Certainly, this is where you can buy almost any gears you need: http://www.hpcgears.com/

 

Simply paint your panel, screw on the gears, add direction arrows... and you have created one of the most dangerous of all possible finger-traps for children. One child inserts fingers, another child, possibly stronger, applies the force while the gear configuration determines the mechanical advantage and thereby the seriousness of the injury.

 

I am a firm believer that it is always best for centres to produce their own exhibits. But specialist interactive exhibit designers also have their uses!

 

Of course there are ways to avoid this hazard, but it seemed a good idea to alert people.

 

 

Dear Gemmers, is there a supplier out there that you know of who supplies cogs and gears for an interactive. These need to be on the large size, I can find lots of very small ones. The story we will tell is on of how cogs and gears work, why they work, how gears multiply and divide and how they increase or decrease ratios. The member of public can change the route of the gears to discover what rate large cogs turn small cogs and visa versa , how the direction of force is changed etc. Different types of escapements as well would be a bonus! This will be part of our forthcoming horology exhibition. We are happy to add the paint, directional arrows, mounting board etc.

 

With thanks, and I am happy to forward on to others if requested.

 

Peter