Antikythera Mechanism V2: A Modernized Reproduction

[@paulwood1078]

Your invention and use of the spiral geared mechanism for the metonic and saros cycle pointers is, in my opinion, genius. This whole project is simply outstanding. I think the original ancient Greek builder would have approved! Very well done.

[@FreeManFreeThought]

Honestly, given that this device was almost certainly not unique, it probably was done by someone. It's such a simple solution that it has to have been done on other mechanisms.

[@SungazerDNB]

@@FreeManFreeThought Worm gears were first invented from around 200bc by various people on different continents. - So it could be possible!

[@justinbrat]

Sheer elegance

[@modifyman6977]

Correction: ..."builders"...and "most of them"... There is always those few that just...

[@bignicebear2428]

You not only analyzed the original mechanism, you made a functional replica and even improved it. Astronomy, math and mechanical skills in harmony, very impressive. It's not often I have the patience to watch an entire 31 minute video but this one was well worth it. Thank You!

[@pierremarcotte6299]

I believe I did not blink for 31 minutes straight, then realised my jaw was on the floor, as it had fallen long before. I'm absolutely amazed at your talent and genius.

[@maximomartin3608]

Finally, someone with explained calculations of gear ratios and lunar anomaly.

[@captaintoyota3171]

What a phrase to utter

[@ElectronicsPeddler]

The spiral pointer is just genius level engineering: simple, easy to understand, and efficient. Well done!

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

4:52 - Thank you for mentioning Clickspring. That was the first time I knew of someone making a replica. He's a master craftsman, if you've ever seen his control over just a simple file (the tool). And thank you for explaining its basic mechanism, with wonderful graphics !

[@Andre-pe9mm]

Totally agree love everything Chris has done.

[@larryscott3982]

The clickspring project looks like $100K commission piece. This version could be a limited production piece and draw a very attractive price. Collectors and museums. A museum might never acquire a high level true replica. But this would service the same and somewhat more relevant with update planetary motion, modern labeling etc.

[@stevebabiak6997]

Chris at Clickspring even made the tools he used to build his version. He made a few reasonable assumptions regarding certain simple tools that would be available to those at that time, and the materials that would also have been available, and used those to first make the more complicated tools (even made his own files).

[@garyhendrick4391]

That is an epic series of vids

[@ChiefFalque]

@@larryscott3982 It's a research piece, more than anything else, which is why he's recreating the tooling from the time period as well

[@KarlBunker]

Wow. Both for what you were able to do with this build and even moreso for what the ancients were able to do 2,000+ years ago. Just mind-boggling.

[@ridethecurve55]

This video was the most understandable and comprehensive discussion on the Antikythera Mechanism that I've come across. You showed more about its math and construction than I could have asked for. Thanks!!

[@joeshumo9457]

How is it mind boggling though? If you spent your life observing one objects circular movement in relation to your self and were introduced to gears you would be able to deduce the gear ratio pretty easily. Adding one more, and so on isn’t that much harder , just more complex. Just by its engineering you can see how little the ancients actually knew in regards to engineering in that it is driven backwards, the materials used, the lack of removable fasteners , the design of the gear teeth, some of the movements like the pointer, and lack of bearing surfaces. I guess the ability to boggle the mind so easily hasn’t change much in thousands of years.

[@ravenmad9225]

Are you some kind of a troll?What would it take to boggle your mind?

[@KarlBunker]

@@ravenmad9225 @Joe Shumo's comment is kind of long-winded for typical trolling. I think some kind of OCD mental illness is involved.

[@quantumblur_3145]

​@@KarlBunker that is not what ocd is

[@BadYossa]

That was one of the most remarkable presentations I've ever come across in all my years of using KZbin. The production values are simply off the scale. Absolutely incredible.

[@blakelowrey9620]

Wow man this was amazing work and storytelling. I hope this video finds great success

[@EngineeringCommonsLLC]

Thank you, I appreciate that. I haven't done a video like this before so trying it out, a lot to learn!

[@chipt4]

Agreed with Blake, great work. Would love to see more!

[@Low-Tide]

Agree totally. Amazing work! 👏

[@789563able]

Super production values. 👍

[@zakelwe]

This is like a diamond amongst all the dung on youtube. How many hours in total for planning and making ? I did astronomy BSc years back and I learnt something about the sun ! And the history was a bonus and finally, learnt about gears. I take my hat off for people like you who can make things. I can make a PC, but that is childs play in comparison, I am actually just slotting A into B etc. I've watched it twice now and will now learn more about the original. I think your version is a worthy successor, especially the clever technique so you don't after reset after 235 months.

[@markrowland1366]

Thankyou for explaining this. Over 200 parts? The maker of 1800 years back might truely be called a Genius. Well done. I bet he wished he had the equipment you had available.

[@klausbrinck2137]

The maker was 2200-2300 years back, not 1800...

[@lowkey213]

This is really impressive. It’s one thing to understand something, completely different to make it, and even more so, to explain complexity through simplicity.

[@MostlyIC]

Spencer, awesome work on many levels !!! I went on a youtube Antikythera video binge a year or two ago, and have to admit none of them did a good job at describing the metonic cycle and explaining how the Greeks used lunar months in their calendars rather than seasonal months like we do now, and it took me forever to figure this out, whereas that's where you started, bravo. I like all your changes, as I too am a machinist and appreciate why you made them. would like to make one myself some day.

[@nicktecky55]

You must have missed Chris Ramsay aka Clickspring. He explains it clearly as he builds the Antikythera Mechanism and demonstrates the techniques used at the time.

[@boatbeard7767]

@@nicktecky55 also discovering aspects of the device and increasing our knowledge of it...

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@boatbeard7767 Yep, highly educational to someone who only knew Greeks as good fish and chips makers! 😜😁

[@papertoyss]

What is amazing with this ancient device, which is considered the ancestor of the mechanical clocks, is that this ~2,200 years old mechanism makes each and every mechanical wrist watch or clock ever made, no matter how sophisticated it might seem and no matter how expensive it might be, to blush with embarrassment.

[@douglasboyle6544]

Whenever I see the amount of time and effort you've put into a recreation like this with modern equipment & materials, and analysis building upon much prior research I cannot even fathom the amount of time and effort that went into the original. It took a special kind of mind to make that original all those millennia ago. Thanks for carrying on the work and bringing it to us.

[@steveleamont]

There’s a video of a man who made the entire machine by hand. No modern machinery.

[@frankwren8215]

@@steveleamont link pls

[@jimrobcoyle]

I have seen it. You could find it if you tried.

[@christopherpardell4418]

@@frankwren8215There are two. But in the Clickspring videos, his recreation includes recreating all the tools and methods that would have been available to the Ancient greeks, and all the techniques of fabrication to which the actual mechanism bears witness.

[@kolloidal]

as an non expert, I still can see how exellent your knowledge is in mechanics and astronomic

[@hiro91]

You've combined old world and new world tech to make something better than both. Work you did on the video and explanations were amazing as well.

[@stumblestorms7881]

Just wow. I wish I had appropriate words to express what an amazing achievement this is.

[@sinanisler1]

it is mind blowing someone from 2200 years ago had this much knowledge and craftsmanship to make this. crazy...

[@markbloore1578]

I have known of the Antikythera mechanism for years, and watched videos about it, but I learned a lot of new things from this video. In particular, details about its construction, and its limitations, such as the use of triangular teeth and crown gears. And the various gear trains and other mechanisms are very nicely described and shown. Thank you.

[@oldmech619]

This is the first time I have Understood and Trusted the explanation of the Antikythera mechanism. Thanks for the demo

[@littlespinycactus]

Jawdropping! If the owner of the original survived the wreck, imagine how devastated he must have been that such a truly incredible piece of kit went down with the ship. Kudos to you for bringing it to life for our education and delight.

[@mikejohnston179]

Shut up and take my money! I'll take two. Good to have a second one, in case one gets lost in shipping.

[@MDJ5]

LMFAO brilliant joke

[@Name-js5uq]

Absolutely incredible masterpiece you have made. I'm surprised that there are only 17 comments, really deserves more and more views too, especially for all your efforts.

[@kenlieck7756]

The vast majority of the comments made were lost at sea in a terrible storm...

[@mikewatson4644]

There are now 106 comments. Still far too few

[@chrisfranklin2104]

Brilliant comment !!! Replies lost at sea, in a great storm 🤗 Efharisto poli .

[@Byrod1]

@@mikewatson4644 This video just was posted, there will be thousands comments in few months.

[@danhatton1447]

This device has confounded scientist since the day it was discovered in the shipwreck. Then you came along and made a replica with major improvements. Wow!

[@timstoffel4799]

Beyond amazing! Both your understanding of the original device and your up-to-date interpretation of it. It would be interesting to see a kit of parts become available for this build.

[@deed_]

The amount of math and observations required to create this mechanism at the time is outstanding (even nowdays it is honestly). You start to appreciate the knowledge and education back in Antiquity (be it only for a few). Just amazing! Thanks for this detailed reproduction!

[@MarkStafford9]

I really love what people love; the rabbit holes we can so thoroughly explore. Civilization fosters pursuits like this, which are promising indicators of our possible future. Thank you.

[@tomschmidt381]

Wow great explanation of how the Antikythera Mechanism works. I've long been fascinated with it and your explanation of how the calculations are produced answered a lot of my question. Not to mention your fantastic craftsmanship building a working model.

[@jean_mollycutpurse_winchester]

I think we can agree that whoever designed and made the original was probably a genius.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Yep, and since evidence of the wide spread use of these devices is sadly lacking, I wonder what that ancient "Genius" was indicted for - and no doubt forced to drink hemlock?! 🤔🙄

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@retiredbore378 Yep every schoolkid could be remembering Nikos Armstronopoulis's famous words "Αυτό είναι 1 μικρό βήμα για τον άνθρωπο. 1 γιγάντιο άλμα για την ανθρωπότητα!" 🤔😉

[@MichaelShirley-nl5pe]

Fantastic!! Spencer, you did an excellent job of reverse engineering this complex Greek machine. Your talent for narrating is amazing!! By far one of the most beautiful pieces of astrological art ever created. How the original builder’s designed this should masterfully convey how much time and effort went into creating this masterpiece!! Magnificent!!

[@ecputube1]

Absolutely best in class! The concept is awesome, the execution is gorgeous, yet honest, and the story-telling could stand on its own. I believe, sir, that you've created a new paradigm for beautiful, fun, exciting, informative, and inspiring videos!

[@dsloop3907]

Clickspring has one that he made by hand, using the tools that were available then...a very precise copy.

[@EngineeringCommonsLLC]

Indeed, he was part of my inspiration for this one. I just lack the patience (or perhaps masochism) of doing a historically accurate build.

[@et76039]

Not sure which is the greater level of genius; the reproduction done for this video, or the original done with a lower level of technology.

[@imspartacvs]

I am way to dumb to put this all together but am able to understand it's complexity. It is amazing to me that our ancestors put this all together with primitive tools and here we are today trying to 're-engineer' it. Thank you

[@robertbrewer2190]

Surely this was not a one-off creation. The math and the engineering must have been solutions of increasing complexity and then integration into one device.

[@samuelarduino]

Great mechanical engineering, worthy of an honorary degree in swiss watchmaking, excellent explications! maybe you should produces replicas for educational institutions etc

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

Very impressive conversion 👍 Gives one even more appreciation for the precision that the ancient builder/builders were able to achieve. 🙌 Thanks for sharing this journey with us!

[@tomeubank3625]

Adding a "Short" for each feature would increase visibility and might draw more attention to this outstanding project, which deserves many more views.

[@CogentConsult]

Your calculations are way over my head, as I am not college educated, but your explanations are so efficiently versed that I never glazed over; you kept my attention continuously throughout. Truly you have a genius-level mind and a very effective communication style that captivates and educates your audience irrespective of their intellectual level. And that, my friend, is the true genius of effective communication. As a marketer, I thank you.

[@lukestockett252]

That is quite an accomplishment. I've been looking for this kind of detailed information for days and I didn't realize there was such a good video as this out there until today.

[@DarkestElemental616]

Holy chrome, that's amazing! Completely drew me away from my chores because my parents decided to start watching this in the next room over.

[@perryscholder6564]

😂

[@Smickster01]

gave a thumbs up strait away when i heard the voice was actual real person and not ai. well done for being a human.

[@realLsf]

Congratulations on a fantastic job, well done. I’m trying to imagine the builders of the original mechanism & the astronomical observations & calculations they had access to. Very clever indeed. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@andrerousseau5730]

Your simple solution to the 'end-stop' conundrum of the spiral dial pointer rotation is inspired. the original maker would have been proud of you. Well done!

[@HunterScales]

Oh. My. God. I have been researching the Antikythera mechanism for years and this is, by far, the best explanation of the function of the device. Yes, the labeling is actually more complex and idiosyncratic to the era of it's design, but you absolutely got it's functions right. And I love your modern construction. We are all in awe of Chris (Clickspring) and his reconstruction but yours definitely captures the spirit. I assume you are a mechanical engineer or something close because this is way beyond amateur. Well done!

[@redstar5607]

This is beyond amazing. Using the Fourier transform to come up with the periods was amazing. Just coming up with the number of teeth on each gear is a huge accomplishment. I'd be stumped coming up with the mechanism for just Mars. I am beyond impressed.

[@ET-cj8jo]

Stunning ! Not just the calculations behind it but the physical manifestation. If there are published plans I would dearly love to make one. And Spencer, your narration is fluent and well-paced. Congratulations !

[@mcknottee]

Outstanding video, that has helped clarify to me the mathematics of the device in particular.

[@BIGGMUR]

Hello Hello From Canada!!! That was amazing to see all the pieces come together! As you explained everything it was fascinating, but holy crap it would have taken me forever to even a fraction of it all. I also have mad respect for your fabricating skills. Thank you so much for sharing it all with us. I hope you have good luck, good health and great happiness in all your future endevours.

[@TheMuskokaman]

Hats off! That is quite an achievement! Hephaestus would approve..

[@TheXeneco]

The spiral pointer is the icing on the cake - simple, natural, perfect and as you demonstrate - makes the device so much more usable.

[@robertperlstein3527]

Gorgeous build! I hope that this machine will be treasured for many generations-- perhaps your own descendants. I would find it hard to fathom succeeding "stewards" of this work of machining art not revering the level of engineering, thought process plus the sheer machining facility you have displayed. Laser cutter or no-- Bravo!

[@chuckgrigsby9664]

Best not to take it with you while fishing in the Agean....

[@hubbletrubble7875]

I'd be very interested in a digital interactive version of your specific reproduction of the mechanism. It's very easy to understand and maintains the usefulness.

[@jeremytaylor3532]

Yes consider making a digital version available for sale. Great Idea. Fantastic video, awesome work.

[@badmonkey0001]

Great explanations and excellent work!

[@rayreinhard1077]

This is by far the best explanation of the Mechanism that I have found. Your explanation of how equations describing the motion of celestial bodies can be translated into sets of gears really raised my appreciation of this artifact’s significance.

[@sottyify]

Hello! I'm one of the chaps from Fizzy Chickens, making an accurate Antikythera Mechanism for 3D Printing. I see your point for D1 7:29 but I think you could avoid that by increasing the height of D1, and ensuring minimal friction through tolerance testing. Found it works really well if you aim for 0 friction between gears.

[@EngineeringCommonsLLC]

That's good to hear, I also increased the height of D1 (and C2) out of an abundance of caution. I'd be interested to know the materials and details of your 3D printable version if you'd care to share!

[@sottyify]

@@EngineeringCommonsLLC There are many drawbacks to using 3D printing for gears (especially using PLA material). As a benchmark, all gears are at least 1.5mm thick (it's to a 1:1.5 scale due to the limitations of a 0.4mm printing nozzle). Therefore each gear is 2.25mm as a default. Our C2 and D1 is 2.1mm thick, which works out at 3.15mm each.

[@sottyify]

From my records, C2 has a module of 0.4583, while D1 has a module of 0.4833. So we've averaged them to 0.47 (as this is the average module of the surviving gears).

[@sottyify]

One thing I noticed you hadn't touched on was the Calendar Pins that a peg slots into, 1.37mm deep on the front dial. Did you not know about that or choose not to do it?

[@stevebabiak6997]

@@sottyify - rather than use pins, he incorporated a single turn helix that rotates around a straight pointer, with the intersection of the two being where the pin would be. That was done to allow the device to be cranked without having to manually reset the pins when they reached the end of their travel. So no pin is used, but he does have the indicator for where the pin would be.

[@wbnc66]

the fact it took you ten months, using modern build techniques, to fabricate the part, tells me this was a major project for the original machines' builders. the ( nearly non-existent) margin of error for parts in a high friction system tells me the builders also had an incredible set of skills to complete a machine that could function properly.

[@SHarris64]

Great video!! I am mesmerized by the Antikythera Mechanism. I would love to see a longer video on its use and how it may have been applied in its day. As Michael White said in a presentation… “imagine looking beneath the pyramids and finding a black and white television”. Utterly fascinating!! Thank you for a great presentation. 🙂

[@applied.precision]

Good lord. I'm blown away. I'm just floored by this guy. Not just the mechanism but the video quality explaining it. Amazing.

[@slabriprock5329]

The original should be called the eighth wonder of the ancient world. This one is a wonder itself too.

[@entropybentwhistle]

Ultimately someone is going to make a consumer version of the device and I hope they use (and credit/compensate you for) your modifications and modernizations so the thing has lasting power. I would also add a clock device to the crank that has input to current date so the device can also represent current astronomical conditions and not just be a predictive computer but a genuine clock and astronomy guide as an amazing piece of practical engineering art. Great math and engineering work on your part and fascinating documentation and video. Well done and thanks for clarifying the mysterious aspects of the machine.

[@playgroundchooser]

Wow! This is impeccable craftsmanship & an overall superb video. Thank you for doing this!!

[@markbutcher4100]

I think that the most astounding aspect of this presentation is that I understood all of it. Fantastic work on a fascinating subject

[@andyyoung3233]

Really well done sir this is one of the best explanations I've seen

[@johncraig2623]

Just wonderful! Really. Cannot but wonder at the amazing combination of accurate observations (clearly carefully recorded over many years), mathematics, and craftsmanship by the originators of this marvelous piece. Your reproduction just makes me wish it were practical to have one of my own.

[@andreweppink4498]

That'd be the way to do it. Make components/parts in production, rather than prototype parts. I think they'd seIl.

[@jamescole1786]

4/3/23; A+✅️⚙️👏👍😊..just a fantastic video combining Astronomy, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics & great video...just super to watch & brings forth much respect for our earlier observers & teachers! Beautiful construction materials & narration! Keep making...give us more!🙂

[@Celtic_Thylacine]

I've been fascinated by this device since I 1st heard about it, but this is by far my favourite video related to it. Amazing engineering work, outstanding skill on the tools and excellent production values on the video. Well done.

[@cormackeenan8175]

And not a alien comment insight, thank God. Outstanding work 🤙🤙

[@khc8800]

Absolute total genius! And it’s not only the mechanical reproduction/improvements/mathematics, but the graphics, description, video presentation, etc. Bravo!

[@noelwellstead8744]

Just gob smacked at the detail let alone the changes you have made with the fantastic explanation. Have you made this available to purchase ?. Thank you for your amazing work

[@plakor6133]

Well, in addition to its many wonders, the Antikthera Mechanism inspires some of the most elegant and instructional content available anywhere.

[@EngleFolk]

Excellent and impressive video Spencer. I hope the channel grows and we see more content from you.

[@bobstovall9570]

If it took you ten months to build this, taking into account your knowledge and access to modern machining technology, Try to imagine how long it took the creators of the original device to build it. Kudos to you, Sir, for you dedication and devotion to this project and thank you for this most satisfying presentation of your work.

[@djb6313]

Well done. Fascinating. The changes you made are understandable and worth it to demonstrate what it was capable of.

[@tomjewett5839]

I like that you did upgrades. There are so many people making the original to the best of their knowledge that making an upgrade is refreshing. Because we don't have all of the original machine, creative license is used by all.

[@allistairneil8968]

Excellent video. Factual, demonstrative and well executed. Thank you.

[@sterzkamy]

It is so interesting, especially that humans been capable of such complicated piece of engineering in ancient times! Mind blowing

[@billcodey1430]

This is such a good video of such an amazing project. Congratulations on your masterwork.

[@The_Deaf_Aussie]

The amount of effort of thought, study, observations, recording, and figuring it out.. along with experiments and trial and errors, the ancients come up with that... is truly astonishing.....

[@barry7608]

Wow that was amazing, not just the ancients but your superb work, thanks

[@Cre8tvMG]

Dude. Just… DUDE. This is the first video that is as impressive as the original mechanism. Thanks.

[@BrianLucas420]

you are so smart. i am so inspired and dumbfounded . i learned so much. its crazy how simply you explain while document and present everything so perfectly. you need skills to make such a perfect video. i wish i could see this version you made in real life. also maybe find a version to build myself. thanks for educating me. speechless over here!

[@GregorShapiro]

WOW! You've done it! I have been following Clickspring and marveled at his dedication and meticulous work, awaiting new episodes, but thinking that a slight modernization incorporating some of the knoledge we have acquired during the last two thousand years would be in beneficial too. You have done it! Fantastic!

[@CitroenDS23]

Excellent work! Both mechanically and video wise. I really enjoyed my amazement at your interpretation and improvements. I'd have to purchase a plus sized kit or even fully made up unfortunately.

[@andreweppink4498]

Yes. Beautiful, imaginative, accurate work. Congratulations. Good work. Excellent Engineering. Of course, you had the Ancients to help you out (and, of course, they could've used a 5 axis CNC machining ctr. as weIl.

[@jonminer9891]

Hello, Spencer. Congratulations on finishing this amazing machine. I am not sure of the monetary value, since that would depnd on both supply and demand. If you ever want to sell it, I hope there are several rich Astronophyles who have to outbid each other. Thanks for sharing! Stay Healthy!

[@peterichardson53]

Incredible amount of work, knowledge and skill - to bring this to life for us mere mortals !! Thank you for yr hard work and diligence 👍

[@jperez7893]

this is very impressive! is there also a software version of this? that you can play around with? with enough documentation to make calculations with. I know modern planetarium software can determine more but this is 100x cooler. sad to think what the ancients could have achieved if the library of Alexandria wasn't burned, or Pergamum. bravo! keep it up

[@erictjones]

100% an analog computer. Nice adaptation! Thank you for all of your time and effort to make this device and video!

[@ptonpc]

That is an amazing amount of research and work. Thanks.

[@lofioldman8362]

This is an example of a video with far more information than I can understand. This assures that I can learn something new every time I watch it.

[@tiagdvideo]

Outstanding work!

[@musimedmusi8736]

REQUEST-How about a Kepler planetarium with rotating nested Platonic solids?? Not sure which is more mind-blowing, the Antikythera itself, or this guy’s sheer brilliance.

[@agustincasado]

Is it possible to get or buy this design so I can replicate it? Amazing design and an excellent job. I´m impress!

[@TimmyMoza]

Holy cow that was the best and most clear explanation of something so complex Ive seen! Well done. New sub!!

[@ghostofkadesh9041]

Awesome work, you deserve 2 thumbs up 👍😃👍

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Amazing reconstruction!! 99% of the math was beyond me but it illustrates the beauty of the mechanics of the solar system!!

[@dcarter001]

this would be a great high school project, not only the mathematics but the theory of planet cycles. I am going to have to watch this again, its just cool. between the manufacturing and the build there is just a lot of knowledge imparted to the viewer. and that's just on the surface.

[@finn6988]

Students could design and 3D print each part, and make a similar mechanism. Great idea.

[@Epiphone100]

I don't know who the cleverest is here.........this guy or the ancient Greeks !!!! Incredible engineering !!!!!

[@prostytroll]

Great explanation.

[@AntManBee19]

Fascinating especially when combined with the clickspring videos. And all these just make the original mechanism even more of miracle of workmanship. Just incredible the math and precision that was available in 200AD!