No Moving Parts Debate

Discussions question claims of 'no moving parts' in mechanical designs, proposing alternatives like motors, steppers, servos, chains, slip rings, and counterweights for rotation and motion control.

➡️ Stable 0.5x Hardware
3,705
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#3117
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
1
2008
4
2009
18
2010
62
2011
28
2012
56
2013
139
2014
105
2015
157
2016
141
2017
209
2018
194
2019
250
2020
291
2021
407
2022
349
2023
439
2024
449
2025
392
2026
14

Keywords

ITB CNC eahart.com PSD linearlabsinc.com wikimedia.org arxiv.org RPM i.e wikipedia.org motor mechanical spring motion moving parts mechanism motors rotation spinning parts

Sample Comments

AnimalMuppet • Jul 1, 2022 • View on HN

That might be pushing the boundaries of "no moving parts".

throwaway4good • Dec 2, 2021 • View on HN

This calls for a motorized solution!

chris_va • May 6, 2016 • View on HN

Random question, why not 1 blade and a counterweight?

mgarfias • Nov 17, 2024 • View on HN

I dont trust that it’s a pure mechanical system

Florin_Andrei • Jan 17, 2015 • View on HN

No rotary encoders on those things?

LandR • Mar 31, 2022 • View on HN

Less moving parts to wear out ?

exabrial • Nov 26, 2020 • View on HN

Stepper motors and an active feedback loop most likely.

justinclift • Oct 22, 2025 • View on HN

Wouldn't a slip ring help here?

zerr • Mar 2, 2024 • View on HN

How does he convert a variable speed hand motion to a constant speed rolling? Some spring mechanism?

gaudat • Sep 6, 2022 • View on HN

Next step: Add a tiny motor inside the key switch for force feedback