GearHeads Corner

Hi Art,

I have decided to try and build your Scimitar.

I will use my Shapeoko while I am waiting for my China laser to arrive.

Trying to do a complicated clock as my first project is just too much.
I have watched all your videos on Scimitar.  

I have cut about 6 parts from your "TAP" files that you posted,
it is strange some work perfectly on my Shapeoko, but some don't work
properly.

I made the spool.tap and it came out backwards (see photo).

Also, are all the spaces in your files posted or are they just done
as you go along as an afterthought?

Why are some files in the Scimitar Zip DXF and others the actual g-code tap files?

Richard

Hi Richard:

  I include Gcode files for those that by chance use the same parameters as I, something like a ticker can be made many ways,
so the DXF's are more valuable to anyone who wishes to make one as they can scale up or down as they wish, or just design
the same thing in Gearotic and put out the files they want themselves.

  The ratchet you cut is likely that way because I may have used it upside down, which would make it correct.
(That didn't cut very well, you may want to use smaller bits or a slower speed.. ). Tickers are an interesting build,
and a great way to learn what its all about. The shafting report dxf shows the shaft spacings and such..

  I included basically all the files I used in that project, some from Vectric where I design backing plates and such
based on the shafting report dxf's..others from Gearotic. I rarely use only one program to build something, but Ill
know Gearotic is complete when it happens that I do.

  When I make a ticker, I export the shafting dxf , load it in vectric and design a pleasing shape around
the shaft holes. Look carefully at what others have done as well in that thread, Mark did an exceptional job on his. You'll
see a few examples in there, some the same as mine, others Ive seen are modified to personalize the
base frames and such. That having been said, if you cut from my dxf's they will all fit together..

  It will get you used to scaling such things to fit your build. All was done on my 16"x16" router,
so the zip files contents will all fit to that.

  Id use Baltic birch plywood when you build, standard plywood sucks for clocks and tickers and such.
Otherwise use planed down african hardwoods, they also machine better than most woods. (You'll find
those at exotic wood shops.. not cheap, but results far outdo standard plywood and you can often buy
scraps from such places large enough for tickers. Youll find such woods make much cleaner cuts, just
cut fast enough with smaller bits.. ) 

Art



 

HI Art,

Just getting on board with your Gearotic software and want to try building Scimitar but can't fine how to get your dxf files etc.  I'm new at this blog stuff.  Please point me in the right direction.  Your videos are great, the best I have seen.

Regards,

STHMach

Hi:

  Go the the tickers forum board and look for messages from me
on Scimitar, files are attached to the earliest files in the thread.

Art

STHMach;

You can find Scimitar and Orange Clockwork files at  www.gear2motion.com , just past the section that says " Some of our projects "and click on (more). Hope this helps..


Cheers
Bob ;)

ArtF wrote: Id use Baltic birch plywood when you build, standard plywood sucks for clocks and tickers and such.
Otherwise use planed down african hardwoods, they also machine better than most woods. (You'll find
those at exotic wood shops.. not cheap, but results far outdo standard plywood and you can often buy
scraps from such places large enough for tickers. Youll find such woods make much cleaner cuts, just
cut fast enough with smaller bits.. )

According to my local clock repair guy the best wooden clocks were made from applewood (that's supposedly why the mouse ran up them, it must taste good).  If you have access to it it could be fun to try.

We have a small 100+ year old orchard with lots of deadwood.  I've only turned it, it's great for things like turned boxes.

Kirk

See I'm a bit late on commenting on last years post

I've made clocks out of hardwood.  In order for the teeth to be strong enough the gear blank should be glued together in a "pie" type of glue-up, that way the grain runs from centre to edge for each segment and hence round the gear.  In order to do that it's really quite wasteful (in my opinion) of material.

Like I say I've done it but I sure don't recommend it - baltic birch is far more stable and reliable in strength.

John

@JohnT, did you ever get the pie blank maker to work?

Kirk