clickspring
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[STATUS] - May 2018 (Update May 16th, 6:30pm AEST)
🕑 Added 2018-04-02 08:20:55 +0000 UTC (Update May 16th, 9:00pm AEST)(short movie) - using a test bar between centers to test the WM250V tailstock alignment - the tailstock aligns well and has good repeatability. The overall machine is also quite good, with just a few negative issues - more detail in the next TGT
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(Update May 13th, 6:30am AEST)
Edit and post prod is finally complete - Episode 7 is on its way to you now folks, it will be up in a few hours :)
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(Update May 3rd, 8:00pm AEST)
Into the post prod for this episode, very pleased with how the mechanism is performing.
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(Update April 30th, 8:30pm AEST)
The "bit" component of the pump drill is also proving effective when used freehand (without the flywheel and driving mechanism) to form the fastening pin cross holes for the assemblies. Its much slower of course, but it gives complete sensitivity when making very small precisely located holes in these tricky little parts.
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(Update April 29th, 9:30am AEST)
Once depthed, the process of setting the extraordinarily close clearances begins. Small spacer components like this are the key. In this case the spacer is the flange seating of the G bearing, and the overall "height" of this bearing controls the height of the G assembly. I made the spacer slightly oversize, and then carefully abraded it to reduce its thickness. This reduced the overall height of the bearing assembly and so set the required clearance of the G and F assemblies. Simply rubbing on a flat abrasive surface is all that is required, until only the barest daylight clearance is observed (for scale, the wheels/pinions in this pic are 1.5mm thick, and I estimate the vertical clearance to be about 0.05mm).
These spacers appear in many critical assemblies throughout the mechanism, and I am now thoroughly convinced that their primary purpose was to permit this simple fitting technique to be employed, and so make absolute measurement unnecessary.
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(Update April 26th, 9:30pm AEST)
A very simple tool for depthing the F assembly - I suspect the F assembly was specifically made to permit this sort of depthing, due to the risk of accuracy problems when fitting the G pivot block - Its difficult to be certain that the filed square will be exactly where it needs to be, but designing the assembly to run on a post permits a simple tool like this to solve the issue.
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(Update April 24th, 7:15pm AEST)
I'm getting a bit more confident with the pump drill, its getting plenty of use in this next video - It is so weird having to learn how to use a tool from scratch, a bit like learning to ride a bike for the first time. I've figured out that easing off on the pressure of the down stroke reduces the rate of cut, and so improves the internal surface finish of the hole. Plenty of room for improvement though!
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(Update April 23rd, 6:00pm AEST)
Fastening in progress of E4 to the E3 platform. Even in the relatively straight forward compound train function that it is presently limited to here, this is a beautiful piece of engineering design. Yet incredibly, this is just the start. More components will be added to the assembly in a later video to complete its dual role of being both an epicyclic platform (that simultaneously models the lunar phase and orbital precession), and the driver of the Saros/Exeligmos train. Truly astounding.
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(Update April 21st, 8:00pm AEST)
One of the more delicate fitting jobs of the build - E4 to E3
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(Update April 19th, 6:30pm AEST)
From a couple of days ago, the tiny lugs for the E assembly. I can't help but see Sidney Nolan's Ned... http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130926-ned-kelly-man-in-the-iron-mask
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(Update April 15th, 6:30pm AEST)
These little fasteners secure the E4 ring gear to the E3 platform, and somehow have a much greater impact on the overall aesthetic of the machine than their tiny size suggests they should.
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(Update April 12th, 7:00pm AEST)
Filing up the 188 teeth for E4, the ring gear that sits on E3 and drives the Saros train.
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(Update April 9th, 9:30pm AEST)
The first hole drilled in the mechanism using the pump drill - a pilot hole that was then followed by the correct size for a temporary bearing - Very happy with the way the tool is cutting, its making clean bright chips.
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(Update April 7th, 6:30pm AEST)
B1 has the iconic shape that everyone remembers, but E3 is the beating heart of the calendrical/lunar phase aspect of the mechanism - It acts as an epicyclic platform for the lunar phase display gearing (travelling at the rate of the precession of the lunar orbit), and at the same time is central to the eclipse prediction gearing - 223 teeth, approx 1mm high, all marked out and ready for filing.
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(Update April 3rd, 7:30pm AEST)
The Exeligmos, or "Triple Saros" pointer in progress - this pointer indicates the 0, +8 or +16 hour additive that is added to a given eclipse possibility prediction, thus shifting its location 0, 120Β°, or 240Β° around the globe. One full Exeligmos cycle (ie 3 x Saros), and the eclipse again occurs at almost the same location and time as the eclipse of 3 iterations previous (there is a very slight latitude shift Northward or Southward dependent on other factors). A typical Saros cycle repeats in this manner for well over a thousand years.
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This is the small block of metal (16mm x 8mm x 28mm) that acts as a pivot support for both the H and I (Exeligmos) assemblies of the Saros train (seen in the background). There will be a small bite taken out of the top left curved section later to accommodate the D assembly, as the 127 tooth wheel of that assembly slightly intrudes on the support blocks footprint within the mechanism. The Maker was not at all averse to solving clearance issues this way, and there are several such clearance notches throughout the mechanism.
- Edit - Some pics of an old friend :)
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Comments
Maarten Daalder
Thanks! That does appear to be it. I could have sworn I have seen all the video's... Guess it's reason enough to watch them again. :)
Clickspring
That was very generous of him! I think maybe this video? <a href="https://youtu.be/6bM3Jhy_3TU?t=4m31s" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/6bM3Jhy_3TU?t=4m31s</a>
Clickspring
Thank you mate, fixed :)
Maarten Daalder
You were mentioned by Adam Savage recently: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PQul0uH_oc" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PQul0uH_oc</a> He mentions an (old?) video of yours, do you happen to know which one?
Sondre Ninive Andersen
Hey Chris! Loving reading through the updates. There seems to be a small slip-up in the April 15th update. The link to the image leads to the bbc story from the next update.
Matthew Thomas
Thanks for the book recommendation! I'm still looking hard for a machinery's handbook that isn't going to blow up my bank account - most book stores ask for $200+ AUD so in terms of machining literature i'm suffering quite a bit...
David Paterson
Matt, If you can pick up a copy of Harold Halls 'Milling, a complete course', the workshop practice series number 35, the first half of the book is devoted to simple making of things such as clamps and other holding devices. It is available from lots of places on the web. Additionally, have a look at the projects on his website <a href="http://www.homews.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.homews.co.uk/</a> which has most of the stuff and more other ideas than you could use in a lifetime.
Matthew Thomas
Thanks Chris, a wealth of knowledge as always! I will hop to it tomorrow after uni =)
Clickspring
OK understood - get a section of mild steel that can fit in the wide section of the T slot, and occupy most of its depth ie replicate the cross bar dimensions of the "T", hand drill and then hand tap for the fastener size that will hold your vise, make two and cut to approx 1" length. These can be temp nuts to get you started, to fasten the vise to the table. Then 1st project is to make a set of "proper" T nuts as per the mill table slot dimensions - yes on the indicator/clock. You can pick up the Chinese import dial test indicators pretty cheap, and will be quite ok to kick things off - Cheers :)
Matthew Thomas
I have a pretty big Mill, SX3L - extremely similar to yours if not the same, the clamping set comes with T nuts and threaded bar for clamps, stepped machine clamps etc unfortunately it's gone missing in the mail, wondering if there's an alternative until i find a replacement clamping set. I should be able to clear up that grease stuff with the steptone oil remover clocking up the back of the vise require one of those clocks you put in the mill chuck?
Clickspring
Hey mate - I fasten my vise to the table with T nuts that match the table slots and standard bolts and washers - can yours be done the same? Re setting up the vise - give it a good clean to get all of the cosmoline off it, and then once firmly fastened to the table, indicate in the back face to be parallel with the X axis, and then start making chips :)
Matthew Thomas
Hey Chris! Just purchased a vise and clamping set for the mill however the clamping set went missing in the mail -- I want to machine up the gyroscope you made in an old video but without the clamping set I can't bolt the new vise to the mill, any advice? Also is there anything I should do to the vise before hand? Thanks! You're a legend
Clickspring
Ha ha! Always on the PC, the editing never ends! Are you guys taking pics of the build as you go along? If so, would love to see some - Cheers :)
David Paterson
Thanks Chris; you must camp on this 24/7 ;-)
Clickspring
I'll be back onto it next month mate. This month has been well and truly absorbed with the latest AM episode - Cheers :)
David Paterson
Hi Chris, any word on the next update of the Byzantine Calendar? We are running out of work!
Clickspring
Beautiful work Franco, and also very well documented too - thank you for sharing mate :)
franco pucci
I recently finished building this guy <a href="http://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Metric_Minnie_build.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Metric_Minnie_build.html</a> after two years and had no previous experience in machining. If I had watched your videos earlier I could probably have saved myself a good few months!
franco pucci
Thank you Chris.
Clickspring
Hey Franco, I get mine from Meadows & Passmore in the UK: <a href="http://www.m-p.co.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.m-p.co.uk</a>
franco pucci
Hello Chris, where do you get your black shellac sticks from?
Clickspring
Thank you mate, will do :)
Stanley Chang
Patron. Keep doing what you do.
franco pucci
In fact you sounded remarkably like Chris there...
Brent Moore
Anyone else hear Chrisβs voice in your head when you read the updates?
Clickspring
Awesome Kendall, I'm so pleased for you mate :)
Kendall Austin
I was an electronics tech at work. But watching your videos spoke to me. When a slot opened up in the machinist department I took a temporary cut in pay to move into that slot... Best move I ever made. I've never been happier at work... thank you!
Clickspring
Cheers Franco :)
franco pucci
And I thought I had patience... excellent job!
Clickspring
Cheers David :)
David Tawater
Your attention to detail makes this build so much eye candy to behold
Clickspring
Cheers Tony :)
Tony Hammitt
This is really awesome, you could teach a college course on the mechanism and tooling
Clickspring
Thank you mate, I very much appreciate your kind words and support :)
Nelson Collar
Your skeleton clock deserves the mirror behind it. That is a beautiful build and very grateful to have been able to follow from a vary far distance. Please don't stop impressing the world with your talent.
Nelson Collar
Chris
Clickspring
Thank you mate :)
PeetieGonzalez
I eagerly await your next video update. Hope all goes well, Chris.
Clickspring
Ha ha! Cheers Wes!
Wes Baker
And then you'd defeat the whole purpose! (History, time. time-keeping mechanisms.....!) Cheers form Azalea blooming, Alabama!
Clickspring
If there's one thing I'd wish for, its that I could do this all a lot faster :)
Clickspring
Cheers mate :)
John P
As always, Chris, the worst part about your work is waiting for the next video.
Gary Knight
Stunning is exactly the right word. Thanks for the update Chris
Matt Syme
Fair enough mate, I understand that, glad you guys had a proper catch up with out the cameras. Looking forward to next time!
John Saunders (NYC CNC)
John Saunders here - Chris and I had a great time meeting and talking - but we both took a break from filming ;) Maybe next time?
Matt Syme
Stunning, looks so clean it could be a rendering, I love it. Is there a video with John Saunders coming soon? Or just John's video?
Brian Ballsun-Stanton
Oh that looks so amazing still. And it's wonderful that it's holding time.
Clickspring
I just shot a couple of snaps for you Brian, links in the post text above. Not much to report - its starting to patinate nicely, holding time within about 30 seconds per week.
Brian Ballsun-Stanton
Speaking of your monthly status (yay!) Do you have any pictures of how your skeleton clock is holding up?
