Gears & Levers Questions

[Gwingle]

On task 4g about the lever system, does the IMA of each lever have to be greater than 5 or the combined IMA greater than 5?

[hogger]

I am pretty sure it is total combined IMA.

[Kanak]

I wanted to know if we could use knex or lego gears. It says non-commercial and wanted to know if these are allowed

[chalker]

I wanted to know if we could use knex or lego gears. It says non-commercial and wanted to know if these are allowed

Commercial typically means you are able to buy the item in a store... can you buy knex / lego gears?

[ramcoach]

Does anyone have an idea as to what is meant by "non-electric" gears?

[melissay63]

u cant use a motor to power the gear?

[ramcoach]

yes - it says "combine two levers of different classes into a system with an IMA greater than 5", so the total combined IMA should be greater, not the IMA of each lever.

[ktkat]

When they say commercially constructed gears, are you allowed to use commercially constructed items to make the gears? i.e. use corrugated cardboard to make gear teeth? or use rack&pinion rack to make gear teeth? Thanks

[ScienceNerd47]

My understanding was the gears had to be made yourself. The rules say "homemade" I have made mine on a jigsaw but cardboard would work fine I think. I would not use legos because it isn't a 50 point challenge for lego building...

[tbonepolar]

How are you able/going to move the third class lever you can't touch it at the begining or end. Also paralell tasks are illeagal.