they won't work.
It just amazes me that when I've thought I've run out of ideas to try, I always find more....

[jim_mich]

Michael, yes.
MrTim, I think out-of-balance wheels by them selves will never work.

I think the secret is inertia mixed with gravity.