How does a pull-back car work? Illustrated teardown

(mechanical-pencil.com)

66 points | by Muhammad523 2 days ago

8 comments

  • matt-attack 1 day ago
    This really needs to be done for a GLP-1 auto injecting needle.

    Pretty sure it’s the same as an epi-pen as well.

    It blows my mind. It’s a disposable, single use device that at the press of button:

    1. Inserts the needle in your skin, 2. Slowly presses the plunger until the dose is injected 3. Then retracts the needle with plunger

    Three distinct and seemingly opposing motions. With timing. All in a little plastic enclosure. It sure I can think of a toy with that kind of mechanism.

    • jrussino 1 hour ago
      Check out this video from Steve Mould; I think it covers exactly what you're looking for!

      https://youtu.be/CfhsW1kaa2Q?is=ug5_Ze2HczVMGTMR

    • jaggederest 1 hour ago
      There's an even fancier mechanism with e.g. glucagon pens, where it actually has to rehydrate the freeze dried hormone (glucagon forms aggregations when it sits, has to be mixed fresh)
    • gonzalohm 1 hour ago
      Steve Mould has a great video explaining the mechanism in epi pens
  • asdff 1 hour ago
    What is the name for the sort of toy car you push in one direction and it continues slowly in that direction? These ones were usually styled as 4x4 vehicles and almost moved like a rock crawler with the 4wd set to low. They could be pushed forward or in reverse (and then would go in reverse).
  • reactordev 1 hour ago
    I learned this when I was 4. We even had ones that shot sparks. America. The animations on this are really well done and I loved that trip back to childhood of pulling the car back and letting it rip. However, given the popularity, you should simulate what happens when you pull it back to the extremes over and over again and the spring gets stretched. It no longer kicks as fast as it used to and in some cases, it won't go at all.
  • barbazoo 1 hour ago
    If you have access to a 3D printer, this helps explain the basics too: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3308710
  • Muhammad523 2 days ago
    I really love this site, it is obivous that the owner puts a lot of effort into this
  • donkey_brains 1 day ago
    Wow. I love being reminded of stuff like this. Those cars were so cool.

    Edit: I took one of these cars apart as a kid to see how it worked. This site brought back a lot of memories. The little coil spring inside the gear. I have to get my hands on one of these now…

    • bluescrn 46 minutes ago
      The original 80s Darda cars were great fun, with enough power to get around great big loops. One of those childhood toys I wish I'd took more care of and kept hold of...

      They did still produce a version relatively recently (looks like they're discontinued entirely now?), but the cars were significantly lighter and less powerful, all-plastic where the originals had metal bodies

      • smackeyacky 31 minutes ago
        I bought a Honda Civic toy from an auto parts store recently. I thought it was purely static but it has a spring pull back motion and also flashes the lights and honks the horn when you open the doors.

        Then I leaned on it and discovered it makes a starting noise and vrooms the engine.

        I felt like I was 10 years old again.

  • groos 2 hours ago
    Love this site! Well done!
  • tantalor 56 minutes ago
    Please leave my browser history alone