Adam Savage Assembles a Working 3D-Printed Mechanical Counter!

[@tested]

3D files for this print: www.printables.com/model/860058-7-segment-mechanical-counter-version-2-ratchet Assembly tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2bLe4OVa92Imbc Printed on BambuLab X1C: www.matterhackers.com/store/l/bambu-lab-x1-carbon-combo-3d-printer/sk/M80GDCL5?aff=7553

[@DrZeus108]

That link is not to the same counter Adam assembled.

[@alwaysscouting]

Hey Adam i saw you have 27 demerit badges. as an Eagle Scout. the scouting program has 138 badges. keep adding more.

[@elcorado83]

That song you sung, from Sesame Street in the video of the numbers 1 to 10-did your dad write that? I think I read in your book he was involved in their music.

[@petleh82]

Awsome, looks like someone was inspired by my design that was featured on hackaday a couple of years ago. "7-seg all mechanical display prototype 2". But i never made it this good, creative commons is great !

[@admiraladama5877]

There’s now a v3 which addresses some design issues. The link is to the old video though which directs you to the latest version

[@Flower-3D]

Hey Adam! Love the video. I'm honored you liked my design and even made a video about it. It means a lot because I grew up watching you on MythBusters and then more recently, your KZbin content. Thank you! p.s. it looks like your links are to v2, but you printed v3

[@ryancunningham2242]

Incredible design! @Flower-3D

[@jonnyphenomenon]

Nice!!

[@jonnyphenomenon]

I have GOT to print one of these for my classroom. Such a great design.

[@ivangutowski]

Hey, thanks so much for making this. If given the task I'd think it'd be mega complicated, yet your solution is so elegantly well designed. I'm going to try printing a transparent exterior and build it with my cousin at Christmas. So in a few months he's gonna be in awe at your work, so thank you in advance :D

[@vaiten]

Great job!

[@tabbek]

There's a whole generation that now has that 1-12 jingle hauled up from long tucked away childhood memories and stuck in our heads for the day.

[@emerje0]

I had to share this with my brother. Anyone born in the 70s and 80s should know the reference.

[@njones420]

Yep ... can't unsee that pinball !

[@espalier]

The Pointer Sisters!

[@BionicMadness]

I sang that with him every time he started to sing it.

[@MrLuc420]

Someone please tell me where it's from??

[@theangrymarmot8336]

I started out in the 90s running CNC machines, and CNC punch machines for a couple companies. I always wondered if in my lifetime humanity would ever see anything quite like the "replicators" in Star-Trek. It always seemed far away - like flying cars. Fast forward to around 2010/2011 - and I bought my first 3D printer (a PrintrBot kit.) I assembled it, and made my first 3D print. It felt like I was witnessing Star-Trek. Fast forward to current - I own several 3D printers (2 large FDM and 2 large Resin) and it still feels like I am living in the future when I use them. The progression of additive manufacturing from sci-fi, to industrial big dollar, to consumer machines that cost a quarter of what a cell phones in as short as time as it has is still amazing to me.

[@TheToliverProject]

As a 42 year old human, who often believes I have life figured out, I find that I am often surprised with new interests from Adam Savage. I have learned to see the beauty in the mundane and to appreciate the engineering that goes into the everyday things we take for granted. Adam is truly an inspiration for those who seek a deeper understanding of the “simple” objects that we interact with. I never have expected to be fascinated with a topic such as this, but here I am, watching this late on a Friday night and I can’t wait to print my own mechanical counter!

[@NthDegree256]

I printed this out for my kid a few months ago when it was first released. He loves numbers and numeric displays, and he was so excited to help me put it together - "I think you need this part next!" Such a cool little gadget.

[@HadenMadderly]

Gotta love the cosmos for shoving every conceivable audible interruption into a video about a visual display.

[@mfx0r]

In spite of your knowledge, you are always still willing to learn. I love how you approach this kind of thing like a bright eyed child, seeing something for the first time.

[@pbft.j]

I'm not sure if you read comments but I really appreciate that you've covered 3D printing. I'm so glad you love it also. I have been 3D printing and designing for about 3 years now but learning through modern machines with free software and everything. I'm just happy that you showcase these inventions. I browse what to 3D print far more often than I print myself. But this has been on the top of the list for far too many weeks. Very glad that you've really embraced the culture as well. I think many people would love these designs.

[@valeriebrincheck6034]

I have a small hand counter that I use when I crochet that helps keep track of rows or stitches as I work. It works just like that does and now I have severe need to find the extra one I have and take it apart to see how it works. Thanks for stimulating my curiosity, Adam. Keep making us think.

[@Freelancer221]

After the first two minutes I had to pause the video because all the sounds and your reaction to them was such a level of comedy... can't remember the last time I laughed that hard. I'm crying

[@RandomToon1]

Thank you for completing the song to "11, 12". My OCD would not have been satisfied otherwise.

[@davedujour1]

It must be done!

[@DanCooke1982]

Glad I wasn't the only one with that thought... 😅

[@skypittman9303]

Kids these days won't know where the song is from.

[@RandomToon1]

@@skypittman9303 That's OK. The real ones know. ;)

[@Hyperguyver2]

I call it CDO because then it's in alphabetical order.

[@Ladco77]

I love the old electrical and mechanical solutions we had prior to being able to do so much electronically. I still wear a wind up mechanical watch because I love the fact that it's just a spring and gears that tell time surprisingly accurately. In addition to the mechanical display digits, I'm also a huge fan of early Nixie displays. Anything like that before LED and LCD displays were around.

[@V3cna.]

All the noises though out the video is perfection 😂

[@Barbasnoo]

It is incredible to me (but also not surprising), just how adept Adam has become in regards to the technical aspects of 3D printing in such a relatively short amount of time. It truly is an example of how vast experience in various fields can accelerate one’s understanding of a new field. This is so cool to see.

[@ArcticWind444]

I absolutely loved how he was talking being unable get realtime information and he got interrupted by his phone and the doorbell.

[@amandajones8841]

One of my favourite joys in this is that the cams are physical implementations of each segment's truth table.

[@oisinogorman35]

Adam, you are a great conjurer of intrigue. A purveyor of the fizz.

[@zoiksy]

Loved the insight into "Cave Chaos" in this video.

[@airlag]

If there is anything like the German "Sendung mit der Maus" in the USA, you are qualified for the explainer role. The way you reduced the whole electricity and digital stuff to "It's just mechanical, since it depends on atoms and electrons moving around" was a mind-breaker - in a positive way!

[@rickgreer7203]

Watching adam put together something I actually have on my desk is wild...

[@ericstoever9577]

The sound of the train board at Grand Central. Such memories! Thank you Adam for bringing a favorite aural memory to me!

[@MrDonXX]

I have to say I loved the comedy of all the interruption. Thanks for the links to the files great video

[@odepaj]

I printed v2.1 of this a few months ago! Super interesting to see the various changes/improvements he's made to the model

[@edtherabbit]

I love your enthusiasm about everything - Watching you, It's hard not to be enthusiastic too!

[@hanslain9729]

I feel like when you design something and Adam builds it and gets that little kid vibe that he's excited about it... That's got to be pretty damn satisfying.

[@kealleymayhew19]

I'd love a big mechanical display like this for crochet. It would be so satisfying to use it to count rows.

[@ankokuraven]

I think one of the interesting aspects of the 3D printing movmement and one of the hilights of keeping what is functionally archaic engineering alive through it is that we have come across what is fundamentally an entirely new way to design, manufacture, and distribute objects and by replicating feats of engineering from our previous methods we are learning the ins and outs of what this new means of creation is capable of. It's like going back to basics to relearn a skill. And in doing so, we will find where this new medium diverges from our existing knowledge. As you've highlighted elsewhere, we are able to make print in place mechanisms (the minimal security lock), something basically unfathomable to traditional means of making things. Because of finding things like that, we will eventually end up with a better grasp of what this is truly calable of and when we reincorporate all of this knew knowledge into our existing knowledge base, who knows what wonders will be created from it. What will revisiting the analog and mechanical technology of old create in the future? Someone asked on a video of of one of those lattice prints that stretch when you squeeze them. "What is the point of this?" And beyond curiosity and entertainment it immediately came to my mind that this could end up in a medical device or some robotic griping mechanism. Its truely exciting to think we are watching in real time as a new generation plays with these mechanics, more or less for fun, and knowing one day something someone makes doing so will be revolutionary the way things we learn about in history classes were, especially when the visible driving changes to technology my generation grew up with are more or less purely digital.

[@mewsli]

Adam, Adam, Adam of course we need builds like this. If nothing , for me anyway , I could be obnoxious but very consistent clicking the numbers .... 😀 Seriously the engineering that goes into a build like this is wonderful. I wish I had had the opportunity when I was a lot younger than I am now to follow my Dad (who would have loved Tested) into engineering. Girls went into secretairial roles , and not into fabricarion or sheet metal working. So, I live vicariously through your videos, and fiercely steer my granddaughters into roles other than mothering or others. Those roles can come later should they so wish. Thankyou Sir.

[@loganl3746]

When i was last in Bern, Switzerland, the main train station (the Bahnhof) still used a mechanical board for departures and arrivals. The clicliclclicliclick as it reset was sooooooo nice 😊

[@gussnarp]

As soon as you said "one of the most beautiful rooms..." I knew you were talking about the train board at Grand Central. This is a fun little project, next you need an actuator that allows you to push one button and increment through 3 or 4 of these!

[@duanebeyer950]

Same here - great memory

[@briandeschene8424]

I had a similarly captivated experience spending time in a mechanically switched elevator room controlling three elevator shafts. Afterwards spending time in another that was all solid state electronically controlled with only the sound of some relays felt very anticlimactic.

[@megaman6710]

I'm glad I got to put my 3d printer to its full use the other day. I broke a belt clip the other day while out. So when I got home, I got straight to work modeling a makeshift clip to last until I got a suitable replacement. After some modeling, a hair dryer to bend it to proper shape, it lasted just fine until I got another delivered to me. Now I always have that model in case my new belt clip breaks.

[@ArmedAngryAtheist]

1,2,3,4,5 6,7,8,9,10 11,12!

[@allenmorgan1007]

Do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do!

[@garthor]

@@allenmorgan1007 🎶🎵🎵🎶🎶🎼🎼🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶🎶🎼🎼

[@davedujour1]

At first I thought the backup truck was in my neighborhood, which is having construction nearby so I'm hearing that sound all the time. Then the doorbell ring made me laugh.

[@markyds6069]

That's got to be the best smart to any video I've seen, so many interruption's and so real

[@BeardedPrinter]

I've been debating on printing this one for a while. I already have the files downloaded and ready to go. This convinced me to just start it. Good stuff.

[@ivangutowski]

I just had an amazing thought... print the outside with transparent filament !! An incredible gift for a engineering minded young kid

[@mikebal7777]

These are amazing, I was astounded by his first version, and its so much better now

[@sakura1701]

MAN! I need this for a STEM project in our MakerSpace! Downloading files now!

[@Kumodot]

The Search for Silence continues while talking about delicious noisy mechanical displays. :) I also love all kinds of displays, i am addicted to them. From tiny oleds to mechanical ones. I love to reproduce their way of work and different ways of display things with matrices using digital ways, like 3D procedural animation. It's super cool !

[@timaidley7801]

I always loved the cascading updates on those split tab train information displays. Reminds me of Liverpool St Station, although I think they've since been replaced with more modern displays.

[@dansouth1973]

Thank you for the Sesame Street reference, that earworm will be in my head all day! : )

[@bryanh3057]

That is an EXCELLENT scorekeeping device for a game room or something! 🤘

[@FishFlavoredCoffee]

I am making my first ever 3d prints today. so lovely to have this video at the same time. Thanks for sharing!

[@aserhassan]

That's how great Adam Savage is, with all the distraction going around, I'm still engaged with him and love his videos! is it just because he is Adam Savage!! 😅😅 maybe!

[@disquiet-mind]

It's so wholesome seeing Adam get as excited as we do about little trinkets and gadgets :)

[@PedroRodriguez-zf1gq]

Just wanted to say Thank you for the childhood memories it was fun to watch the Mythbusters and you Adam made it more funny for everyone, just, thank you

[@furbyfubar]

I'm not even a 3D-printer guy, so this won't affect me personally in any way as I'm not likely to ever print one of these. But: The main feature I would wish for is an outgoing gear on one side of the module that only has teeth that move there when 9 becomes 0. If the other side of the module had a gear with all its teeth, and that gear was an alternate way of triggering the "move up by one digit" mechanism, then you could print a frame that fits several of these snugly together and have a thing that can count from 0 to (10^n)-1 where n is however many modules you've connected together. It's not even a complaint or "I wish someone would do this", as this feels like something that surely someone *has* already done! But again, given that I'm not about to print this myself I'm not going to go down the rabbit hole of trying to find that file.

[@LoreleiBlaine]

literally had the exact same thought! a mechanical carry bit like a adder circuit would be so cool

[@trogo5858]

The dude is a national treasure! 😂

[@ElectroBlep]

It is so cool to see you putting this together! It has been on my "to print" list for a while, but I've been to busy making my own stuff to take a break and make this yet. Hopefully soon. I want to keep it on the kitchen counter as a fun and easy way to keep track of how many glasses of water I drink each day.

[@bradmullaerialphotography]

I love those old flipper signs, I still have a working alarm clock from the early 90’s. Love it

[@timcox3856]

Wonderful! I would love to see Adam assemble one of Steve Peterson's 3d printed mechanical clocks!

[@GlennBrockett]

I made an earlier version of this last year. I like the improvements that have been made.(Mostly the cam wheel shrouds.)

[@Silver_Semtexagon]

Man, what i wouldn't give for a tour of Adam's "man cave" all the crafts, the special detals of things, artistic, mechanical, props, nerf stuff... I'm just a guy in my 30's and this would make a wish of mine come true... Despite me knowing it will never happen. 😅

[@Crayphor]

Adam Savage out here living my dream life.

[@mikehodson7220]

I've printed two of these, and one of the doubles. Great model.

[@jeromethiel4323]

Back in the 70's and 80's, almost all sports scoreboards were mechanical. Sure, there might have been lights on the display, but it was all driver by stepper motors and big rotary switches. So if you clicked the score uptick once to many, you often had to click it around another 9 times to get it back down to where it was supposed to be. And no automatic carry, if you needed to add 7 to an existing score of 7, you had to click the 1's place 6 times to get it to 4, then click the tens place one, so that the score read 14. I actually was given one of these, that "fell off the back of a truck." In reality i'm sure some buttmunch stole it from a school somewhere. But i found it very enlightening back then, as i was just starting out my magical journey into electricity and electronics.

[@martinlewis645]

Thank you for the ... 11, 12. Good memories.

[@solarstormgames]

This was a cool segment! Love it! miss those displays

[@MrQuallzin]

I printed an earlier version of this a while ago. Looks like some of the issues I had with my print have been fixed in this current version, so I'm definitely going to reprint this!

[@tymonjames8577]

What a cool piece of engineering!

[@denissavoie4123]

Looks like this will be my weekend project! I have a textured build plate, hoping that won't be a problem for the sliding parts. 😊

[@RoadsterRyan]

My favorite mechanical counter has always been the countdown timer from the tv show "LOST". Could be a cool build

[@HonorableLoki]

Tfw Adam has the same text tone as me which sent me on a journey to find my phone. only to me finding it and rolling the video back to make sure i'm not losing it.

[@cfwheezy]

This is one of those perfect videos that just made me smile this morning. Love it

[@trentverstegen4623]

Love the show Adam, Great work.

[@endall39]

Always appreciate you, and what you share. Thank you, Adam.

[@HansMilling]

I remember these flip wheel displays at the stations. It was not a flip for each letter but just big pages with all information, that would update by rotating to the one with proper information.

[@Mr-Merchant.]

Adam can be get a Speedmaster video, from one Speedmaster guy to another, I know a lot of people would love it! Maybe even see a few of your other watches! Ive been waiting years for another watch video!

[@silaaron]

Living near Albany, NY I find myself getting salty when someone from just outside of NYC calls it Upstate NY... So your "Upstate NY" to "Westchester County" correction was very heartwarming! Thank you!

[@bigmike485]

Sadly “upstate” is a relative term. In WNY it’s ADK, in ADK it’s Alex Bay, in UWS it’s 110th 😅

[@Erik-R]

As someone else who's lived near Albany for years, I think almost everyone agrees that Albany is upstate, or at the very least falls on the border 😆

[@NotOnLand]

Now the whole world knows "Upstate New York" as Albany and Utica thanks to Steamed Hams

[@yommish]

I’d say north of I-84 is upstate, if not further south. Albany is definitely upstate for me.

[@DavidNewkirk]

The sounds and noises in this video are paid actors 😂

[@chungin955]

thats what i love about 3d printing there is soooooo many mechanical things to make and build

[@delscoville]

The wonderful sound of the Grand Central Station mechanical display . . . while fighting off all other sounds.

[@michaelogden6285]

Your videos make me so happy. Thank you Adam

[@andrewguiant]

This video reminds me of the rare (luckily rare) when filming my home tours that a dog starts barking, next a loud car drives through the shot, then the landscapers start with the blowers, of course comes the garbage truck, followed by a low battery on a smoke detector. Glad it all happens on the same day. Just have to push through lol. Very professional

[@p0mp3ymatt]

What a beautiful sounding doorbell...who knew Adam Savage is a Pompey fan!?

[@IanTheWoodchuck]

I find that my favorite lubrication for 3d-printed parts tends to be either lithium grease or graphite powder. Some filament materials don't do as well with oils being applied. Strange things like plastic discoloring or even breaking down starts to happen, and lithium grease and graphite powder tend to be the most stabilized and reliable after a few months or years of use.

[@balaam_7087]

@18:00 Ok you got a smile out of me with that Sesame Street throwback 😅

[@flyhyland]

'I bet you can't even count to ten.' 3D Printed Object: 'So?'

[@StepNineGroup]

I can only count to foour!

[@wolfbrave4866]

3D Printed object: Just print another one of me.

[@LindenMartin]

if you count the numbers it can display, that is 10 numbers - it can represent 10 numbers :p

[@oisinogorman35]

liking just for the comedic value of all of the interuptions. hilarious.

[@TheRealAlpha2]

"11, 12." Sometimes, it's the little things that you do that I appreciate the most. Also this is another fun looking build that'd I'd love to do if I ever got a 3D printer.

[@loganwills1814]

The Link to the website outtakes just keep getting better and better

[@robertdarby7197]

Love the signs (props) from the show!!!

[@SmallBlogV8]

The thing about the mechanical train info boards resetting reminds me of (IIRC) London Waterloo when they had something similar. A new train entered the fray or one of them left, and all the departure boards made an applause-like noise to move all the info across to the next board for the new train.

[@JibunnoKage-YouTube-Channel]

Now I am trying to guess what 'noise' will happen next, and I am only 2:30 into the video! LOL

[@GarrettPDGA]

If I had a 3d printer, mechanical puzzle/model kits would fill my house.

[@abelsullivan2712]

You should get one! These days you can get one for ~$300 (or less in some cases) that is easy to use and produces excellent quality prints!

[@GarrettPDGA]

@abelsullivan2712 I have a serious plastic addiction already, and I've done everything in my power not to even try a 3D printer. That's a dark rabbit hole

[@joeyverliesharen]

@@abelsullivan2712 I got mine for 170 euros. I've spent like 40 euros on upgrades, but those were mostly quality of life upgrades, mainly making things quieter. That 170 euro is totally usable out of the box.

[@abbofun9022]

@@GarrettPDGAah! But it’s such a pleasant rabbit hole 😊

[@GarrettPDGA]

@abbofun9022 might just have to propose one for my workplace, then 🤔

[@Taylorisafarmeryo]

It would be super cool to see some servos attached to a couple of those and a PLC or something and make a running clock. These videos really make me want to get a 3d printer....

[@transmundanium]

I remember Heathrow airport had one of those electromechanical sign boards. It was AWESOME. I was so very sad when they went digital.

[@notahotshot]

7:58 Johnny 5 appreciates your policy of no disassemble.

[@RPKGameVids]

Fran will be watching this one!

[@tomholroyd7519]

it's completely amazing you can "quick and dirty" something like that these days

[@charlescarter4080]

I LOVE Grand Central. There was a little deli there back in the early 90's and they had the best bodega bagel sandwiches. I also got used to using BART when I lived in the Bay Area.

[@shadedr2061]

I feel like Adam would be the friend that you invite over when you get a new massive Lego set in to help go through the instructions and just generally have fun building it.

[@markburban9573]

Omg, perfect solution for my archery club.. thanks for the project!

[@brianhawthorne7603]

I am so glad to know I am not the only person who sings that song every time he says rubber band.

[@VectorLog]

Pretty cool that Adam Savage has his own dedicated UPS guy

[@Dardrum]

Well, Adam Savage is special, so what did you expect lol

[@SegginsProductions]

Kinda like how Casey neistat did when he was in New York😂

[@TheBayru]

My favourite mechanical counter of my youth was the teensy counting wheels with reset in casetteplayers.

[@imperfectsguitarsounds]

Not only the photos are excel files, but everything, including every form of life, is an excel file. We are discrete creature that live in a discrete universe and, in my physical interpretation of reality, also the time is quantized. Anyway, great project e cool build as always. Would be very interesting a machining aluminium version.

[@meltormeyham]

I imagine Adam doing a live stream with all the bits and super chats etc linked bells and audio snippets would be like the first 2 min of this video.

[@justinrodgers1485]

There is a brewery in Orlando called Deadwords that has one of those old flat wheel (flapwheel?) signs behind their bar. They have info on the process of brewing and other factoids about beer that it cycles through. It's so cool!