Handsome Functional Desktop Sterling Engine

Invented in 1816 by the Reverend Dr. Stirling, the Stirling engine is powered by the expansion and compression of air when heated and cooled. This functional desktop model is handmade in Germany.

From the product description:
The unit has a solid brass body and a glass cylinder and piston that are designed to minimize friction. The alcohol burner heats the glass tube, causing the air inside to expand and push the horizontal piston towards the chamber. This movement displaces some of the warm air into the metal chamber where it continues to expand, forcing the vertical piston upward. The pistons are connected to the flywheel with a system of levers and pulleys, causing the flywheel to spin up to 5,000 RPM and enabling the sequence to repeat until the flame is put out.

Here is the product page for The Desktop Stirling Engine.

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Antique Rotating Stand with Combined Music Box

Here is a very interesting piece from the 1800's made by Kalliope Musik Werke of Leipzig, Germany. The device features a stand in the center that rotates when the the spring wound mechanism is activated. Because you can place anything you like on the stand, it is very flexible in how it may be used. On the stand, one may place a figurine (as shown here), seasonal items, holiday-related items, special occasion items, or prized possessions. There is also a fine music box inside the box that plays 7 inch kalliope discs.

Here is the full listing for the Antique Rotating Stand with Combined Music Box.

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Non-circular Gears & Uncommon Planetary Gears

We tend to think of gears as circular wheels with teeth. While this is the most common form, some gears do not have proper teeth. As the video shows here, gears do not even need to be circular in shape. These unconventional gears defy our notions about gear shapes, and are surprisingly beautiful to watch in motion.

You can learn more about gear design from the Handbook of Practical Gear Design or hundreds of other books on mechanical gears.

To the engineering-types out there: are their particularly good books on gear design? Let me know or post them in the comments here. Thanks! -Dug North

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Mind-bending KATAKA Linear Actuator Mechanism

Take a look at this video of a linear actuator. It looks like a magic trick, but it's not.

The mechanism is based on segmented spindle technology. Not only is the whole thing incredibly compact, it's also strong. Here is a photograph of a KATAKA actuator lifting a car. This amazing device opens up entirely new possibilities for engineers and designers. I know I want one.

Learn more about the KATAKA actuator at www.kataka.dk.

[ Thanks Soren! ]

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Pin Wheels, Lantern Pinions & Peg Toothed Gears

While not as a elaborate as Del's Amazing Wooden Machine, the machine shown in this video makes great use of wooden pin-wheels, lantern pinions, and peg-toothed gears. Wooden circles and pegs can clearly be used to create many speeds and directions of motion. Well done!

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Papercraft Locomotive with Gears

Posted today on BoingBoing.net...a locomotive made with paper! This post comes to them (and us) via Neatorama.

Into paper gears? Maybe you want to try to Make Your Own Working Paper Clock.

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Video and Images of Wood Machine by Del Short

I posted recently about an amazing wooden machine. I've learned that Del Short is the unassuming master craftsman behind this piece that he describes as "a nutty device".

Not only is the entire device a marvel, but it's held together with pegs and threaded wooden dowels with wooden nuts. It is even built in components, so that it can be worked on in sections. Remarkable.

If the YouTube video didn't satisfy, here is a higher resolution video of Del's Amazing Wooden Machine.

Also, here is a link to a few large photographs of Del's machine, courtesy of Art Maddox.

If you want to get started with this sort of thing (on a more modest scale), check out these books:
* Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood
* Making Wooden Mechanical Models
* Making More Wooden Mechanical Models

[ Thanks Del and Art! ]

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Amazing Wooden Machine Video with No Metals

With the exception of Brad Litwin's piece entitled Extra-Universal Movement, I don't know if I've seen such an elaborate hand-cranked wooden machine. This gentleman has constructed an amazing device using only wood and glue -- no nails, no screws or ball bearings. It is quite an achievement. It is my sincere hope I'm doing things like this at 70 years old. Bravo!

[ Thanks Falk! ]

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10 Crazy Mechanical Burglar Alarm Devices of Old

You may not have caught the post about this on Boing Boing Gadgets earlier this week. This is a link to a collection of 10 interesting mechanical burglar alarms. Some of them are very inventive.

Check out this gallery of 10 unusual burglar alarms.