A Gentleman's Challenge About Time!

[JingleJoe]

Note: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjNUr1aFHYU
	DQ

play this music while you read this
Your challenge is to make a functional mechanical clock.
You can use anything although the prefared materials are wood and metal.
You can buy some parts but using an existing whole mechanism is not allowed.
Anyone can join as long as you have the dedication and determination to go through with this commitment to the end!
You have from the first of september to ... mid december/new year!


When all clocks are complete we will vote for which we like the most!
The winner will get something special and ... a uranium marble!

Entrants:
------------
JingleJoe
jringling
Mr. Consciousflesh
stardust
Prof Eumides Blakehurst
Thaumaturgical Nuissance
CacheForte
Glasgow Jon
VRAndy
Dr. Mors
Tranzient Gallery

------------



I am in the process of finding resources and clock building information, helpful links will be appearing here:
http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wooden-Gear-Clock/ (no copying this clock directly is allowed make it look more unique)
these nice people may be able to help:
http://www.bhi.co.uk/education.html
These one's will really help!
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/clocks-watches/clock4.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gears.htm
A helpful book

[jringling]

Does the clock have to keep "real" time, or can we use a fictional face with different divisions than hours and minutes?

[JingleJoe]

It just has to tell time accurately, you can use non standard divisions, make your own hour that is 1 hour 42 minutes and 7 seconds if you wish but the clock must keep time accurate to whatever divisions you have supplied and it wont win if it doesnt look fantastic
An example: You could make it show a 28 hour day, showing two days on the incriments on the face and take 56 hours to turn completely around

[jringling]

It just has to tell time accurately, you can use non standard divisions, make your own hour that is 1 hour 42 minutes and 7 seconds if you wish but the clock must keep time accurate to whatever divisions you have supplied and it wont win if it doesnt look fantastic
An example: You could make it show a 28 hour day, showing two days on the incriments on the face and take 56 hours to turn completely around

Got it! I will not promise to  have an entry in on time... (haha), but I will do my best...

[JingleJoe]

okay well I will give people an extra point for making one thats accurate to standard incriments of time, otherwise you could cobble together any old gears then just draw up the face to match how long they take to turn, instead of figuring out how to make the gears take a certain length of time to turn 360^o

[jringling]

I've been thinking.... how will you (collective BG viewers) know that the clocks are keeping time? or even moving for that matter?

[stardust]

i was thinking that, and came to the conclusion that youtube is our friend.

[WillRockwell]

Jesus Christ, why not just command us to build a nuclear reactor? Clockworks are incredibly complex.

[JingleJoe]

Jesus Christ, why not just command us to build a nuclear reactor? Clockworks are incredibly complex.

If you don't got what it takes then you dont have to try oh by the way our next challenge will be to build a nuclear reactor

i was thinking that, and came to the conclusion that youtube is our friend.

Correct, video footage of our clocks would be required

I've been thinking.... how will you (collective BG viewers) know that the clocks are keeping time?

I'll just have to hope people tell the truth there


Anyone else want to enter ?

[jringling]

Jesus Christ, why not just command us to build a nuclear reactor? Clockworks are incredibly complex.

Clockwork... just some gears...  and springs... or weights on a string... or water dripping on a paddlewheel...   or sand... hmmmm.....

now a nuclear reactor is EASY... making it safe is another problem...

[stardust]

Anyone else want to enter ?

theoreticaly i'd like to enter, but i've absolutely no idea how a clock works so my entry may be dependant on how successful my research is as to whether or not there's a hope in hell of me being able to make something that even vaguely keeps to some sort of time!

[stardust]

and is this cheating?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Working-Paper-Clock/dp/0060910666/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250619220&sr=8-2

[JingleJoe]

Anyone else want to enter ?

theoreticaly i'd like to enter, but i've absolutely no idea how a clock works so my entry may be dependant on how successful my research is as to whether or not there's a hope in hell of me being able to make something that even vaguely keeps to some sort of time!

But thats a great reason to enter! I have no idea how clocks work either and want to learn so thats why I made this competition!
You could make something really simple like an hour timer, that just has one hand that turns once every hour you could buy lots of separate clock parts to make it easier to build

and is this cheating?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Working-Paper-Clock/dp/0060910666/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250619220&sr=8-2

Yes thats the same as having a whole mechanism but ikea-style Now if you got 5 different, whole mechanisms and took them apart and made an entirely new clock from thier parts, that would be allowed

[James Harrison]

and is this cheating?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Working-Paper-Clock/dp/0060910666/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250619220&sr=8-2

What if you use the parts in the book as a set of templates to make a mechanism that works, rather than as components themselves?

[JingleJoe]

and is this cheating?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Working-Paper-Clock/dp/0060910666/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250619220&sr=8-2

What if you use the parts in the book as a set of templates to make a mechanism that works, rather than as components themselves?

Well thats kinda cheating and skipping out on some work, but I would allow it if you make the clock look really awesome

[stardust]

What if you use the parts in the book as a set of templates to make a mechanism that works, rather than as components themselves?

that was more what i had in mind. using it as a guide to making clocks rather than just being lazy and cutting out pictures!

[JingleJoe]

I'll let you chaps do that if you want, are you in?

[Mr. Consciousflesh]

I accept your challenge ! It would be fun to learn a bit of watchmaking    

[stardust]

i think i accept your challenge. what about these?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://lisaboyer.com/Claytonsite/Claytonsite1.htm

is that cheating or just insanity to even contemplate?

[JingleJoe]

Thats what I expect most of the clocks made will be like however you shouldn't copy those ones, try to make your own or use that paper one as some sort of template. I guess what I'm trying to say is that mechnisms must be original! But thats still not quite what I mean anyway, making those wooden ones wouldn't be so hard, mine will be something like that only more ramshackle and using more nuts and bolts

by the by I'll enter you for now stardust but you can pull out if it feels like too much

[stardust]

by the by I'll enter you for now stardust but you can pull out if it feels like too much

i think i will accept and thoroughly enjoy this challenge, though i may start it after septemer 6th when the other challenge finishes because i have currently made so much mess i am finding it hard to move. i fear that two projects will mean polar bear and i disappearing under a landslide of mess forever.

[JingleJoe]

hah take your time, we have 3 months I gave it that long partly in consideration for the other challenge going on right now.

[stardust]

can we use bits of the desgins from that website as long as the finished piece looks absolutely nothing like any of her designs? i think if i have to plan something from scratch i don't stand a hope but if i can base it loosely on plans that already exist then it might actually come into existence.

[JingleJoe]

You can use bits of the designs, but you must do the mathematics for the gears yourself or atleast come up with your own gearing system helped along by other people otherwise thats just like using his existing mechanisms, this may conflict a bit with allowing you to use that paper clock but the difference here is we've not seen one of those completed, or made using a different material to paper

Make a new clock, thats what I'm getting at
(just figured out myself )

[Prof Eumides Blakehurst]

Jesus Christ, why not just command us to build a nuclear reactor? Clockworks are incredibly complex.

A fusor (fusion reactor) is a fairly simple home build. A standard HV supply, a vacuum system that can be scavanged (doesn't have to create a high vacuum) and a bit of machining of a decent steel sphere. The only real hassle is the deuterium source... Quite a few people have made them; it's sort of the next step up from a tesla coil! (I haven't made one. Yet.)

and is this cheating?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Working-Paper-Clock/dp/0060910666/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250619220&sr=8-2

I bought that book some years back, and I can't see it being too useful. Yes, it produces a working clock, but only for some dodgy definition of 'working'. I would recommend it as a stepping stone in learning about clockwork - mainly learning to visualise why some parts of a clock go together the way they do, but you would want to move onto better designs very quickly.

I shall attempt something for the challenge as I have two clock ideas in my head already. However, i am also in the process of pulling apart two church organs and have plans for a time machine. And limited workshop space. I seriously expect not to make the deadline for this challenge  anytime this year, but I shall try.