It's actually an awful lot simpler to just use the original construction - CNC cut gears.
Looking back, I am not sure exactly where ba47 is at present. I think he has built the gear version and simply wants to power it with a motor. A "gearmotor" is the obvious solution with some sensors to determine a "home" and any intermediate positions. A version with independent steppers only really makes sense if you want the option to create different patterns.