Model Overview & Print Notes

I created this colorful contraption specifically as an education tool that can be used in classrooms and with younger children to help teach the basics of gear mechanics.  It features several common types of gears, including spur, helical, worm, and bevel, making it a fun and interesting way to demonstrate how different types of gears interact.  For more advanced learners, it can also be used to teach about gear ratios, and has an overall input to output gear ratio of 144:1.

3/28/2025 Update: Added a keyed version for the small spur gear and small spur gear axle to prevent gear slipping.

Printing & Assembly Tips

The print profile I created shows where supports are needed, without using too many.  I also recommend using brims for most of these parts, especially those that have a large contact surface with the print bed, to avoid any part of the print lifting off the bed. 

Assembly instructions are attached.

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Gear Basics Learning Tool

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STL
Small Spur Gear Axle_gear assembly.3mf
Size: 339151
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Small Spur Gear_gear assembly.3mf
Size: 239521
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Large Spur Gear_gear assembly.3mf
Size: 446385

License & Copyright Terms

⚖️CC-BY-NC-SA
🔒Personal Use Only (Commercial Sales Prohibited)
✂️Remix & Sharing: Subject to Platform Terms
🏷️Source: Printables Original Publication