|
Connect-O-Mech is a system of tubes, connectors, gears
and pulley wheels developed by a teacher of Design Technology in the 1980s.
Sadly it is no longer on sale Orinoco has been given the remaining
components by the manufacturer and is making these wonderful kits available
again while stocks last. [Instructions
- PDF] [Instructions -
DOCX]
Based on true mechanical engineering principles,
Connect-O-Mech was originally designed for educational users but is
brilliant outside the classroom for anyone who enjoy designing and building
stupendous structures and marvellous machines.
The components are made from rigid, unbreakable plastic
which is designed to tolerate some lack of precision amongst inexperienced
users.
The tubes are easily cut to any length by lightly
scoring and snapping - no hacksaw is required. All models can be dismantled
and components reused, or permanently bonded using low-temperature glue.
The sliding tubes are available in four, six and eight
millimetre outer diameter sizes. Two, three, four and six way straight and
angled connectors fit into the two larger tubes to make rigid structures, eg.
pitched roofs.
The six millimetre tubes from the basis for a two part
pulley and gear wheel system. The chunky gear teeth will interconnect at any
angle from 20 to 180 degrees and allow for the position of the centre holes
to be more than 2mm out before the teeth do not match. Gear wheels have
either 15,30 or 45 teeth.
The part pulley wheels are 30mm and 60mm in diameter
and can either be used as wheels or pulleys. The flat body of the pulley is
ribbed to aid friction and can be used with string or rubber bands. Various
accessories including a worm gear and three different cams – a rise and
fall, a slow rise, quick fall and circle cam with various centre holes are
also available.
Full
instructions are provided and there is no limit to the diverse
applications of the Connect-O-Mech systems. For example, the 6mm tube may be
used with a syringe and some clear flexible tubing to demonstrate both basic
pneumatic and hydraulic systems. The tube connectors also fit into the
flutes of correx or corriflute sheets thus providing a quick and simple way
to construct instant three dimensional models. Electrical motors can also be
fitted to demonstrate additional uses. |
