Activity 2.2.

3 Pulleys and Gears Pulley #1 Construction Guide

PLTW Engineering

Activity 2.2.3 Pulleys and Gears

Construction Guide #1

Completed Pulley System

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Materials and Equipment

• 2x16 Beam  (4) Rubber Shaft Collars
• (2) 1x4 Beams  (2) 0.5x Spacers
• (5) 4x Shafts  30 mm Diameter Pulley
• 8x Shaft  40 mm Diameter Pulley
• (2) 16-Tooth Sprockets  48 inches of string
• (4) 24-Tooth Sprockets  Not shown
• (3) 32-Tooth Sprockets • Tape
• (4) 40-Tooth Sprockets • Scissors
• (2) 1x Standoffs • Measuring tape
• (2) 2x Wide, 2x1 Offset Corner Connectors
• (2) 1x Wide, 1x1 Offset Corner Connectors

VEX IQ Parts

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Procedure

1. With the string ends prepared to avoid unraveling, cut the string so that you have a 42-
inch and a 6-inch string.
a. Add a ½-inch piece of tape to the string so that the center point of the tape is at
the place where the string will be cut.
b. Roll the tape around the string.
c. Cut the string and tape at the required point.

2. Use the parts shown to build the bottom

pulley assembly.

a. Add the following parts in order, using

the images as a reference.
i. One Rubber Shaft Collar to one end of
the 4x Shaft
ii. One 1x4 Beam
iii. One 0.5x Spacer
iv. One 30 mm Diameter Pulley
v. One 0.5x Spacer
vi. One 1x Standoff to the 1x4 Beam

b. Add another 1x4 Beam, then one Rubber

Shaft Collar.

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c. Tie one end of the short string to the 2x

Standoff.

d. Pass the other end of the string through

the eye of the 1x Wide, 1x1 Offset
Corner Connector and tie an overhand
knot.

3. Use the parts shown to create two heavy counterweight subassemblies. These
subassemblies each weigh 56 grams. Note this weight value for the activity.

a. Slide two 32-Tooth Sprockets and two

24-Tooth Sprockets onto a 4x Shaft.

4. Attach the 1x Wide, 1x1 Offset Corner

Connector into one heavy counterweight
subassembly.
This entire subassembly weighs 69
grams. Remember this weight value for
the activity.

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5. Use the parts shown to build the top

pulley assembly.

a. Attach the 2x Wide, 2x1 Offset Corner

Connectors to the 2x16 Beam.

b. Insert the 8x Shaft through the first

connector, then add a Rubber Shaft
Collar.

c. Continue pushing the shaft through

the second 2x Wide, 2x1 Offset
Corner Connectors and a second
Rubber Shaft Collar.

d. Add a 30 mm Diameter Pulley to the

end of the shaft.

6. Place the top pulley assembly so that the pulley is cantilevered over the edge of a desk
or table. Secure the beam with tape or a weight, such as a textbook.

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7. Thread the long string through the pulley system.

a. Pass the string up through the left hole
of the beam, then tie an overhand knot
in the end.

b. Thread the string through the pulleys

as shown.

c. Pass the end of the string through the

eye of the 1x Wide, 1x1 Offset Corner
Connector and tie an overhand knot.

d. Snap the connector into the beam to

secure the end when not using the
pulley system.

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8. Use the parts shown to create a medium counterweight subassembly that will be set
aside until called for in the activity. This subassembly weighs 66 grams. Note this weight
value for the activity.

a. Slide two 32-Tooth Sprockets and two

16-Tooth Sprockets onto a 4x Shaft.

9. Create a light counterweight subassembly

using the parts shown. This subassembly
weighs 16 grams. Remember this weight
value for the activity.

a. Slide a 32-Tooth Sprockets onto a 4x

Shaft.

10. Return to the Activity 2.2.3 procedure.

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