I recently came across a YouTube video showing how to use a rotary damper in a ball rolling machine. YouTube Title: Build an Openable Marble Machine! As soon as I saw it, I realized that I had to experiment with this mechanism. I plan to use it to make the mechanical launch of kinetic art smooth and slow. In the past, my mechanical trigger designs would have been too strong and caused all sorts of problems. The slow and steady release of energy is designed to ensure a smooth transition. I found the return had more resistance than I thought. One solution to making the reset direction less restrictive is to use a small ratchet wrench.