# Geneva Mechanism

[![bwente](https://cuttle-uploads.imgix.net/156/ce80f76bfee5b9775d180699ae80a91886b5760443b0dccf7030803dd1dbfc81.jpg?auto=compress,format&q=80&fit=crop&width=32&height=32&dpr=1)wijitworks](https://cuttle.xyz/@bwente)

Nov 22, 2022 (updated Dec 2, 2022)

Public

The **Geneva drive** or **Maltese cross** is a [gear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear) mechanism that translates a continuous [rotation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotation) movement into intermittent rotary motion.

![](https://cuttleusercontent.com/156/d7df5c9984109c2ca60f7aab1a51db1f0b578cddcdede5d43be9f67536e2a1ee.gif)

The _rotating drive_ [wheel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel) is usually equipped with a [pin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin) that reaches into a slot located in the other wheel (_driven wheel_) that advances it by one step at a time. The drive wheel also has an elevated circular blocking disc that "locks" the rotating driven wheel in position between steps.

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6wNDdR6HAw)

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/w6wNDdR6HAw)

I used this diagram to make my formulas. I calculated _v_ not sure how to use it though.

![](https://cuttle-uploads.imgix.net/156/5a9129b20bd4c3574b257a72dc02a229b42dbfdb3d4308a57b12f7b4f07468d9.png?auto=compress,format&q=80&fit=max&width=700&height=1280&dpr=1)

Makes & Comments

You must be a member of Cuttle Pro to post in this area.