Antikythera Episode 3 - The Plates And Main Bearing

Terrific to have your support mate, thank you :)

Clickspring

I've only been compelled to support 2 projects, yours and primitive technology. Imagine my surprise learning that they are both out of cairns. :) Your work is just beautiful in every way. Thanks from one queenslander to another.

Andrew Hoadley

Superb!

Matt Waite

So pleased to hear that mate, very much appreciate your support :)

Clickspring

Great work! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into these videos. I am always excited when I see that you posted something new. I have never before considered becoming a patron until I started watching your stuff! This is the one and only project I ever felt the need to support. THANK YOU!

Genya Ayneg

Terrific to have you on board mate, very much appreciate your support :)

Clickspring

Your videos are incredible, and now that I'm finally in a financially stable situation, I'm happy to be able to help support their creation. =)

Scritch

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

That was so rewarding to watch! I was so engaged that I tried to blow off the dust at 12:23! (I wonder if I'm the only one!) So cool, Chris. Scott

My Growth Rings

Ha ha! Thanks Ron :)

Clickspring

Hey Andrew, I would suggest go through the list on this page: <a href="http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/clock_construction_books.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/clock_construction_books.html</a> There are a few single train, recoil escapement clocks to choose from that are ideal. Bill Smith's "Skeleton Wall Clock" is a common first clock, as is the one that I made. I think its important that you really like the look of it too - its way too much work to put into something that you're just lukewarm about. A big thing to also consider is the quality of the instructions in the accompanying plans. John Wilding and WR (Bill) Smith are the pick of the bunch in this regard. EDIT - I forgot to also mention, be sure to check the largest wheel in the train is less than the swing of your lathe. For example the largest wheel in the Large Wheel Skeleton clock requires the swing of a 9x20 lathe to cut the teeth on the lathe as I do.

Clickspring

Can I ask, for a first time clock maker who wants to work in brass what plan you'd suggest? I have a mini lathe and mini mill.

Andrew Larking

Cheers Chris, It's hard to believe that this device was built 2200 years ago. Thank you for bringing it to life out of something other than Lego. :-)

Ron Hunn

Cheers Douglas :)

Clickspring

What a wonderful project.

Hey Gottfried, I appreciate your support mate, thank you :) Regarding tool bit grinding, I form them freehand on a benchtop grinder. The best thing I can recommend is that you practice with some cheap mild steel, until you start to see the shapes you want. The multi facet thing you mention takes a fair bit of practice to learn how to avoid. The key is to develop the surface as a single facet from the beginning, and then keep it all of the way to the end, correcting for small errors as you go. When you bring the metal back to the wheel after each progress check, carefully feel it rest back onto the wheel in contact with the primary facet before you press it in for further grinding. A light touch with your thumb is enough to hold it in place to begin with, to ensure that the primary facet is the surface in contact with the wheel. If you feel side to side 'rocking', decide which of the 2 facets should take priority, and then hold that surface to the wheel, and grind out the other. It takes a little bit of time to get a feel for what I've described, but before long you'll be able to immediately feel the primary facet get into contact with the wheel, and also correct any secondary facets as soon as they appear, with just a bit of preferential pressure at one end or the other of the tool bit.

Clickspring

Chris I really appreciate your craftsmanship video (both cinematography and editing). I'm curious about how you grind your tool bits. Yours always appear to have single facets. How do you do this? Also, would be interested in your background and how you came to this hobby. Thanks.

Gottfried Schuss

Yes that was something I considered too. Another possibility is that it was simply due to turning limitations of the day, ie turning integral pieces was simply beyond the available technology. However there are other features in the device that suggest a 'lathe like' device of considerable swing and rigidity must have existed, so I think this unlikely - more on that in a future episode.

Clickspring

In reference to the Bushings and the like.. I wonder if the ancients were using this method because the cost of metal was high and they were just using off-cuts of rod and sheet stock. This method does seem to produce the least amount of waste (at least from my cozy chair).

Ha ha! Cheers Aaron :)

Clickspring

JUST TAKE MY MONEY!

Aaron Caviness

Cheers Rupert!

Clickspring

stunning!

Rc

Hey James, yes to both - it was a suggestion from Peter Meek, and works extremely well. The closing action is now smooth and subtle, and can be finessed to suit the part. It has also eliminated the small abrasion of the wood at the closing contact point. It has made the tool quite outstanding to use. In fact the massive throat depth alone makes it far more versatile than either of my bench vises, and it has largely superseded my little Panavise.

Clickspring

Cheers Tom, very much appreciate your encouragement :)

Clickspring

Awesome to hear that Lucas!

Clickspring

Cheers Peter :)

Clickspring

It's looking great Chris! I see you added some leather to the metal on your clamp, does that help its hold or just to protect the wood?

James Cromwell

Thanks for another fascinating view into the project. Your explanation of your thinking about the process and how it might relate to the historical build serve to differentiate this project from YAMV (yet another machining video).

Tom Colson

This new series really shows what can be done with a simple hand file. For my first assignment in a machining class I took years ago we had to hand file a precision cylinder to fit into a hole. We then machined that same cylinder. The purpose of the assignment was that you should never have to hand file when you have machines. Because of this I have stayed away from the file as much as possible. But now I am rethinking that decision!

Lucus Landers

Chris - beautiful videography, as usual. This project bids fair to surpass even the clock (which I never would have thought possible). And thanks for the mention; it's always nice to see one's name in lights.

Peter W. Meek

Paul - Larger versions of the bench block (for working on larger projects) are available from industrial supply stores like McMaster-Carr or MSC in the US. They often appear used on eBay.

Peter W. Meek

Hey Paul, that is called a Bench Block. The one I have is a jewellers version, I can't recall where I picked it up but a quick google search pulled up this one from the Brownells catalogue which is quite similar: <a href="http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/bench-blocks/gunsmith-steel-bench-block-prod682.aspx" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/bench-blocks/gunsmith-steel-bench-block-prod682.aspx</a>

Clickspring

Great video Chris. Amazing to see you blend the brass pins and the bearing and watch it disappear as if it never had a whole in it. What is the name of the anvil type thing you have that has the holes in. Used when you joined the main bearing together.

Paul Busby

I rarely use cutting oil, but when I do its usually Tap Magic applied with a brush

Clickspring

Thanks Greg :)

Clickspring

Can you please tell me the cutting oil that you use?

Greg Nixon

Great interpretation of how the clockmakers of old did things. Another great video.

Greg Nixon

So pleased you're enjoying them Leo :)

Clickspring

Another amazing video. Thanks so much. I'm learning so much just listening to the explanations behind shy doy things in the order you do them.

Leo G.

Thank you Gordon, I'm so pleased you enjoyed it :)

Clickspring

Yet another exquisitely superb video from my antipodean friend, Chris. Despite my having served an extremely intensive technical engineering apprenticeship in the 1960s,, I deeply admire your work, which is bordering upon perfection. Keep it up mate.

Gordon Burns

So pleased to hear that Michael - you're well and truly hooked now :)

Clickspring

Hey Adam, its kind of hard to say because for me the process of video making is so entwined in the part making as well: plan the shot, light, shoot, re-position, light, shoot etc Also the b-roll, continuity shots, close ups, setups for the CAD effects etc. If I were to only complete the parts (without any video recording) it would probably take me 6 to 8 hours to do the work shown in this video. The shooting magnifies that time significantly (between 5x and 10x), but its the editing that accounts for the majority of the time input for the videos, this one in particular took a massive amount of time to edit.

Clickspring

Cheers Gordon :)

Clickspring

Awe inspiring work. I just bought my first mini lathe. The journey begins

Michael Lloyd

Amazing work as always! Just wondering though, not including time to edit this video, but how much hard time do you have invested in making components in this video?

Adam Ackels

Yet another great video, Chris, showing your exquisite skill in metal working. Thanks, mate.

Gordon Burns

Very pleased you enjoyed it mate :) Yes its been a bit stressful for me too! I don't want to let you all down by not getting the content out regularly, but at the same time I feel compelled to make sure its up to scratch in every respect - this one was frankly a bit of a nightmare to get over the line - it has basically consumed the entire month. I've learned a lot about how to present this project and also improve my own processes as a result, so hopefully I will be able to avoid the dramas from here on.

Clickspring

Beautifully mesmerising as always Chris! Like Matt, I love the attention and integrity paid to the original scans, fantastic. Not going to lie, I was starting to get worried as to when I was going to get my next fix. I've been considering counseling. Feel much better now :), thank you. Please, not so long next time! Toby

Toby Keane

Awesome to hear that Giovanni :)

Clickspring

:D i love the smile after seeing this email come across my phone notifications.. im instantly like "well i know what im doing this instant".

Giovanni Viscardi

Cheers Mike :)

Clickspring

Thanks Chris, this is great.

Mike Oswald

Me too Xavier!

Clickspring

Hey Ralph, by doing it in that order I get to use the radial pattern and "tit" from the facing cut to align the cutter :)

Clickspring

Fantasic as awlays! Can't wait to see it with all the moving part. Cheers!

Cheers Ken :)

Clickspring

So glad to get my Click Spring fix today. Great Video, Chris.

Chris, thanks for the response. A question you drill out the pinion shafts after you cut the teeth, why not the other way around ? Thanks Ralph

Ralph McCoy

Cheers Gavin, very much appreciate your encouragement mate :)

Clickspring

Cheers Matt, so pleased you enjoyed it :)

Clickspring

Hey Ralph, latest BSC ep here: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/byzantine-part-3-8594196">https://www.patreon.com/posts/byzantine-part-3-8594196</a> The next step is to make a few of the sub-assemblies. However I will be focusing on the AM for the next few weeks, so expect BSC ep 4 to follow an AM Fragments and AM Ep 4

Clickspring

Again, another great video Chris. You're editing and production is second to none - love your work, look forward to the next instalment.

Yes this one was a real pain to get over the line, thanks for being patient mate :)

Clickspring

Well that was the shortest 17 minutes ever! Whatever mechanisms you are making, Chris, you are adept at making time speed up :-D Great video mate and it is really interesting the way you have paid so much close attention to the scans of the mechanism to come to the conclusions you have. Brilliant.

Chris, Great video. Where is the London Sundial at ? Ralph

Ralph McCoy

I'm enjoying this so much! I've already watched the series 7 times! :D Can't wait for the next episode. Hopefully the wait won't be as long :) Love everything you do.

Chris Ivison

Ha ha! I must have known!

Clickspring

Ha ha! You've earned a break Al!

Clickspring

Cheers David, thanks for being patient! This one was a particularly time consuming one to edit. It took way longer than I ever expected (or wanted!!)

Clickspring

Chris, I warned you about releasing the videos during working hours here in the U.S. ..... Fortunately I've taken the day off in anticipation of this video release :-)

Chris Muncy

A perfect thing to find in my inbox after running around mowing the lawn. Sit down with a nice cold beverage and watch Chris do magic for a while.

Al McKague

That was brilliant! Well worth the wait😃

David

So pleased to hear that Mark :)

Clickspring

Thx. Much appreciated! My 4yo daughter loves what you do. Myself also.

Mark Doss

Ha ha! Terrific :)

Clickspring

Perfect timing. The rains have come and it's too cold to go milling tonight. I'll crack open the wine. :-)

Andrew Larking