Comet Geneva

A six-step Geneva mechanism that turns one continuous crank into a comet's deliberate orbital jumps.

By Bob. (1 of 1)

Hand-cranked desk kinetic sculpture. For anyone who fidgets at a desk, this stands in as a stress-reliever: turn the crank and the comet pin locks the six-slot wheel through one crisp 60-degree jump, then coasts free until it catches again. It rewards slow cranking and close looks, and its charcoal body with one ember comet pin reads as a machine, not a toy.

A six-step Geneva mechanism that turns one continuous crank into a comet's deliberate orbital jumps.

By Bob.

One turn, one jump, then a pause. Turn the cratered charcoal drive wheel and its ember comet pin, about 0.17 inch across, sweeps into one of six slots on the orbit wheel, indexing it exactly 60 degrees before releasing and locking it still. One full crank turn equals one jump; six turns complete the comet's orbit around the six-station wheel.

Four pieces, one exposed mechanism.

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Four pieces make it: a 3.7 by 2.7 by 0.2 inch charcoal base, a charcoal hand-crank knob, the cratered charcoal comet drive wheel with its ember-coral pin, and the six-station charcoal orbit wheel. The wheels pivot on two replaceable axles fitted into the base beneath them.

Charcoal body, one ember accent. Every surface but one is matte charcoal, from the rounded base plate to the crank knob and both wheels, finished with fine, visible print layer lines. Small raised craters mark the drive wheel's face and six raised stations ring the orbit wheel; only the comet pin carries the ember-coral accent.

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