Very cool Iris Door/Diaphragm.
Found this link, Frank Zhao, still studying it.
https://eleccelerator.com/3d-printed-mechanical-iris-dome-all-one-piece/

and:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/ce2b47eea2aecc8a5af6d089/w/0dd07bf8a5f9c8a8d7210b5c/e/6c2bb5a57e74b49452e98e1f

- Brian

There is a planar 5-Iris here in IGES, which loads well in MoI, and shows the various circle arcs, including the arcs of the blades.
Their radii are a bit larger than the circular hole, with centers outside of the hole. One vertex is rounded, with the pivot center.
When the Blades are closed, the angles of the arcs are 180 degrees / number of blades. (72 degrees for 5 blades.)
https://grabcad.com/library/iris-mechanism-3

For a spherical dome iris...? Spherical triangles?
Looks like the arcs would be less than great circles.
The previous paper shows a round hat on the sphere. Place 6 around the sphere, centered below the occulus, and boolean difference three adjoining hats, to make one blade...

- Brian

ps, The color used, Hex # afc4dd is very nice. To be added to my color styles.

Here is a great software to create these goofy gears.

https://www.gearotic.com/

Thank you bemfarmer,

As you might know designing of the leafs are the most difficult part of making iris box of this type! I had to put the pivot point out of the leaf body! and later connect the pivot point via a bridge; you can see it in the below image:

I will try to share my design as well after I make a video on how it could be assembled :-) (I also think I need to confess Emmett Lalish's design is way more efficient!)

but for now you can see how the 3D print works here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb4vUNJr_AY/

Thank you WAYNEHILL5202,

I didn't know about that link! I will dig into it! :)

With what are made the videos above seen on Instagram ?

Hi PILOU, With Keyshot!

https://www.keyshot.com/features/

Advantages:

It is easy to use! (Simple learning curve!)

Disadvantages:

it is subscription based! 99/month! :-(

I have plans to use Blender in the future! but for now I can use Keyshot! :-)

Yep indeed it's "de luxe" animation! :)

Tanx, PILOU

Hello all,

I was able to simulate a reciprocating rack & pinion mechanism in Moi3D :)

Many thanks to Brian for his explanations as how sin function works in nodeeditor as well as James. (Thank you guys)

Note: I intentionally used two different math nodes because I thought it would prevent from having messy functions ( maybe I am wrong! )

Very cool model, Psygorn!

Is the pitch line used?

Tried a slower hertz, e.g. 0.1, to see the movement.

Travel limits, and reverse may be off a bit?
Seems to have some inertia and bounce?

- Brian
(Have not studied the code yet.)

Hi Drillbit,

Looks great!

Wayne

Hi Brian,

Thanks :-)

Explanation: the movement is ideal ( I think in reality there would be some minor issues) according to my calculations by 1 Degree rotation of a Pinion the Track moves 0.15708 units depending on clock-wise or counter clock-wise rotation of the Pinion.

I hope this explanation helps :)

And thank you again for your explanation on how sin works in nodeeditor it helped me to have it work!

Hi Wayne,

Thank you :-)

And I'd be glad to know how you made the gif?

Hello all,

I want to share something with those of you who are interested in mechanisms and new ideas or possibly questions! As you might know, Heron of Alexandria made a sort of steam-powered machine back in his days, my question is that could it be possible to have a flying steam-powered machine based on Heron's original design?

If you take a look at here I have tried to visualize this concept: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcECaaxFnDt/ but I really don't know if physical laws will alow us to built it!

I searched the net and so far I did not find any "Heron's/Hero's flying machines" if you know that such a device has already been created I would be happy to let me know about it!

Are there any of you capable of making it? That would be awesome too!

Oh, before I forget I want to thank @Michael for creating Moi3D, Maxsmirnov ( which I hope is sound and well) for his nodeeditor, and many other members of the community in General :-) U guys rock!

Best,
Psygorn

Does your gears animations are really "physic" or it 's just simulation ?

Hi PILOU,

I can say No physic engines are used! However, mathematical equations are used which makes them reliable ( I mean I can say I am sure to some degree that if you make them they will work just fine in the real world!)

Making the GIF using a simple screen video capture software:
https://blog.bahraniapps.com/gifcam/

Then it is edited using this online gif editor:
https://ezgif.com/gif-to-mp4

Wayne

OK that was for be sure! :)
In any case very cool result!
I will try is with the MS Physics by Anton inside SketchUp
(here nothing to do with gears just for see the "apparent" easy use :)
with gears! ;)

Here tutorials about MS Physics with gears...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9l3Fh2MA4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2XaEboPQ7g

esle funny ones