STUDY OF A FURNACE
This model shows a cutaway view of a twin-chambered furnace, which features a tall tower This furnace can have a tower as tall as you like, so long as it is filled with wood or coal in order that you do not have to be always there.
GOLDFORGING HAMMER
This is a hammer for forging precious metals - such as gold leaves - with the aid of synchronized movements actuated by weights. At each blow, a leaf is moved along automatically so as to receive the next blow. Leonardo also envisaged the possibility that a single source of motive power could operate several hammers at the same time. MACHINE FOR MAKING ROPES
The machine is composed of 15 bracket spools arranged in a semi-circle around a cylinder, positioned so that its axis is parallel to the primary threads to be twisted. The drum is made to rotate by means of a winch, so that the tension exerted on it is adequately balanced out. The spools are spun by thin ropes placed in an alternate manner to the left and to the right of the cylinder. The pin of each spool is held in place in a metal bracket secured to the base of the machine. The position and the tension of the rope are adjusted by means of a wedge placed nearby. MACHINE FOR MAKING MIRRORS
Model (a) depicts one of the machines for making concave mirrors with a short focal distance. The lever transmits a rotary motion both to the abrasive grinding disk and to the lens undergoing the grinding action.
The second machine (b) was designed for making both spherical and parabolic mirrors with a long curvature radius. The machine can simultaneously transmit a rotary motion to a bronze mirror and an alternating motion (backwards and forwards) to a circular copper section (abrasive disk). Pressure can be exerted on the moving abrasive section by applying a weight. This will produce the required curvature on the mirror. Rotation of the mirror can be achieved either by turning a crank or by operating a connecting rod by means of a pedal. ODOMETER
This machine, known since antiquity, is for measuring distance traversed. Leonardo’s odometer looks like a wheelbarrow provided with sprocket wheels. The vertical wheel takes a step with every turn of the hub of the wheel that rests on the ground. The vertical sprocket wheel has on the inside a peg which, at every full revolution, meshes with the horizontal wheel. The latter is provided with holes through which small metal balls or stones are collected into a dedicated holder. The distance traversed can be easily inferred by counting the balls/stones collected.
PILE DRIVER
A machine of great utility in the piling of hydraulic locks, extensively used already in Leonardo's day. It consists in a vertical frame with a hoist for lifting weights.