The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor's Guide

6

building with gears

In Chapter 4 we briefly discussed the gears in the NXT set. We noted that their general purpose is to transmit motion, and

we outlined three subcategories: spur gears, double bevel gears, and “other” gears. In this chapter we’ll expand our discus-

sion of the gears and learn how to effectively transmit motion through a variety of gearing techniques. We’ll begin with a

key gearing concept, the gear train, and establish some important terminology. Next, we’ll explore how to properly control

the performance and manage the assembly of systems of gears. Finally, we’ll take a closer look at the worm gear and the

turntable.

the gear ...