Automata Workshop

While wooden axles and bearings work well enough for small automata I have found that using brass for the ends of axles and turning pins adds an extra quality to pieces. Wooden axles need a gap of at least 0.5mm to be sure that they don't stick. With brass the tolerance can go down to 0.1mm. The advantage is that with the tighter tolerances the cams cannot lift against the cam levers, resulting in more accurate movement and no accidental transfers to movement to other cam levers.
In this example of Quiet Contemplation of a Sandwich the gears pins, axle bearings and connecting rod bearings are all turned from brass.
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The excellent Sherline lathe that I use for brass turning.
It is a small machine but very accurate and surprisingly powerful.
I am very pleased with it and can recommend it without hesitation.
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