Fibre optic clock

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

 

I have had a few requests to post some pics of my work on a different kind of clock. I first had the idea for this clock THIRTY TWO years ago, but i had neither the time or means to do anything about it untill a few years ago. I am using the build as a means of learning how to use my lathe and milling machine. It will no doubt be quite a while before it is finished, as i am not working to any drawings, but making it up as i go. The face of the clock will be the last part to be made, and will have the fibre optics arranged around the edge, and the will light up in turn to show the time. So here are a few pics of the thing so far I will try to answer any questions as best i can for anyone interested. More pics are in my photo album.

   Why can i never get these posts with pics to come out in the right order ????

Cheers Derek

Edited By magpie on 13/12/2012 19:12:33

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

A clock that uses fibre optics to show the time (a work in progress)

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

Hi Magpie, Looks like you are a very fast learner. Brilliant workmanship.

Regards, Bear..

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

It looks beautiful!

I don't profess to know what the shafts and gears (and flywheel?) do, Oh! I see the small hour drum now

I presume the holes in the drum are 60 'wide'? so you have seconds round the edge. how is the hour displayed?

Looking at what you have already made I don't think you need to do any more learning.

Ian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Looking Good, Derek !!

Please keep posting the pics.

MichaelG.

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Hi Derek ,

Nice to see something a bit different .

So the holes in the drums are codes which via individual optic fibres show time on a dial ?. Actually not codes just sequential ?

What fascinated me when I saw the pictures was that despite the clock being brand new and using modern technology the actual basic mechanism is ancient – its essentially the works from a musical box .

I like that – time and time again in engineering history something has been designed , used for a while , forgotten and then rediscovered for a new application . It is actually sometimes deliberately looking through old books and junk in museums just to see what forgotten gems may be hiding there .

Music box , chiming clock , automated machinery , code making and code breaking machines , computer mechanisms and now your clock – all in the same basic development sequence – I wonder if there is another application yet to be thought of ?

I look forward to seeing more pictures of your clock as it develops .

Best wishes ,

Michael Williams .

[SiddleyParticipant @siddley]

I like that a LOT – my first thought was that it resembles a mechanical crypto machine in some respects ( as Michael Williams mentions above )

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Thank you one and all gents for the very kind comments. I have a confession to make, I did not make the helical gears that drive the seconds unit. They are way beyond my skill level, I did make the ratchet wheels on a home made dividing head which was also used for drilling all the holes, and all those ops were done on my X1L mill. The helical gears came from some M.O.D. scrap,and the rest of the clock has been made from many grades of brass, all of which came from the scrapyard. I will do a rough sketch of what the finished item will look like, but with more hospital visits due with my wife it may be a few days yet. Ian, all should become clear in the sketch when i get chance to do it.

Cheers Derek.

P.S. I honestly never thought of the music box connection, but i see it now.

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

There would appear to be a bit of interest so here are the latest bits. The first pic shows that i have now fitted the lever from the motor to the ratchet on the min's cylinder. The next one shows the mount for the LED unit.

 

 

Next one has the bar that will hold the fibres with one fibre in place, the other end of the fibre is shown in a piece of black perspex to give some idea of the effect i am trying to achieve.

Cheers Derek.

Edited By magpie on 10/01/2013 17:32:11

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

Looking better and better Derek

I've seen this in the flesh guys and believe me its a real work of art.

Stew

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

It is fantastic looking. No-one could say that this is an easy option compared to building a 'normal' clock.

Neil

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Hey Stew, flattery will get you anywhere.Neil,i think from my point of view it is an easy option, because i know nothing of escapements and such, and the whole thing is about learning what i can do with my lathe and mill. I have never had any tuition of any kind on these machines and whenever i try machining steel i end up with blunt tools and a rough finish, but brass is much more forgiving. To most folk it would no doubt be more expensive, but EVERY bit of metal i use comes from the scrapyard.

Cheers Derek.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Posted by magpie on 10/01/2013 22:22:46:

…….. but EVERY bit of metal i use comes from the scrapyard.

Cheers Derek.

Sure doesn't look like it…beautiful..

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Inside every bit of scrap is something beautiful trying to get out.

I just wish I could find it…

Neil

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Thanks for all the kind comments gents. Weeeell you asked for it !!!! so here are a few more pics of the thing to date.

 

    

No matter what i try, posts that have pics never come out the way i intended. These are all in the wrong order, still you get the picture ( pun intended ) i suppose.

Cheers Derek.

Edited By magpie on 03/02/2013 22:40:23

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Splendid stuff, Derek

Keep 'em coming … in whatever order

MichaelG.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Lovely work..

Seen a wonderful led clock design that uses LEDs to project a shadow of hour and minute hands onto chapter ring…sort of sundial like…maybe too much an electronic "solution" for your taste but I liked it..

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Agree with all the compliments, when this one is finished you will have been well trained in the use of your lathe and mill to make a "real" clock.

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Thank you for the very kind comments gents. Still a long way to go so you may all be fed up of the thing before it's finished. KWIL, when this one is finished i am "clocking off".

Cheers Derek.

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

Hi Derek, that looks great.

Can I suggest that once you have put all your pictures in the post that you copy and paste the entire line of image code into the order you would like your pics.

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Hi Wolfie

Sorry but i would not have a clue how to do that, that is computer speek and i am an old dinosaur. i will ask my son how to when he comes round again. Question ! does this forum have a new format, because this thread is now very much wider than when i last posted on it 4 days ago ???

Cheers Derek.

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Derek

On my computer this thread hasn't changed appearance at all. I think you may have indavertently changed some settings on your computer.

Try hitting " ctrl-" to see if it comes back to size, "ctrl+" will make it even bigger.

Keith

Edited By Keith Long on 08/02/2013 23:09:27

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

That did the trick, Thanks Keith.

Cheers Derek.

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

 

Got a bit more done at the clock folks so here are a few more pics. The hours unit first in bits, then assembled with a few fibres in to test. The piece of black perspex to the right has a fibre in the top right hand corner to show how they will look when on the clock face, allthough it's not very bright in the pic because LED's are running under voltage. A few pics of the allmost finished mechanism, and one with the face framework in place. This is a very distorted view which seems to show the frame much bigger than it realy is. Hope you like it.

Cheers Derek.

 

Edited By magpie on 09/03/2013 15:55:38

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

Blimey Dek you are a tease you've got us all with our tonges hanging out you're going to have to write this up.

Stew

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