We investigate the earthquake cycle by using an energy-controlled rotary shear machine (ECoR) on simulated faults made of a transparent rock analog (PMMA). As in natural earthquakes, ECoR allows (a) large elastic energy, which is accumulated in a clock-spring, and is released “by-demand” from the slipping fault, and (b) spontaneous nucleation and propagation of multiple styles of slip events. ECoR is equipped with high-speed cameras and transducers to monitor stress, displacement, temperature, and acoustic emissions. We performed experiments at normal stresses of ∼3.5 MPa and spring loading rates of 0.15-2.5 MPa/s. The high-speed cameras (10 kfps) revealed precursor events (foreshocks) as failures of discrete, millimetric portions of the slipping surface, with associated acoustic emissions. We also observed the presence of tremors prior to single precursor events. A few fault phases are recognized: (A) multiple, small stick-slip events with 3.3–6.4 s frequency, 0.5–0.7 MPa stress drops, and 3–7 mm displacements. In phases (B-C), multiple slip events associated with local melts at 0.5–0.9 s frequency, leading to a major slip event with ~5 MPa stress drop and up to 3 cm displacement. Samples produce high-frequency AEs during slip acceleration and deceleration; (D) Once the bulk temperature reaches ∼110°C, a “final”, silent, long displacement event occurs. The experimental observations suggest pre-conditioning of the fault zone by damage and melt formation that modulates the coseismic (flash melting, melt lubrication, and viscous braking) and interseismic (welding) stages.