CAM MECHANISM - TOY MUSEUM -

MUNICH, GERMANY

An interesting mechanism can be seen outside the Spielzeugmuseum in Munich. Hanging outside the museum is a device based on a cam and gear mechanism. As the cam rotates it pushes round a gear. The gear is attached to the coloured background and so it revolves with the gear.

The profile of the cam is a ‘drop’ or ‘snail’ cam. Eventually, as it rotates the profile reaches the drop section and quite simply the rod (the follower) with its cymbal drop causing both cymbals to clash.

As the cam continues to rotate, the rod (the follower) and cymbal rise again until they drop as part of the continuing cycle. The whole cycle takes approximately one minute.

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