Cheap worm gear assemblies

Model builders often have need of miniature worm drives. Making one's own can be labor intensive. One alternative is to use the tuning machines for stringed instruments. I paid $6 for six of them...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Disassembling them is easy. Simply unscrew the screw that secures the gear to the shaft and they can be broken down into component parts.

Attachment 24022

On the ones I bought, the gear has fourteen teeth so the gear ratio is 14:1. Other tuning machines may have different ratios.

What a good idea! One to store away until I need it. Thanks Marv.

Another source is from onld CD & DVD drives, althougj the mechanisms are fabricated from plastic.
Tony

Great idea Marv Thanks.

I'll have to remember that one

Doug

I've looked those things for years & never made the connection. My son's electric guitar in the attic is at risk now!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Metallurg33

I've looked those things for years & never made the connection. My son's electric guitar in the attic is at risk now!

---

Well, in my opinion, all electric guitars should be at extreme risk. Rock "music" is nothing but loud rhythmic noise; you can't make real music on anything that plugs into the wall.

Nevertheless, don't pirate the kid's toy. Search on Amazon for "tuning machines" and you'll find plenty of low-priced sets of the little mechanisms.

The "kid" is now 35. My 9 year old grandson might be a better target for a gift.

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks mklotz! We've added your Worm Gear Assembly for Modeling to our Model Making category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-worm-gear-assembly-for-modeling"> <img src="/uploads/214411/homemade-worm-gear-assembly-for-modeling.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-worm-gear-assembly-for-modeling">Worm Gear Assembly for Modeling</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/mklotz">mklotz</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/worm-gear'>worm gear</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

Here is another option. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Metal-Wo...YAAOSwr8xZ51VF

"Well, in my opinion, all electric guitars should be at extreme risk."

My uncle's Stradivarius cello has some beautiful mechanisms! Certainly not the 6 for $6 variety.

( Oops! Actually it just has tapered pegs, now that I think about it. Still beautiful, though.)

If it's got to be strong try base tuning machines, I'm an old base player for many years and I have often thought of these for my large scale model ship building! They would work great for a scale tugboat winch drive and exc!

I made a small rotary table for my Proxxon Mill using a guitar machine...
Attachment 38165 Attachment 38166

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bony

Another source is from onld CD & DVD drives, althougj the mechanisms are fabricated from plastic.
Tony

---

If you can get your hands on some early floppy drives, some had brass worms.

Makes me think of using them as winch-like clamping devices. Anchored well, spooling 80 pound test braided Dacron to a capstan will offer serious pulling force, to any shape.

One more pic...
Attachment 38216

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks IntheGroove! We've added your Small Rotary Table to our Metalworking category,
as well as to your builder page: IntheGroove's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-small-rotary-table"> <img src="/uploads/247542/homemade-small-rotary-table.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-small-rotary-table">Small Rotary Table</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/IntheGroove">IntheGroove</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/positioner'>positioner</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/rotary-table'>rotary table</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->