In the beginning (700-800 BC) there were gears. They mesh only a tooth and a
half, limiting load and creating rubbing that causes wear and requires grease.
Then came the Chain+Sprocket with much better contact to eliminate the
slipping, but still needed for grease because of the rubbing.
Then came the Belt+Pulley with no grease yet still wear due to slipping, sliding
and rubbing.
In 1968, Sandia Atomic Labs invented a way to eliminate the rubbing, slipping
and sliding, but could not make it rotary. It only oscillated.
Now comes the ScrollerWheel. For the first time in history it displays continuous
rotary motion with no slipping, sliding or rubbing (only rolling friction).
| COMPARE |
BEARINGS
/ GEARS |
ROLAMITE |
SCROLLER |
| Created |
700-800 BC |
1967 |
1995 |
| Simple Machine |
Yes |
No |
Yes [Link]
(Rolamite is a subset) |
| High Contact |
Point Only |
>180 deg Wrap |
>180 deg Wrap |
| Rubbing Friction |
Yes - Rollers |
No |
No |
| Sliding Friction |
Yes - Rollers |
No |
No |
| Slipping Friction |
Yes - Races /Housings |
No |
No |
| Rolling Friction |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Grease/Lube |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Movement |
Roll |
Scroll |
Scroll |
| Retainer |
Fixed |
Fixed-S |
Scrolling-C |
| Rotary |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Linear |
No |
Yes (oscillating only) |
Yes (Track wheel) |
| Cammed |
Yes (1) |
No |
Yes (Several) |
| Diagonal |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Combos |
None |
None |
Many |
| Seals |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Grit |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Materials |
Metal/Plastic/Ceramic |
+ Lube Sensitive |
+ Lube Sensitive |
| Shapes |
Round |
Boxed |
Highly Variable |
| Precision |
High |
High |
High-Low |
| Manufacturing |
Specific Set-Up Lines |
Some Flexibility |
Mix+Match Modular |
| Cost |
Low-Medium-High |
High |
Low-High |
| COMPARE |
BEARINGS
/ GEARS |
ROLAMITE |
SCROLLER |
|
|
