2314 The Accutron Mechanism

[@oljobo]

Let's all chip in for a wireless microphone to this man ‼️☺️

[@TheClimbingalien]

Please!

[@bc4yt]

@@oljobo great idea, done!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@maxkennedy5073]

Can't say how good it is to have you back bringing new/old ideas weekly. So much better than the vast majority of drivel and stimulates the thinking processes. Thankyou

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

wow - thank you mate and thank you for taking the time to say that

[@WarkWarbly]

I think this series (train of thoughts) is probably one of the most fun and engaging to date. The fact that i can sit and think for hours on stuff like this after watching a few minutes of video is really satisfying. Plus my daughters are there having fun and laughing at my goofy mm mistakes. Legitimately nothing but fun on my end. Most of my failures are caused by not paying enough attention to my 3D print process or the printer itself. (Its almost 10 years old, but she flings plastic just fine.)

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

fun is what it is all about mate lol

[@fraserhardmetal7143]

This brings back memories - as a young engineer in a British subsidiary of a U.S. multinational we assembled in the sales office to witness a 25 year long service presentation. After the speeches a box was passed to the recipient who opened it to reveal a Bulova Accutron wristwatch - applause etc. The watch was put on which duly exploded in slivers of glass , there was a wry sort of " what do you expect, yank rubbish " - the resonant frequency can't have agreed with the crystal. This was in the mid '70s - poor old Ronnie Madison - he'll be long gone now.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome story mate - thanks for sharing

[@patrickv391]

Love the picture of Patti.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Thank you mate - she is always with me

[@IslandHermit]

@@ThinkingandTinkering She and I were born in the same year. That's a sobering thought.

[@jimmccorison]

I enjoy how you giggle at the movement of the gears. I had the same reaction watching it. Kudos to you, as your videos are both educational and entertaining. Thank you for your efforts.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Thank you very much!

[@cadmiral3d146]

Always a great explanation of the science and mechanics behind it. Love your work.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@bc4yt]

Following oljobo's lead fundraising for a wireless mic for this wonderful man 😊

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

oh wow - cheers mate

[@bc4yt]

@ThinkingandTinkering no no, cheers to you for giving us such a great channel, and for being an all-round top sort! 😁🙏

[@SierraNovemberKilo]

Absolutely fascinating. Impressed that you have looked into this snd very amused by your 3D printed mechanism. Top job👍

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@VeniceInventors]

Small detail, but I really like how sharp the numbers around the gear came out, and the way they let the light through when lit from behind while becoming darker otherwise.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@igavinwood]

Thank you. Your videos and knowledge of engineering make my day. The news about Hiscox being freely available is amazing. Every teacher of engineering and physics should have this to hand. What a great resource for everyone no matter if they are a professional or a tinkerer.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I agree mate!

[@unicornadrian1358]

Great video, Rob! you have nailed that tinkercad process for sure.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@TDOBrandano]

When I was a kid I had a mains powered alarm clock that used a tuning fork escapement, vibrating at the 50 Hz mains frequency. One arm of the fork had a permanent magnet with a small gap. A metallic toothed wheel ran in this gap and the magnet would drag the wheel around without touching it. The toothed wheel had a thin solid perimeter, with thin arms connecting it to the centre hub. I remember that sometimes it would start running backwards when plugged in, but it would self correct after a few seconds, so it must have had some sort of pawl to restore the correct direction of movement.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that sounds very cool

[@emjones55343]

Thanks!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

wow cheers mate

[@lrin-tx]

Thanks for this lesson. The link to the book is great as well.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Wow, such a great piece of info. I downloaded the PDF with Text, since the text is searchable. (The plain PDF is just pure images, so cannot be easily searched). Great stuff.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that's c;ever mate thanks for sharing

[@dSquared0162]

Delightfully intriguing. Thank you Robert! 👍

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am glad you liked it - cheers mate

[@rjung_ch]

Thank you Robert, I'll have to check out that book of so many mechanisms. Cheers 👍💪✌

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it is an awesome book mate

[@shredrik]

Ironic, I had just recently been looking at the accutron spaceview watches. What a coincidence! Bless you Rob, love your videos!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - cheers mate

[@PuggiTheGreat]

Only just discovered this channel, loving it, thanks.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Awesome, thank you!

[@totherarf]

Thanks for that link Rob! ....... most interesting!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@valveman12]

5:50 I love the unexpected laughter👍

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it is so cool to see things work lol

[@martinfields373]

Thanks for keeping my aging brain stimulated.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@jantepas7511]

Great movements, like new. Thanks for sharing!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

glad you liked it mate

[@KathrynLiz1]

I remember the Bulova Accutron being on sale in the early 60s....

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I think you can still buy them can't you?

[@peterfelecan3639]

Great reference the Hiscox book; BTW, when downloading the book, do not forget to made a donation toward the Internet Archive.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice point mate - thanks for saying that

[@rana_g]

always something new to learn here !!!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@rana_g]

@@ThinkingandTinkering fan of you sir

[@christopher6267]

Wow what an incredible channel and personality 👏

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

oh wow - cheers mate

[@byronsowntime]

cheers Bob..thanks

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

You bet - cheers to you too mate

[@Vibe77Guy]

I just found the 'Action BOX' KZbin channel as well. 3d printing and injection molding in metal.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I must have a look

[@jennywiltshire7354]

Really captures the imagination.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers

[@kalvenism]

Good evening, I was wondering about using this in a clock and attaching a pendulum. have to figure out how it would behave upside down.

[@AndreaDingbatt]

Thank you Robert!! Thats an awesome mechanism,,,what next?! ~A TARDIS*, I suspect!! (* If so, I bagsie 1st trip with you, if I may?! Dr Who needs a sidekick!! ) Also, Im halfway to saving up for my "Xmas 3D Printer"!! YAYYY!! ":0)X

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - i wish and awesome news on the xmas 3d printer you wil have fun i am sure

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

Maybe one could couple something similar with a solenoid/transformer/diodes to use the mains frequency as a regulator - like my grandmas old electric clock. Would be very noisey though - like the Accutrons that have a high pitch whine. My grannies clock was silent. Rather than a second hand it had a little window with a wavey sinewave printed on a drum that scrolled past, so must have just had a motor and a gear train with the motor being somehow regulated by the current.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

in the UK mains frequency is 50Hz I believe - so it could be done

[@McRootbeer]

Hey Robert, I know this is a bit off-topic, but have you seen Nighthawkinlight's video on waterproofing canvas using paraffin wax and mineral oil? I was wondering if you knew any simple ways to improve the formula or its application to fabrics?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i will look it up mate

[@danieljordan4320]

Got stuck on thinking about how a ‘watch is like a clock strapped to your body”

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol

[@alexbrown8183]

Rob, TinkerCad, I'm just starting out with it, trying to recreate a design I did on another drafting program, but they wanted to charge for the "free" version. I'm running into limitations I wasnt expecting, such as work area limitations and bringing files back in only to have them be too big for the workspace. I'm americain and use imparial mesurments. It seams that the retrival rutaine converts things to metric even though I've set imperail to be the default. Am I missing sometning?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Tinkercad is very much a learners program mate - it was designed to get people started and exploring 3D design - which is why I promote it as most of my videos are aimed at encouraging folks to get started - if you are already a proficient user of another drafting program you might be best off sticking with that.

[@alexbrown8183]

Wow, all that in a book that old!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i know eh!

[@velcroman11]

I found the “click” most relaxing.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I liked the click too lol

[@memoirsofmonterey3620]

John Harrison Grasshopper Escapement circa 1722 ?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice!

[@ProfBraino]

thanks, teacher!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am glad you like dit mate

[@vulpo]

Is "Mechanical Movements, Devices, and Appliances" available online anywhere?

[@marcfruchtman9473]

The link is in the description (it is a freely available archive now)

[@vulpo]

@@marcfruchtman9473 I should have read the description. Instead I went to Project Gutenberg where I found a similar book by Thomas Walter Barber called, The Engineers Sketchbook of Mechanical Movements, Devices, Appliances, Contrivances and Details.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice one mate - thanks for sharing

[@stevechrisman3185]

Hope you're doing okay Robert.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am plugging along mate - thank you for asking

[@CarlBarratt-mk2lk]

carl the blind man. i like the book, if you find more. please include link ? i print them out on my 3d printer with audio file so i can read them...

[@marcfruchtman9473]

The link is in the description. (I can't post it in comments) There is a text searchable version called 1800_Mechanical_Movements_Devices_and_Appliances_text.pdf

[@CarlBarratt-mk2lk]

@@marcfruchtman9473 thanks for help, got it. thanks carl the blind man???

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

will do mate

[@SolarCookingGermany]

@@marcfruchtman9473 Thx 😀

[@danlw212]

Getting people to stop overusing the phrase “game changer” would definitely be a game changer!😂 It IS overused!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - oh very good mate lol

[@angelusmendez5084]

Awesome!

[@mikaelfransson3658]

❤Can you do a wristwatch in 3D plastic?❤ /Mikael

[@grendel1960a]

probably, if you have a big enough wrist

[@claws61821]

You can, and there are more than a few models available online, most of which use what's called a tourbillon mechanism. Problematically, the nature of thermoplastic prints means that most of these models are quite volumetrically large and that any and all springs in the mechanism are short-lived and quite oversized unless they are replaced with metal parts.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

you could mate - but you might have to make it a little large or replace a few parts wirth metal - but in theory you could

[@we4selradio591]

looks like it'd go great with a flutter ribbon strung up vertically to power a generator. might need finer steps...hmmmmm dawgone i need to get a printer.

[@AndreaDingbatt]

Me too!! (Saving up for one,as an Xmas present for myself!!)

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i like it mate - nice idea

[@gerryplayz4532]

😎👍

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@martinwilliams9866]

Wouldn't it have been better not to own a watch, so when the time came, you could ignore it?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nope - yor own side would shoot you if you did that

[@musikSkool]

I want to believe I now have half of his power, but something tells me memorizing the book is worth a lot more than half the creativity.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it is a good book!

[@TTTzzzz]

Of no importance but why not: The Accutron watches failed because they made a very annoying mid-range sound.

[@AndreaDingbatt]

As a child of the 60s, I actually enjoy this mid-range sound!! Lol! No more annoying than many sounds made by devices now,,,, it was soothing, to my mind, and helped me get to sleep, much like "white-noise" helps people sleep now... Anyways, no disrespect to you, it was an interesting comment!! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I think you can still buy them

[@TTTzzzz]

@@AndreaDingbatt Thank you!

[@AndreaDingbatt]

@@TTTzzzz 😎👍

[@Mark_Linford]

🙂

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate