Wood gear electromechanical clock project

[Frederick_P]

This place has some cool wooden clock designs and sell plans with DXF files so the conversion to the CW is a snap: http://www.woodentimes.com/

[DickB]

I cut some test hours gears and reassembled the parts using concentric brass tubing. Everything is working as expected. I need to work on a clutch mechanism between the seconds and minutes gears. This will allow the time to be set by simply moving the minutes hand.



For the actual clock, I'm going to make the pinion gears out of 1/2" hardwood. These will look better and allow for a better fit of the gears. I'm also going to make the arms and gear ring of the larger gears a bit thinner for a more delicate look. For my first clock I will cut the larger gears out of 1/4" Baltic birch, but in the future I may try a hardwood like cherry. I will design some sculpted arms that will be carved instead of cut for a more complex and interesting gear. I have some ideas for a ring with numbers but haven't started that design. I haven't thought much about hands designs. I think I'm going to stick with a single piece frame like the test mule.

My timing motor hasn't arrived yet - I will have to follow up on Monday.

[mtylerfl]

This is a fun thread to follow! The clock is really coming together nicely!

[DickB]

A lot of threads show finished work, but I thought it would be good to follow a work in progress and allow others to make comments and suggestions as the project progresses.

[DickB]

I've been working on the actual clock now. I cut large gears out of 1/4" Baltic birch and pinions out of 7/16" oak. The frame is a simple stick of mahogany which I may or may not shape a little.



I came up with this clutch to disengage the seconds drive in order to set the clock. You just push the button on the back of the clock, then rotate the minutes hands (which drive the hours hands of course) to set the time, then release the button. The seconds hand will keep moving if the motor is running.



Here's a numbers ring design I am working.


I learned that my timing motor is on backorder, but I found another supplier and it may arrive tomorrow.

[JDPratt]

Very cool. I like the spring disengage to set the clock.

[DickB]

I like the style of these, but as it turns out I pushed the envelope pretty hard in making them. They're a bit delicate. The hands are only 1/4" deep at their deepest, and not easy to carve. After putting them on the clock, I decided that they need to be bigger. So I will refine them with a bit more heft and probably use the same 7/16" stock that I used for the pinion gears to make them.

[Kenm810]

Looking better every day!
Thanks for Sharing your Photos

[mtylerfl]

Yes, the project is looking fantastic!

[easybuilt]

That is looking great. I am impressed!