Induku Wooden Models

Orrery

Assembly Instructions
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Thank you for shopping at Induku Design.

I hope you enjoy building the Orrery as much as I did making it!

For any questions or comments, please contact me:

[email protected]

A high-resolution digital copy of the orrery is can be download here:

https://indukudesign.com/2018/02/15/orrery/

Email: Phone: Address:

[email protected] +46 070 071 9244 Induku Design
c/o Ronald Nelson
Website: Fors 105
www.indukudesign.com 81591
Tierp
Shop: Sweden
www.etsy.com/shop/Induku

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Assembly Instructions:

Important: Look at all the steps before beginning assembly.

- To assemble the orrery, glue and a wax candle is required. A knife is also recommended.

The moving parts can be waxed Glue is required to assemble the If a part seems stuck while
with regular candle wax to reduce orrery. CA glue (aka. superglue) removing it from the plywood
friction. Application is indicated works very well. So does PVA glue sheet, carefully cut it out with a
by a blue dot. (wood glue). Application is knife.
indicated by a green triangle.

- All parts with their names and numbers required are shown in the back of the manual.

- The kit contains a number of spare parts. If a part breaks, please refer to starred (*) parts in the back of the manual.
If a spare is not available, it is often possible to glue it back together using CA or PVA glue. Wait for the glue to dry
completely before continuing with assembly. If the part is not fixable, please contact Induku Design for a replacement.

- All parts from previous steps will be annotated as St-step_number, e.g. St8 indicates the parts that were completed
in step 8.

Carefully remove all other model All pieces are connected to the Carefully separate any of the
parts from boards. Wiggle loose board with small crossbars. Cut dowel pieces that may be
rather than using force. these if the piece seems stuck. attached and remove any fibers
by sanding.

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 Nodules

- Remove any burs on the parts by gentle sanding. It is important that the gears are smooth and there is no remaining
bits from where it was removed from the board, e.g. carefully sand the tooth where it was attached to the board.

- Pieces that fit together at 90º will have small nodules towards their tips (see image). Wood is a natural product and
will changes in different climates. There is also slight variation between different sheets of wood. The thickness will
thus not always be exactly 3 mm. The nodules help to grip the pieces when the wood is slightly thinner than 3mm.
However, if a piece is slightly thicker than 3 mm and it is difficult to assemble, carefully sand down the nodules to
help the pieces fit together.

- Use the tool to push out small

gears and other parts.

- Use the tool push out any

remnant bits that may be in the
holes.

- Work on a hard surface to push parts together to ensure that parts and locks are flush where required.

- Test fit all parts during assembly before adding glue.

- Octagon holes are used to grip onto the dowels where they need to move with the gear. Slight pressure is required to
fit the dowel into these holes.

- During construction it is important to ensure that all the gears rotate freely. When one gear component is
assembled, add wax to the teeth and sides. Turn it for a couple of minutes and check for any places where it may get
stuck. Sand where necessary and reapply wax. Do this before moving onto the next step. Repeat this for each step
where gears are meshed together. The more time spent on moving the mechanism during the building stage the
easier the whole mechanism will move when it is completed.

Important: Look at all the steps before beginning assembly.

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1. D83, T12RA, B10 2. St1, BHS (x2), BH1, BH2 Optional: BHC (x2)
Place the gear between the Slide two shaft disks (BHS) If a crown rather than crank is
marks on the longest axel as loosely onto axel. Press axel into preferred, replace BH1 and BH2
indicated. Add wax to the teeth. octagon holes of, first, BH1 and with BHC (x2) during step 2.
Do not glue! then BH2. Add a drop of glue and Skip to step 5.
Slide B10 onto axel to press together making sure they
approximately where shown. align.

3. D18, B10 4. St2, St3, B10 (x5)

Glue B10 onto the end of the 18 mm dowel (D18). Slide the crank handle (St2) through the crank as
Once the glue has dried, add wax to the outside of indicated. Keep in place with 5x B10.
B10 as indicated. The handle should rotate freely (i.e. ensure it is not
pinched).

5. BF1, BHS 6. St4, St5, BF2

Glue BHS onto BF1 as shown. Glue the shaft disks (on the crank assembly St4) onto
the foot assembly (St5), as shown. Once the glue has
dried, glue on BF2, as shown.
Slide the lock (B10 on the axel) to front of foot to
keep the crank in place.
Make sure that no glue gets onto the crank and that it can turn freely.

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7. BF3, BL2 (x2) 8. St6, St7, OB1, BF3 (x2)
Glue the BL2 pieces onto one of Slide assembly St7 onto the main disk (OB1) as shown. Slide one other
the feet (BF3). foot (BF3) into place. Make sure everything is pushed completely in
place and add glue to all attachment points. Slide the last foot (BF3) and
the foot with the crank assembly (St6) into place and add glue.
Continue to the next step while the glue is drying.

9. St8, BL1 10. St9, OL2B

Press the feet lock (BL1) onto the bottom of St8, Complete the base by pressing OL2B into place on
locking all the feet into place (support the structure the top of the feet as indicated.
when applying pressure – e.g. place on a table and Ensure that the line on OL2B aligns with 2 January.
place a 6 mm spacer should below the feet).
Note: it does not matter where the foot with the crank is placed.

11. OA1, T48RA, D18, D6 (x2)

Remove any notches/burrs by sanding the inside hole of OA1 as shown and apply wax. Rub wax on the entire
top surface of OA1.
Insert the 18 mm (D18) - 6mm dowels (D6), into the large drive gear as indicated. Add wax to the gear teeth.
Press-fit the OA1 to the large gear. All dowels should be flush at the bottom of the gear.
The 6 mm dowels should press into holes e.
The 18 mm dowel should push through hole a, with 12 mm protruding to the top.

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12. OL2A, OL1, P-OL1 (x2), toothpick 13. Sp11, Sp12, T39, P-OL1 (x2)
Break the toothpick in half and slide all the parts onto the two pieces in Slide 2 large paper spacers on the
the order as shown toothpicks on Sp12. Add glue and
Note that the line on OL2A should point inwards. Add a drop of glue on push through Sp11. Slide T39
the toothpick and press together. onto the toothpicks and press
Sand the toothpicks flush on the bottom. together.

14. Sp13 15. St14, D70 16: St15, B10, P-B10 (x6)
Carefully break-off the excess of Push D70 through the center of Slide onto the dowel in hole a:
the toothpicks and sand flush. the gear until the top of the line is - 3 small paper spacers (P-B10)
Ensure the gear can rotate freely just visible (i.e. the gear, T39, - B10
after the glue has dried. should be between the lines on - 3 small paper spacers (P-B10),
D70).

17. Sp16, D15, B10 (x2), 18. T39, D60 19: St17, St18
P-B10 (x12) Place the gear (T39) between the Place the gear assembly (Sp18)
Slide B10 onto a 15 mm dowel marks on the dowel (D60) where into hole c of assembly Sp17.
(D15). Slide 3 small paper indicated. Add wax to the teeth.
spacers onto each side of B10
and push dowel into one hole d. Tip: Adding wax to the sides of the gears where they rub against the
Repeat for the other hole d. rest of the structure will make the whole mechanism run smoothly.

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20. T33, D15 21. St20, OA2, T8 22: St19, St21
Press the gear (T33) on the 15 Put the long arm of Sp20 through Slide St21 onto St19. Press
mm dowel (D15). Make sure that hole b in arm OA2. Add a bit of dowels in holes a and d on St19
the one side protrudes only 3mm glue on T8 and slide onto the into corresponding holes on St21.
(i.e. the thickness of wood – use gear assembly. Do not pinch! All the gears should turn without
the tool to check). Ensure the gears can rotate freely any effort.
Add glue where indicated. after the glue has dried.

23. St22, B10 (x3), P-B10 (x18)

Ensure that all the gears in the assembly moves without effort. Spend at least 10 minutes rotating the gears,
as this will help make them run smoother. Add wax if necessary. If the gears are pinched between the arms
(parts OA1 and OA2), take apart and add 2 extra paper spacers to each dowel (step 16 and 17).
Once the gears move freely slide part B10 with 3 small paper spacers on to each side onto the 3 dowels
protruding from holes a and d.

24. T13B, OL1, P-OL1 (x2) 25. St24, OA3, OMS, P-OL1 (x2)
toothpick Sand the toothpicks flush on the bottom of Sp24.
Break the toothpick in half and Slide 2 large paper spacers on the toothpicks on Sp24. Add glue and
slide all the parts onto the two push through OA3. Slide the Moon crank (OMS), onto the toothpicks and
pieces in the order as shown press together.
Add a drop of glue on the Carefully break-off the toothpicks excess and sand flush. Ensure the
toothpick and press together. crank can rotate freely after the glue has dried.
Sand the toothpicks flush on the
bottom. 9
Glue pieces BL2 onto one of the
feet (BF3).
26. St25, T13A, D9 27. Sp23, Sp26
Push D9 into the hole as indicated. Add wax to T13A and place onto D9 Slide St26 onto St13. Press
(see image). Ensure gears and Moon crank turns easily. dowels in holes a and d on St19
into corresponding holes on St21.

After pressing the top, middle and bottom arms together make sure the 28. Sp27, D40
mechanism turns easily. Note that if the dowel, inserted in step 26, stick Push dowel D40 into Moon crank
out from the top the Moon crank it will catch, while if the dowel is pushed as indicated. Make sure it does
in too deeply the bottom gear will not rotate. If needed, disassemble and not protrude through the bottom.
sand the dowel shorter. Sand down any other dowels where the Moon
crank may catch.
Note: Spend 10 minutes rotating the gears to loosen the mechanism. If the gears are pinched between the arms
(parts OA2 and OA3), take apart and add 2 extra paper spacers to each dowel (step 22).

29. Sp10, Sp28

The orrery arm (Sp28), can now be placed on the base (Sp10). To calibrate for 2018* loosen the top and
middle arm until the Moon crank can rotate independent from the other gears (i.e. reverse of step 27).Set the
Moon to full Moon. Turn the front gear T39 until the spoke with the line faces the arrow (see images). Push the
mechanism together while in this configuration. Place on the base with the arrow pointing to 2 January. Ensure
that pieces are pushed firmly together (i.e. OL2A and OL2B should interlock completely).

Note: *More information on calibration for different years later.

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30. ES1, ES2, ED 31. Sp30, ES3 (x6)
To construct the Earth, glue ES1 and ES2 onto ED as shown. Note that Slide 6 medium segments (ES3)
the center of ED is a rectangle. It is important that ES1 and ES2 should onto Sp30 as shown and glue in
align across the rectangle crossing the long side. place.
Note: This orientation will allow the Earth to be mounted at 23.5º

32. St31, ENP 33. St33, ESP

Glue the North Pole piece (ENP), onto the top of the Glue the South Pole piece (ESP), onto the bottom
Earth. Ensure that it is placed on the top and not the ledge as indicated. Ensure that the opening faces the
bottom (see image). slanted wedge (see image).

34. SD, SS1 (x2), SS2 (x10), SNP, SSP

The Sun is constructed in the same way as the Earth. Glue the two SS1 pieces facing each other onto SD (note
that the Sun requires no special orientation – i.e. start at any place on SD). Glue the 10 large segments (SS2)
onto SD. Glue to North- and South Pole pieces (SNP and SSP) onto the Sun taking care that they are on their
correct sides (see images).

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 35. MD, MS1 (x2), MS2 (x4), MNP 36. Sp29, Sp34, Sp35
The Moon is constructed in the same way as the Sun. Glue the two MS1 Push the Moon and the Sun onto
pieces facing each other onto MD (no special orientation on MD). Glue their respective dowels on the
the 4 small segments (MS2) onto MD. Glue to North Pole piece (MNP) orrery.
onto the Moon as indicated.

35. Sp36, Sp33

The orrery is completed by sliding the Earth onto its dowel. To accurately simulate the seasons the Earth needs
to be rotated to the correct orientation each time the orrery is recalibrated
To calibrate for the seasons rotate the orrery until the arrow points to 21 June. Turn the Earth until the North
Pole faces the sun. It is recommended that the Earth is not glued into place to allow future recalibrations.

Note: On 21 June – the summer solstice – the sun Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.4º. This is
indicated on the disk of the orrery as well as the winter solstice and equinoxes.

Congratulations!
You now have a completed and fully functional orrery. Turn the crank to see a model of the Moon’s rotation around
the Earth, and the Earth around the Sun.

Minor adjustments to improve function:

- Adjust the small drive (T12RA) gear, by sliding forward or backwards on the crank axel until it meshes perfect with
the large drive gear. Once the adjustments have been tested it is possible to glue the gear (T12RA) in place.
- Add wax to the underside of the bottom arm (OA1) where it slides on the disk to make the operation a bit smoother.

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Calibration of the orrery:
There are several ways to calibrate the orrery:
Note the orrery does not have to be calibrated if it is rotated to the next year. E.g. if you start at 2018 and rotate it 5
full years it will show the moon phases for 2022.
To calibrate the orrery for 2018 follow step 29 and then step 35. Rotate past 31 December to move to the next year
or previous.
Alternatively, the orrery can be calibrated for any other year by doing the following.
1. Choose a year and see which date the full Moon occurs on (e.g. 13 January for 1979).
2. Lift the top part of the orrery from the base and rotate the Moon to the full Moon position.
3. Place back with the arrow at the closest date to the desired date (e.g. 13 January). Note that since there
is only 40 notches in OL2A and OL2B moving one notch changes 9 days. The closest point to the desired
date could thus be 4-5 days away – *see note below.
4. To move the arrow one day closer (e.g. from 12 January to 13 January) rotate the Moon 4 times
clockwise. Repeat for each additional day. Move back one day by rotating the Moon 4 times
counterclockwise.
5. Recalibrate the Earth as shown in step 35.

*It is important to note that this orrery is made from wood with some limitations in accuracy. The “slop” between the
gears means that the arrow can move 3-5 days without turning the gears (tighter gears will mean the mechanism will
be hard to move). This means that the resolution is not accurate on a day basis but rather that is accurate within a 5
day interval. However, if the slop is taken into account and the midpoint of the arrow is taken, each time, when the
Moon phase is set/read the accuracy is 99.94% per year (see below). I.e. the orrery will be within the correct 5 day
interval for 64 years and start to deviate by one day after subsequent rotations.

Gear Ratios and Accuracy:

The gear ratios for the orrery are very interesting. The bottom gear train (T39:T8:T39), rotates the Earth around its
own axis once per year. The ratio is 1:1 and has the effect that the Earth is not tidally locked with the Sun (as the
Moon is with the Earth). This simulates the seasons as the poles turns towards and away from the Sun at different
stages of the year. The place where the tilt is at maximum, is indicated on the disk (these are the solstices in June
and December). When the Sun is directly above the equator, is also indicated on the disk (the equinoxes in March and
September). Note that the equinoxes and solstices are not on the exact same date each year and averages were
calculated and used on this orrery. It is also interesting to note that the solstices and equinoxes are not equally far
apart (i.e. the seasons are not equal in length). This is due to the slightly elliptical orbit of the Earth (definitely not
simulated in this orrery).
There is a full Moon every 29.53 days (called the synodic month). Note that a full rotation of the Moon actually takes
27.322 (sidereal month – takes the rotation of the Earth into account) but for the orrery we are interested in
predicting the Moon phases and this value is not used here. A full Moon every 29.53 days means there are 12.368
rotations of the Moon every year. This is the value that we need to simulate to predict the Moon phases. The following
gear ratios were selected: 39:8 and 33:13. The combined gear ratio is 1:12.375. This means that one full rotation
(i.e. one year) there will be 12.375 full Moon rotations. The simulated value is close to the real value and the error is
less than 0.06% which means the accuracy is 99.94% over the course of one year.
The inclusion of the additional 13 teeth gear is also important. Having two 13 teeth gears in line does not affect the
ratio but it does affect the direction of rotation. I called it the inverter gear (T13B) since it changes the Moon’s rotation
from clockwise to counterclockwise when the Earth is moved in a counterclockwise direction (i.e. the direction the
Earth rotates around the Sun when viewed from the North Pole).
The drive gears (T12RA and T48RA), does not affect the accuracy of the orrery. It is however interesting to note that
the gear ratios for these gears are 1:4. This means with each full turn of the crank the orrery moves by 13 weeks.
There are 13 radial lines on the shaft disk (BHS). There is also a line on the crank axel (D83). Turning the crank so
that the line on the crank axel moves one segment on the shaft disk will thus advance the orrery by one week.

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 If you enjoyed this model take a look at the other models on offer at Induku Design:

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A beautiful wooden model kit that assembles into a wind driven
Strandbeest that will walk on its own

Wind-Up Car:
A wooden model kit that assembles into a wind up car, driven by
rubber bands.

13 Step Puzzle Box:

A wooden model kit that assembles into mini puzzle box. The
completed box requires 13 separate steps to open and are ideal for
storing small precious items.

More to come soon!

Email: Phone: Address:

[email protected] +46 070 071 9244 Induku Design
c/o Ronald Nelson
Website: Fors 105
www.indukudesign.com 81591
Tierp
Shop: Sweden
www.etsy.com/shop/Induku

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