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Show HN: I'm a 15 Year Old Wannabe Engineer, This Is a Cycloidal Gearbox I Built
This provides an open-source parametric generator for cycloidal drives that can be customized and 3D printed, lowering the barrier for robotics and actuator projects that need compact high-ratio reduction. The documented iteration process (including the failed micro version) offers practical guidance on tolerance requirements for 3D-printed cycloidal drives.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
The Python script generates cycloidal profiles in Fusion 360 using parametric equations, allowing customization of pin count, eccentricity, and tolerance offsets for 3D printing.
Version 3 achieved 1.28 N·m output torque from a 0.21 N·m NEMA 17 stepper at 66% efficiency, with a 9 cm outer diameter.
The project documents that tight tolerances in a NEMA 17 footprint (Version 2) failed with 3D printing, requiring a larger form factor to accommodate print clearance.
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