At 23FEB19 this project is still not complete, but is now closer to being semi-functional! This is mostly because I cannot stop adding stuff onto the mechanism. First, I re-did most of the frames for a sleeker look to include cantilevering the annular gear. This exposes the heart-shaped tourbillon cage more.


To power the system, I added a massive PLA spring mounted opposite the tourbillon in a manner similar to the Cartier Astromysterieux watch.

The Drum works by essentially holding the center of the spring in place while the outer 72T gear drives the carrier via a fixed sun gear on the hub. These intermediate gears transmit the power.

Of course, if I'm holding one end of the spring stationary, I might as well hold it NEARLY stationary instead so that it can indicate minutes (an essential feature in a mechanism that will only run for about 2 minutes). I accomplish this by a gear set of 59-60 off of the hub. Hours use a fixed 30-12/11-30 planetary set.

This tomfoolery permits everything to be controlled from around the hub. The stack of gears below allows for both rewinding and setting the hour/minute time. All of the large co-axial bearings use 4mm diameter bearing balls in printed races. I'm likely going to plastics/material science hell for lubricating them with sewing machine oil.



And so there you have it. It just needs a base with the rewind and time set keys as well as a set of ratchets so that it will retain spring tension. I'm sure that I can come up with a few more doo-dads to throw on as well. Unfortunately, it's now too big to mail to the various long distance paramours, and I like them too much to force them to try and assemble this thing from pieces.

load.nikon
travis.r.wheatley
Alex Lovegrove
Joseph Marlin
Nice! Glad you made it into the contest just under the wire.