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In this photo is a gauge for checking the maximum load as the crane jib is lowered, this is made up from 2 slotted curved strips with a piece of white card between the two, the pointer is loose and moves across the markings simply by gravity
In this photo an Axle is supported by a 3/8" square short threaded coupling and a 3/8" square long threaded coupling, both are secured by a bolt in the threaded base, also as you can see a cross Axle is held in the top hole at 90 deg to the first Axle. These parts are a simple yet precise and strong way to support Axles
Here two 3/8" bearing cubes and two 1/2" large axle bearing cubes are used to support a standard and a large Meccano axle. Alignment is easy with these precise parts, also they give much better strength and support than brackets. It is necessary to pack the fixing bolts with some washers underneath the plate so the bolts don't bind on the Axle
In this photo a realistic Brass Connection rod is made up from a square collar joined to a large axle bearing with a 4 mm brass distance rod inside a brass distance sleeve with a 3 mm brass distance ring at each end. this can be assembled easily and of course you can also have a large axle bearing at both ends if you wish
In this photo is an idea for a neat Double Crank using a Square Collar-Bearing attached to each end of a Brass Distance Rod, of course you can use any size of Rod depending on your needs, this Crank would look great on a Model Steam Engine
In this photo I have made up two cranks for large Axles, these are made simply by bolting a Large Axle Rod socket onto a perforated strip
The photo shows a Mechanism for a Lathe or Milling Machine cross slide, two bearings cubes slide on each of the two standard axles which are held by Square Collars and Brass Bearing cubes. A square threaded boss (6mm threads for large screwed rods) is attached to two Double Arm cranks which are in turn bolted to the 4 Square Bearing Cubes. The mechanism is driven by a Delrin winding Handle attached to a 6mm Brass Large Threaded Rod, the movement is very precise & smooth with no play, and would be suitable for serious working model
This photo shows a pulley drive with clutch,by moving the diagonal strip down, the jockey wheel releases the tension and causes the belt to slip. The Brass pulley is made up from a wheel disc bolted onto a 1 1/2" Bush wheel spaced with nuts or washers to form the pulley groove. the 2 1/2" Blue pulley is the Metallus flanged pulley. The pulley belt is from our range of Heavy duty belts these give a really positive drive
This photo shows a large Axle mounted in two large Axle Rod sockets (female) fixed to two Trunnions, the axle can be fixed or left to run free using the two rod sockets as bearings, this would make a really strong and neat pivot for a bridge, crane or a big wheel model.
This photo takes the above idea a step further, a girder is attached to two large axle bearings to form a very strong and precise pivot
This photo shows the male and female Rod sockets mounted back to back on a trunnion. Don't forget you can also use Rod sockets as a socket bearing
This photo shows two Brass Bearing Cubes mounted together to slide on two axles with standard Meccano spacing, this makes a strong and positive slide piece for any mechanism. The two bearing cubes are simply secured by two bolts and a 2 hole strip, of course any length of axle could be used
In this photo two construction cubes are bolted to a flanged plate and 2 x 2 hole perforated strips are attached to act as bearings for the 2 axles. This construction is very strong and precise.
This photo shows how axles can be mounted in a bearing cube and allowed to swivel
Here a single bearing cube is used to support an axle carrying two gears, a slotted bracket is used to allow the height to be altered
Tip To tap accurate parallel threads for Meccano, if you have a pillar drill or bench drill press, place the tap in the chuck, turn off the power slacken the pulley belt and pull the chuck round by hand whilst feeding the tap into the hole which you are cutting the thread, back off ever 2 or 3 turns to release the swarf , though this takes longer it is much more accurate than freehand if you want to make a good job
TIP Vaseline petroleum Jelly makes an excellent non toxic lubrication grease
Simple Model of a Garage Engine Crane (hand operated)
A scissor action is activated by a large screwed rod, gives a precise and smooth action to lower and raise the Jib.
Note the screwed rod is supported at one end with a Square Collar Bearing and at the other end a Double Bracket, a 3 hole strip bolted onto the Double Bracket gives better Bearing support.
The Square threaded Boss allow the mechanism to slide between the slotted strips, also note you can use Square Collar Bearings at any angle to support an Axle or Shaft. I have used mainly Nylon washers for this Model, these are particularly useful for moving parts.
In this mechanism a standard axle is supported at each end by a Brass Bearing Cube, a 2" long experimental worm gear is driving four pinions, one of the pinions is supported by 2 x 1 hole cranks this allows you to swivel the cranks to mesh with a gear that is not in a normal hole spacing, the other top pinion is supported by 2 x Obtuse Brackets, these can also be swiveled into position to mesh nicely with the worm.
The Brass bearing cubes are packed underneath with a brass distance ring and slim washers to give a perfect alignment with the underneath pinions
Tip To hold a bolt onto the end of your screwdriver in an awkward place use a little blob of plasticine modelling clay
Tip When threading cords around multiple pulleys, I use a piece of wire with a little hooked bend on the end (you could borrow the wife's crochet hook!) and I use a bit of plasticine to hold the cord temporary whilst winding onto the other pulleys.
TIP To hold a nut onto the end of your finger to reach a difficult position use vaseline petroleum jelly, no I don't have shares in the company !!
Compact gear box
This gearbox demonstrates the benefits of using distance rods to space the gear plates giving you greater rigidity and more space for your mechanism
Note the use of Metallus Delrin gears meshing with standard Meccano Brass gears for quieter and smoother running.
This gear box has 5 sliding take off shafts, all the axles are secured with Nylon spring clips,these are far superior to the Metal Meccano spring clips.
These clips are ideal for positioning your axles and can be quickly replaced with collars when you have tested your design
Pulley Block with Crane hook
Here I have used distance rods to space the two triangular plates and create a rigid frame for the pulley block and crane hook, the hook is spaced using 1/2" brass roller/distance sleeves.
Simple Steering
This is a rear wheel steering for a Mobile Crane, note the use of Tee shaped Metallus bearing brackets top and bottom, and Brass distance rings to make up the space between the 3 hole coupling and the top bracket, the Tyres are the excellent 4 1/4" Metallus tyre mounted on 2 1/2" Face Plates
Twin Wheels
In this photo twin wheels are powered through a differential, the Metallus Tyre can be mounted in pairs on just 2 Faceplates or 2 x 2 1/2" Pulleys, because this is a Mobile Crane there is no suspension
Large Axle
A large Axle is supported here in two Large Axle Bearings secured at the base, a large Axle reducer allows you to drive with standard Meccano Gears or sprockets
Roller Chain
Sometimes you can't get the exact tension on a chain, you can use a sliding bracket to tension one of the sprockets or as in this photo you can use a free running jockey wheel to give you just the right tension. This photo also gives you an idea of the size of the roller chain if you haven't already seen it.
Close up of jockey sprocket wheel
supported by a shafting standard
Simple Ladder 1
Made from Brass distance rods and Narrow perforated strips
Simple Ladder 2
Made using Standard Axles and standard perforated strips, secured with nylon spring clips
