How do I activate this Dwarven mechanism?

I am on a quest where I must retrieve a sword from the ruins of Mzinchaleft. Well, it's been a long (waaaay too long) and perilous journey, but I finally found the sword and everything will be worth the trouble because of all the loot....but I can't get to it because of this thingy:

Obviously, I missed something but I have no idea what it is. There is a room full of loot that's off-limits until I can figure this thing out! How do I activate this?

Well, you need a special key (and this isn't the only mechanism). In any case, since you don't have it, there should be a lift directly to Skyrim nearby, and you can unlock the route back permanently once you get outside. So it won't be such a long slog, and in any case enemies should stay dead even if you quick travel. The guy* you're looking for is in his outpost on an island north of the College of Winterhold.

* Septimus Signus, significant because he wrote several books related to the Elder Scrolls and is part of the main quest line.

The Dwarven Mechanism you are trying to open is not related to the sword quest. I'm on the sword quest now, and found the sword next to the Centurian master docking station after I killed him.

I'm trying to find out which quest this Dwarven mechanism is for, which is how I stumbled upon your question. I thought I would let you and others know that you don't need to open the mechanism to get the sword.