Wizard's Tower

Hi,

As we reached the first milestone, I would like to thank you all who supported the project! And also encourage you to spread the word more, so we can reach the next milestone of 1000 supporters :)

Also I would like to give you a glimpse inside the tower's most hidden elements - Technic mechanisms for both stairs. The image will show only the mechanisms, as otherwise it is too obfuscated and harder to see the flow. But of course there is many more supporting elements on the way.

Input: helm wheel (in the balcony)

Output 1: bottom gear racks, that push the bottom stair (which pulls the other stairs).

Output 2: top gear racks, that push the door wings.

When bottom racks are shifted by 25 teeth (10 studs), the top racks are shifted by 7.5 teeth (3 studs).

Input: tip of the tower

Output 1: vertical axle (the one attached to the black cogwheel), that rotates the top stair (which pulls and rotates the other stairs).

Output 2: vertical gear racks, that pull the ceiling.

When the vertical axle rotates by 1.25 π (or 225 degrees), the vertical racks are shifted by 18 teeth (plates).

Disclaimer: Exchange ratio is theoretical. In practice there are always small discrepancies due to loose gear connections. This however is compensated by the input being more or less in the middle of the exchange ratio chain between outputs. So in the end, even with the gaps between gears, an exact (or almost exact) exchange ratio can be achieved.

Note: The mechanisms were actually built in real life, and tested. In both manual and motorized version.