Plane Crazy gears allow builders to transfer rotational power, adjust torque and RPM ratios, and create complex mechanical systems like transmissions and mechanical calculators. Because Plane Crazy is a physics sandbox developed by Plane Crazy Developers on Roblox, functional gears are constructed manually using parts such as motors, angle locks, compressors, and rod cylinders rather than a single pre-fabricated block.
How to Build Small Custom Gears
Building compact, functional gears requires precise angular alignment so the teeth mesh without jamming. Builders utilize angle locks paired with compressors to rotate rod cylinders into symmetrical circular gear patterns.
- Place an anchor block high above the ground so the rotating assembly does not clip into the terrain during testing.
- Attach a motor (either powered or unpowered, depending on your drive design) to the anchor block.
- Place a compressor directly in front of the motor and configure its setting value to "all".
- Position an angle lock on top of the compressor, ensuring the yellow indicator light faces downward.
- Stack additional angle locks depending on your intended tooth count (for example, seven angle locks for a seven-tooth gear).
- Place rod cylinders adjacent to each angle lock to serve as the gear teeth.
- Set the rotation values: Using gear calculation angles based on your tooth count, paste the calculated half-angle value into the first angle lock. Disable collision and toggle transparent on for that block.
- Paste the full-angle calculation value into the remaining angle locks. Turn off collisions and enable transparency on all of them.
- Correct alignment: If the gear is off-center, input the offset distance (such as 1 block corresponding to the distance between the compressor and angle lock) into the compressor settings. Disable collisions and make the compressor transparent.
When constructing larger gears, note that designs with more than 12 teeth require an offset of one block higher or more to center and mesh cleanly.
Gear Ratios and Multi-Speed Transmissions
Mechanical builds such as airships and land vehicles rely on multiple gear stages to manage the trade-off between rotational speed and engine torque. Players switch between gears using trapdoor linkages that engage or disengage mechanical stops and clutches.
| Gear Setting | Gear Ratio | Performance Characteristics | Operational Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Gear | 1.5:1 | Higher torque, lower RPM | High load propulsion, differential steering thrust |
| Second Gear | 1:1 | Lower torque, higher RPM | Cruising speed, level-flight efficiency |
In twin-engine craft, switching one side into first gear and the opposite into second gear creates an asymmetric thrust differential. This mechanical difference assists rudders and control surfaces when executing tighter turns.
Advanced Mechanical Applications: Stepped Gears
Beyond standard drive axles, custom gear geometry enables complex computing assemblies such as mechanical calculators built on the Leibniz wheel concept:
- Stepped Teeth Assemblies: Cylinders built with nine rod teeth of varying lengths represent stepped inputs. Sliding an engaging gear along a drive shaft changes how many teeth contact it per full rotation (e.g., sliding to position 3 engages three teeth, turning an output dial exactly three increments).
- Carry Mechanisms: When an output dial rolls from 9 to 0, a trail block activates a hover thruster. This shifts a secondary gear into the path of a single rod on the back half of the stepped wheel, advancing the next counter column by one increment before a cone resets the gear out of the path.
- Missing-Tooth Reset Gears: Reset systems utilize secondary gears with nine teeth and an intentionally missing tenth tooth at the zero position. When a reset trapdoor drops drive gears into contact with them, the assembly rotates until hitting the blank position. The missing tooth cuts off torque transmission, stopping all display columns precisely at zero.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do custom gear teeth glitch or jam when spinning?
Gear hubs, compressors, and angle locks will physically collide if their hitboxes overlap during rotation. Builders must disable collision and enable transparency on all angle locks and spacing compressors so only the physical rod cylinder teeth make contact.
When is an offset required on custom gears?
Gears built using angle locks that exceed 12 teeth require an offset adjustment of at least one block higher in the compressor settings to ensure teeth remain centered around the drive axis.
How do mechanical builders switch gear ratios without redesigning the engine?
Builders use hinged trapdoors connected to mechanical levers or wedges. Activating a trapdoor engages or disengages specific linkages, shifting the drive contact between different gear stages or changing engine throttle stops.
