# \#mechanisms **URL:** https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/tag/mechanisms/1362.md [Latest](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/latest.md) · [Categories](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/categories.md) · [Tags](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/tags.md) --- ## [Reverse Engineering the Antikythera Mechanism](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/reverse-engineering-the-antikythera-mechanism/3261)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [2 July 2024 22:51 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/reverse-engineering-the-antikythera-mechanism/3261 "2024-07-02T22:51:52Z")
The Antikythera mechanism was discovered in 1901 in an ancient Greek Mediterranean shipwreck dating from around 70–60 B.C. From the start, it was clear this was something exceptional. Although heavily cor… --- ## [Understanding Electronic Circuits with Gears and Chains](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/understanding-electronic-circuits-with-gears-and-chains/4235)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [20 January 2024 20:37 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/understanding-electronic-circuits-with-gears-and-chains/4235 "2024-01-20T20:37:14Z")
Spintronics, from Upper Story, is an educational building block set which allows construction of mechanical analogues to electrical circuits in which chains serve as wires and cleverly designed components a… --- ## [“Turning Point—The Story of Bearings”](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/turning-point-the-story-of-bearings/2105)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [30 April 2023 18:31 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/turning-point-the-story-of-bearings/2105 "2023-04-30T18:31:42Z")
--- ## [The Secret Life of Components—Cutting Holes in Things](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-cutting-holes-in-things/3054)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [17 April 2023 10:54 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-cutting-holes-in-things/3054 "2023-04-17T10:54:27Z")
Tim Hunkin’s 2023 series exploring components for designers and builders continues by exploring the many different ways of making holes in things: drills, hole saws, punches, pile drivers, and tools and tri… --- ## [The Secret Life of Components—Solenoids and Relays](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-solenoids-and-relays/3012)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [7 April 2023 11:45 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-solenoids-and-relays/3012 "2023-04-07T11:45:50Z")
Tim Hunkin’s 2023 series exploring components for designers and builders examines those handy electromechanical components that make things happen and implement simple logic operations. Even in the age of … --- ## [The Secret Life of Components—Pneumatics](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-pneumatics/2973)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [31 March 2023 11:34 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-pneumatics/2973 "2023-03-31T11:34:35Z")
Master maker, cartoonist, author, and artist Tim Hunkin spent his pandemic downtime producing a series, “The Secret Life of Components”, to introduce designers and builders to the bits and pieces he uses in… --- ## [Measuring Milliseconds Mechanically](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/measuring-milliseconds-mechanically/2815)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [28 February 2023 13:43 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/measuring-milliseconds-mechanically/2815 "2023-02-28T13:43:57Z")
When the Leica camera was introduced in 1925, it was an immediate sensation. Using 35 mm movie film, which was abundant and inexpensive, with a horizontal format providing a 24×36 mm image and lenses of im… --- ## [How Does a Bowling Pin-Setter Work?](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-does-a-bowling-pin-setter-work/2298)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [14 November 2022 15:07 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-does-a-bowling-pin-setter-work/2298 "2022-11-14T15:07:07Z")
It’s amazing to see something like this today that isn’t bristling with sensors, actuators, stepping motors, and microprocessor control. --- ## [How Do Gasoline Pump Nozzles Know When to Turn Off?](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-do-gasoline-pump-nozzles-know-when-to-turn-off/2215)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [30 October 2022 11:30 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-do-gasoline-pump-nozzles-know-when-to-turn-off/2215 "2022-10-30T11:30:25Z")
--- ## [Harmonic Gearing](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/harmonic-gearing/2001)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [14 September 2022 11:53 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/harmonic-gearing/2001 "2022-09-14T11:53:13Z")
Harmonic gearing, using flexible spline gears which engage as they are deformed, allows very high reduction ratios (30 to 320 to one) in the same space a planetary gear train would provide a 10 to one ratio.… --- ## [The Secret Life of Components—Prototypes](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-prototypes/1707)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [18 July 2022 20:19 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-prototypes/1707 "2022-07-18T20:19:08Z")
Master maker, cartoonist, author, and artist Tim Hunkin spent his pandemic downtime producing a series, “The Secret Life of Components”, to introduce designers and builders to the bits and pieces he uses in… --- ## [The Secret Life of Components—Linkages and Mechanisms](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-linkages-and-mechanisms/1602)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [27 June 2022 13:07 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-secret-life-of-components-linkages-and-mechanisms/1602 "2022-06-27T13:07:14Z")
Master maker, cartoonist, author, and artist Tim Hunkin spent his pandemic downtime producing a series, “The Secret Life of Components”, to introduce designers and builders to the bits and pieces he uses in… --- ## [The Wyrd Mechanism](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-wyrd-mechanism/1585)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [24 June 2022 13:27 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-wyrd-mechanism/1585 "2022-06-24T13:27:36Z")
“And yet, it doesn’t move.” Here is more about compliant mechanisms. --- ## [Square Gears!](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/square-gears/1217)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [18 April 2022 12:29 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/square-gears/1217 "2022-04-18T12:29:12Z")
--- ## [140 Year Old Rockslide Detector for Scottish Railways](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/140-year-old-rockslide-detector-for-scottish-railways/994)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [8 March 2022 12:58 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/140-year-old-rockslide-detector-for-scottish-railways/994 "2022-03-08T12:58:50Z")
On 2021-11-21 we discussed a higher-tech solution which protects a highway in Switzerland, “Rock and Radar—The Brienz Rockfall Radar”. That system would be impractical for protecting an extended railway li…