#3d printed mechanical clock how to#
#3d printed mechanical clock code#
#3d printed mechanical clock series#

Also changed the mount for the large rotating gear off the arm as the other didn't seem stable enough. I ended up creating my own ramp as the three piece one wasn't working for us, there just wasn't enough drop for the length and the balls kept getting hung up on it, we created posts to hold the ramp that concealed the screws. Good day, Thanks for the cool clock - I worked with my 5yr old to build one, the first one didn't go well, but with some tweaks the second one went well, he wanted one made in all the different colour filament that we had.

#3d printed mechanical clock code#

Insert this into the code and check your stopwatch again, repeat this until you are satisfied with the result T = 60s (time you want it to complete 1 revolution) And stop your watch when it crosses the point again. Start the stopwatch when the elevator gear crosses a specified point. Now get a stopwatch in your hand and run the motor. To do this we have to change the speed of the motor so the elevator completes 1 revolution in 60 seconds precisely. We want this clock to be as precise as any other wall clock/ watch so it works without any error. The most important thing about a clock is precision.

#3d printed mechanical clock how to#

If you don't have experience with Arduino or don't know how to install libraries you can check this site.Ĭonnect the pins on the stepper motor to the Arduino like this:Īfter uploading the code you are good to go!

To drive the 28byj-48 stepper motor with a constant speed I've used an Arduino Uno with the AccelStepper library. They all should go smoothly and leave the rails Lastly, to test them all at once put 11 balls on the hour and 15min rails and 4 balls on the 5 min rail. wherever you glued the connector on the 15min rail you can glue it on the same place on the hour rail. When the 12th ball arrives it should tip over. again it shouldn't tip over while 11 balls are on it. When you're satisfied go to the 15min rail. It should tip over when the 5th ball comes. And position the connector piece accordingly so it doesn't tip over. You have to figure out the center of gravity and glue it when you are certain. The rails and the connectors under them are not attached. This way everyone can adjust them to their needs. I did not design the rail pieces connected to the joints. This is the most important part of this project. I tweaked and re-designed this to create an elevator mechanism. User mgg942 used this design and created a rotary to linear drive on Thingiverse.

The elevator design was inspired by this mechanism. But the dimensions are different due to different ball sizes and weight distribution. The rails were inspired by the original rolling ball clock. The rods(8mmx8mm) were designed to be sturdy. The base structure is basically 6 rails holding 4 rods. I suggest you to read this step after you've seen the tutorials.ĭetails on the design process are noted on the images.

#3d printed mechanical clock series#

Īlso, this youtube series gives a good beginner tutorial: If you are new to the Fusion 360 environment I suggest you take a look at a few tutorials.

It gives an insight on how the ball rails were designed in Fusion 360. This step is for people who want to design their own ball clocks or want to add new features to this project. You can skip this step if you just want to print the project. I strongly encourage you to share your build when it's done! This way you can change the design to your own liking and then glue them together. Many parts I've designed are not connected. I'll show you the way I built this project and provide you with open-ended questions, so you can add your own ideas, and take this project even further. The purpose of this instructable is not just to give you a cookbook. So, if you encounter any problems during your build you can solve them easily. After giving you a step by step assembly guide and show you how to sync your clock, I'll end the instructable with a troubleshooting guide. I'll give you a 3d print guide so you can easily print the required pieces and arrange them. Then I will give you an insight into the design process of this clock, so you'll be able to design your own clock. Next, I will explain the Idea behind this project. In the first step, I will give you a little bit of history of rolling ball clocks and ball clocks in general.

The 60-minute rail with 5-minute intervals.

The 5-minute rail with 1-minute intervals.

Marble Clock is a 3D printed rolling ball clock that tells the time by the location of marbles/balls. I think this will eliminate many problems of the project before it's published. You can follow me and give feedback on my projects. I have a twitter account where I share the progress of my projects before I publish them.