Clockwork using Galileo's Escapement

prusaprinters

<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/566869934"></oembed></figure><p>Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. &nbsp;What lies between the beats of time? Rythme. Satisfying to build, watch and listen.&nbsp;</p><p>I was having a lot of trouble seeing the proper angles for designing a deadbeat escapement from scratch, so I started to research. &nbsp;I came across a picture of Galileo's pendulum clock: <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Galileo_Pendulum_Clock.jpg">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Galileo_Pendulum_Clock.jpg</a> and became enamored with its escapement design. It's really a simple, clever device and I wanted to try it out.&nbsp;</p><p>It should be noted that Galileo's design is just an idea and was not fully completed. There really is no point for me to remake the model part for part; it's been done before. Instead, I decided to make my own clock and use Galileo's escapement as inspiration. The result is a working demostration of how a pendulum can be used to regulate drive into moments of time.&nbsp;</p><p>This was a great learning experience. I tried to make things as simple as possible while keeping the seperate parts distinguishable. The primary color scheme is a bit much, but I wanted all the functions to show.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Hardware Needed:</strong></p><ul><li>15x Standard 608 Bearings (from skateboards and fidget spinners). Bearings are used as pivot points and weights. You can substitute something else for the eight [8] bearings used as drive weight.</li><li>Fishing Line, string or maybe a thin chain. Floss would even probably work. This will be the drive line.</li></ul><p><strong>Build Notes:</strong></p><ul><li>The models should be relatively easy to print if you don't have bed adhesion and level problems.</li><li>In a couple interations, the nut/bushing seemed a little too tight at the top of the hole (bottom of the print). I think it's elephant footing. I reamed the bushings with a utility knife and then they all work smoothly.</li><li>There is no cleareance for the 22mm diameter bearings, so you may need to tap them on the ground with a blunt object. Just a few light taps to work it in. It's fun to hit stuff.&nbsp;</li><li>The drive wheel has a bearing on each side, all the other gears have one bearing, pressed into the back side.&nbsp;</li><li>The pendulum base is the only part that needs support. It prints on its side (as the stl is currently placed)</li><li>I included the gcode for all prints with stops for color changes.</li><li>Print the pendulum pieces straight up one or two at a time. These are the hardest to print because of its height and small base. Totally do-able though. &nbsp;</li></ul><p><strong>Update 23/6/21</strong> - I finished printing all the parts this morning and it works! &nbsp;It works well too. Finally, time to publish. It's a little loud and I broke a couple pegs letting the drive wheel run freely but it's alive. It's awesome. It just keeps ticking away without a motor or anything. The time wheel currently rotates about once every 20 seconds, so it's a 20 second timer I guess. I'll print a new escape wheel and embed a video soon. Then some build notes.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Update 24/6/21</strong> - Adding or subtracting to the length of the pendulum makes the clock run slower or faster. This can be used to tune the clock. I find I can get just about 30 secs for a full rotation of the time indicator gear by using four [4] pieces of pendulum connected together and one bearing on the bottom.</p>