Here is a picture of a 3D printed clock I am working on. The gear profiles and escapement were designed using Gearotic with additional CAD work in TurboCAD.
It is currently running with a 5 pound weight providing a 4 day run time with 4 feet of drop. It appears to have an accuracy within a few minutes per hour. The finial below the pendulum allows almost 2 inches of length adjustment. I just got it assembled yesterday and it runs for a couple of hours before stopping. When it stops, the energy at the escapement is completely gone, so there must be a burr on one of the gears. The plan is to add a pulley to provide 8 days running with 10 pounds of weight.
The total print time of all the components is somewhere around 40 hours on a Prusa MK3. Everything is PLA except the shafts, weights, and a few bearings. It has bearings for the winding drum and pendulum support.
Steve
3D printed clock
Re: 3D printed clock
Looks good!
Kirk
Kirk
Re: 3D printed clock
Here is an update on the clock project. I filed off the crows feet from the parts of the gears that touch the build plate and the clock runs great. It has a lot more power and has been running continuously for about 3 days now. I re-printed 2 gears to try for an 8 day run time, but it did not seem stable enough so I went back to the 4 day gear set.
The accuracy is about 1 minute per day, however it is speeding up slightly as everything breaks in. I suspect that it should stabilize in a week or two.
I have a question for any clock experts. Should the pivots be lubricated? They are 1/8" stainless steel shafts running in 0.005" oversized PLA holes. This seems to provide a fairly low friction surface. I am worried that oil would attract dust and wear out faster than if they are kept dry.
thanks
Steve
The accuracy is about 1 minute per day, however it is speeding up slightly as everything breaks in. I suspect that it should stabilize in a week or two.
I have a question for any clock experts. Should the pivots be lubricated? They are 1/8" stainless steel shafts running in 0.005" oversized PLA holes. This seems to provide a fairly low friction surface. I am worried that oil would attract dust and wear out faster than if they are kept dry.
thanks
Steve
Re: 3D printed clock
Hi Steve
I don?t consider myself an expert but I have some clock building experience with 34 clocks to my credit. The very first clock I built is all wood that is wooden gears, wooden plates, and wooden arbors. No bearings or anything like that, this clock has been ticking faithfully since 2005. I have never used any lubrication of any kind. As you noted wooden clocks do break in with time.
I don?t consider myself an expert but I have some clock building experience with 34 clocks to my credit. The very first clock I built is all wood that is wooden gears, wooden plates, and wooden arbors. No bearings or anything like that, this clock has been ticking faithfully since 2005. I have never used any lubrication of any kind. As you noted wooden clocks do break in with time.
1% inspiration 99% try, try again
Re: 3D printed clock
Steve:
Truly great. I know how much work went into designing and making that in a 3d printer, colour me impressed. Really nice job! .
Generally, I try to stay away from lube in a clock, Im not a perfectionist though, if I need it Ill add it
depending on the situation..
Art
Truly great. I know how much work went into designing and making that in a 3d printer, colour me impressed. Really nice job! .
Generally, I try to stay away from lube in a clock, Im not a perfectionist though, if I need it Ill add it
depending on the situation..
Art
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Re: 3D printed clock
I have found graphite dust (locksmith stuff) makes 3d printed sliding pieces glide smoothly and evenly,
hopefully not wearing the plastic away
hopefully not wearing the plastic away
Re: 3D printed clock
Thanks for the feedback and kind words. I will keep it dry for now and try a dry lube if it starts to wear.
The great thing about a 3D printed clock is that it is easy to print another frame if the pivots wear out.
Steve
The great thing about a 3D printed clock is that it is easy to print another frame if the pivots wear out.
Steve
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