Lesson 5: Designing with Gears
3. Investigate: Rack and Pinion Gearsets
In this step, we are going to learn how rotary or circular motion can be converted into linear or side to side motion. This will allow us to move parts in a different way. If you have ever used a pulley system, you might consider how the round wheel uses circular motion to move the rope up and down on a linear path. We are going to do the same thing using a rack and pinion gear set. The rack and pinion is comprised of two parts 1) a round gear with teeth called the pinion and 2) a straight bar which also has teeth called the rack. Using a Rack and Pinion is one way to new mechanical parts for your GoPiGo, but it's not the only way.
Attached is a file, that will help you understand the concept of a rack and pinion gear set a bit further. After you print the parts attach them to a servo motor and fit them to the top of your GoPiGo. It is a gear that you can print and attach to a servo motor.