The Origami Forum

Hello everyone,

I would like to create a mechanical gear, but I know nothing about creating an original origami model, and I cannot find any instructions for a gear on the internet. I don't know how to plan it or start it.

It should be possible to choose how many cogs you want, so you can make a gear with 15 cogs or 10 or how ever many (the gear is thus bigger/smaller).

One possible solution would be some kind of a modular design like this flower here: http://www.origami-instructions.com/ori ... lower.html - you make petals individually then they are put together in a flower. Except then there should be something that allows for varying number of cogs. There are also some cool pictures of origami gears on google so you can take a look.

You don't necesarrily have to make a model for me, but point me in the right direction.

Thanks a lot!

Actually I have just found some things.

A link on one picture led to DeviantArt post: http://metranisome.deviantart.com/art/o ... s-70147123. In it, there is a link to instructions: http://s154.photobucket.com/user/paperu ... 2.png.html. However, the problem seems to be that the model is flat. Because of that, the poster said:

"The original units are made by Christine Clement and the units were folded into thirds to get the 3-D gears, there are not exact diagrams for the gears but there are diagrams for the original unit."

"It’s a bit confusing but you need to fold the units so that they are no longer flat units, but instead a 3d ones, this would include the flaps. Try holding the unit (completed) from the flat version outward so that it is a triangle with the long narrow flap is across the top and the unit is opened and there should be the left and right flaps that units are folded from below and under it on the right and left sides (little triangles). Now fold the unit into thirds vertically so that the long strip on the top is folded into thirds. The unit should no longer be able to fold in half but only into thirds so that the right and left flaps are at a 90* angle from center (on the 3D plane). This is how the other units will be connected. At the bottom it should be angled in a V shape, to fix this you can fold it down so it is squared off or leave it depending on how you want the inside of the gear to look.
I hope this helps! Just ask if you have any more questions."

Another one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mammaoca2008/5647023570 with instructions at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mammaoca2 ... otostream/

So I think I'm good. If anyone has any other ideas they are indeed welcome. Hopefully this helps people looking for the same thing in the future.

Have a nice day!

This could be a solution.

And it allows you to choose the number of cogs. If you want I could make instructions for folding it.

Looks awesome! Is it your model?

It's designed by Satoshi Kamiya actually. http://folders.jp/ufc/ufc00000.html

Thank you for the Info. I wasn't aware of that model.

Nice model DJ, how many sheets and what shape does it take to make this model?

I assume it's made out of 6 sheets of paper, but can easily be done with 3.

There are cogs and gears in Giles Towning's book "Origami Construction".

Dj origami wrote:This could be a solution.

And it allows you to choose the number of cogs. If you want I could make instructions for folding it.

Hey man that looks awesome! Yes I would greatly appreciate if you could make instructions for it, if it's really not a problem for you

Sorry for the late reply!