I've always been fascinated by the movements of insects and other small animals, especially worms, larvae and caterpillars. I thought to combine this fascination with my more recent fascination for the conversion of constant mechanical movement into intermittent mechanical movement.

This is a simple, abstract automaton of a caterpillar crawling in circles on a leaf. It's based on, but not quite accurate to what is commonly known as an inchworm, the larval stage of the Geometer Moth.

Anyway! You simply turn the crank and watch as the caterpillar crawls its way around the leaf!

I used mostly standard settings for all parts except the caterpillar itself, as the tolerances are quite forgiving for the mechanical parts. The covers could benefit from some ironing, though I haven't tried it myself at the time of writing.

No supports are needed if all items are orientated in the intended way. The raw model files have the crank and its handle oriented in a bad-for-printing way.

The caterpillar is a delicate part, and requires Arachne wall generation for best chance of a successful print, as well as making it more durable