Making Clock Face

[Don EggletonParticipant @doneggleton98541]

I Would like to cut the face for this clock. Can a member recommend a program to run on my Arceurotrade KX1 Mill to do this. Don

[Don EggletonParticipant @doneggleton98541]

John Wilding’s Clock Makers Regulator

[Jeff ChilverParticipant @jeffchilver13861]

I don't know anything about the kx1 mill but I use Partmaster from Dolphin Cad/Cam to do all my programming and post processing ( it will work with most systems ). You can trial it for free but it will not post process without a licence . If you ring them in Edinburgh they will sell you a hobby license but it ain't cheap . Have made several clock faces this way plus loads of other work .

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

f-engrave works well and is free. You can generate g-code from text (it includes a simple text editor) or from bitmap files – the latter might be better for this application. I have used it to engrave two commemorative plaques and also for a couple of loco nameplates – the latter from a bitmap.

This is a picture from my albums, I posted on the workshop progress thread at the beginning of the year. It would be interesting to know how you get on, I've got to make a clock face sometime soon.

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Don, you didn't say what OS you are using: according to the website, f-engrave requires Linux.

Fusion 360 is free for enthusiasts and has a built-in CAM processor (one of the very best available) with post processors for a large number of g-code dialects, including Mach3.

(I tried to setup links to websites, but the Link icon seems unresponsive.)

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

There is a Windows version of f-engrave, there must be as I don't have Linux on my pc!

[Peter BellParticipant @peterbell11509]

There are lots of examples of dials on this forum with some very good advice as well so I am sure you will soon find how to do it in a way that suits you.

I use Vcarve pro on my KX3 (trail version is free) and I have drawn the attached dial but havent got round to cutting it yet. Looking forward to having time!

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Posted by John Haine on 19/04/2017 08:11:09:

There is a Windows version of f-engrave, there must be as I don't have Linux on my pc!

Just scroll down the page I linked to previous to find a table with links to various versions. Though the original work on which it was based ran under Linux, as far as I can see the executable is only available for Windows.

Peter, that's a very nice looking dial!  What clock is it for?

Edited By John Haine on 19/04/2017 08:50:13

[geoff adamsParticipant @geoffadams14047]

do you have a drawing I could make g code for you does your machine run on mach 3

[Peter BellParticipant @peterbell11509]

The dial is for the John Wilding Regulator, its been running nicely now for a couple of year, it really deserves finishing off, only been on with it since 1988.

Seeing other nice examples of this and other clocks on this forum has truly inspired me.

Peter

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Peter, this clock is a real cracker and not too difficult for a model engineers first clock.The build booklet helped me a lot and was well worth the cost.

I'm afraid that I cheated with my face, I drew it up in DesignCad which I had just purchased but cut the concentric rings on the lathe with the intention of using my vertical miller to cut the figures BUT THEN!!! the company I worked for took delivery of a new CNC miller and the operator was looking for something to test it on. Out of concern for the company's wellbeing, I offered to let them practice on my clockfaces (I needed two as I was also making a clock for a friend) and the result came out very well.

I was going to attempt to make the case but the clock came out so well that I went to a maker and restorer of furniture in Derbyshire who made a superb job in American Oak and even fitted toughened glass.

All the best with your clock.

Brian

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