UGEARS STEM lab - Variator mechanical model

The UGEARS STEM Lab Variator is a mechanical model kit that makes the operation of a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, easy to understand. At its core are two cones and a belt stretched between them. Changing the distance between the cones shifts the belt and so alters the gear ratio, which shows how the transmission varies speed without fixed steps. The model contains 104 parts and takes about four hours to assemble. The finished model measures 16.8 x 12.8 x 10.6 cm.

The kit also includes UGEARS' own augmented reality app. By scanning the QR code and using the AR view, you can look more closely at the internal structure and see how the components work together, which makes the mechanism more tangible than a static diagram.

CVT transmissions are used mainly in sawmill machinery, garden tractors, snowmobiles, scooters and conveyor drives. In Europe, Ford and Fiat were among the first to use the design in cars, with metal belts. This model suits students and anyone curious about how engineering solutions work.