Making the World's Smallest Orrery

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In this video, Mike machines a miniature orrery on his watchmaker's lathe. If you are interested in extra details on this project (and others) please visit our Patreon page: / chronovaengineering
This video was sponsored by Brilliant

[@chronovaengineering]

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[@tonywilson4713]

Aerospace engineer here: Every time I watch your channel I feel a little smarter for having watched. Your doing things and explaining them at a level we don't get to see often in engineering. By some accounts people might say "Can't CNC do this?" and the answer is YES. That's NOT the point because all CNC is still based on certain fundamental principles and techniques. You're showing us some of those fundamentals. Thanks.

[@Echo3_]

this is so cool! do you sell these to put on pencils?

[@Tasarran]

@@Echo3_ I'm picturing a version of this mounted on a ring...

[@Echo3_]

@@Tasarran id play with it until it broke lol, this thing is really cool

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Please make a flying tourbillon large scale 😊😊😊😊

[@petermoore9504]

A model that only includes the Sun, Earth and Moon is a Tellurium/tellurion. One that only has the Earth and Moon is a Lunarium. An orrery optionally includes other planets as well

[@cee_yarr]

Today I learned: ^^^

[@griffinwolf5704]

Came to the comments to check if anyone else had mentioned!

[@jacobdegeling]

What wonderfully delicious words!

[@stigyanblue1442]

That's so cool to learn

[@redmadness265]

Very cool!

[@HendoRising]

Next time you cast something small in silicone, remember degassing is only strictly necessary if you are curing at ambient atmospheric pressure. Because your mold was so small, you could have easily put in in a pressure chamber, and put it under pressure. 20-30 psi is great for small silicone parts. Any bubbles are compressed and don't return after the full curing time of the silicon is achieved. Beautiful work. Subbed.

[@IOUaUsername]

This is correct for casting hard resins, but because silicone is stretchy, the gas bubbles blow up like a balloon when the positive pressure is removed from the outside but remains inside the bubble. The firmer the rubber, the less this is an issue. Even a vacuum cleaner will provide enough suction to get most of the bubbles out. Just make sure you have a bleed valve that can handle the high flow (or be read to turn off the vac or disconnect the hose), otherwise you'll just have the uncured resin spread all over the chamber. If you want to use the positive pressure method and are looking for a single use mould and a matte surface is desired, as was the case here, just make the mould from plaster. Then you can just dissolve the mould in water off the outside of your finished epoxy part.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

@@IOUaUsername Drywall or joint compound can be used in a similar way to plaster. It conforms with very fine detail and melts in water, but might be easier to find and in smaller amounts. Or you can mix it with wood glue for a rock hard product, sandable with fine detail. It makes a good surface on foam.

[@QuentinWes]

​@@IOUaUsernamehow would you make a mould from plaster for this? A sphere isnt tapered in the same direction on all sides, so you either need a flexible mould or a 2 part hard mould. Plaster is pretty brittle so youd have to use quite a bit to make the walls thick enough + provide space for the registration marks, plus it requires 2 curing sessions which is more annoying than just one in silicone. Ive also never seen anyone using a pressure pot on silicone have the bubbles appear once back at normal pressure, is that something you've had happen or just an assumption?

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

​@@QuentinWeslost wax method maybe.😊

[@shep182]

@@IOUaUsername I use a pressure pot for my silicone molds and get no "regassing" at all. all the resin pours are smooth. The pressure doesn't shrink bubbles, at 35psi the gas redissolves into the mix, it doesn't return once the silicone is cured. You HAVE to leave them at pressure during curing is the downside to this method. Depending on the size of the project, it can be prohibitive.

[@zugly1999]

i am shocked that you went the extra mile for the small Steel bridge to be rounded over and almost polished, giving tribute to ultra high watchmaking... Weather or not you intended it, i feel extremely honored as a watchmaker

[@georgeyoung613]

You're a watchmaker? That is amazing. I have always wanted to try it. Had things gone differently, I would have jumped into this when I retired. I would really like to see your work if possible.

[@Nefville]

I noticed that, all that was missing were interior angles, anglage and black polishing. Looks just like a tourbillon or full balance bridge. I'm a collector, not a watchmaker but I just found this channel and clearly he has some experience in the field. If not he should call Arnold & Son, UN or Jacob & Co. immediately.

[@shep182]

My crafting involves making molds and let me tell you, a custom machined sleeve for a ball bearing mold is WAY over engineered and I am HERE for it....

[@DeanJayJackmanJr]

As a Magic: The Gathering fan, and a niche manufacturing KZbin connoisseur, thank you for informing me that an "Orrery" is indeed a real thing. I literally had 0 idea.

[@douglascodes]

Can I say just how soothing these videos are. The birds chirping, the mellow voice, the beautiful brass chips. It's heaven.

[@_Cheko_]

Go ahead

[@tamasmihaly1]

No.

[@georgeyoung613]

For people like us, yes this is an absolute pleasure to watch.

[@jonr6680]

Classic ASMR. Control of audio to prevent harsh noises is key. With machine tools, clearly this guy gets it.

[@marcel9568]

In contrast to the place where the metals were mined. No bird sounds. Hard work. It’s hell. Enjoy the video.

[@ian-c.01]

I really appreciate the effort that goes into these videos, not many people will notice many of the details and few will notice how good the audio is but good audio is crucial to make a good video, I particularly enjoyed hearing birdsong in the background, that's a nice touch !

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Looks like a lot of people noticed. Like a massage for the brain.

[@CajunCrustacean]

Dude, I mill stuff that ranges from twelve to seventy-five inch OD, so this stuff here looks like outright sorcery. *And* you manage to get a beautiful finish on those cuts!

[@JonMurray]

8:25 ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Incredible work mate.

[@homemadetools]

Beautiful work on a rare tool build. We shared this video on our homemade tool forum last week 😎

[@LincolnWorld]

If there is such a thing as visual ASMR, this is clearly an example of it. Do I do any machining? No. Do I plan to do any machining in the future? No. (though maybe CNC) Do I plan to make a mechanical solar system? No. Do I love watching your videos despite all those things? YES!

[@Borgedesigns]

This was amazing, I dream of having skills and tools like these one day

[@tamasmihaly1]

Your patience alone is remarkable.

[@tonywright8294]

Nothing to do with patience,it’s the desire to make it !

[@akaHarvesteR]

No matter how many of your videos I watch, I'm continuously astounded by the precision and skill that go into these projects. Holy crap. On seeing the final assembly, I wondered, would it be possible to achieve an even smaller one by supporting the bridge on the arbors of the sun and earth gears themselves? There seems to be just enough room there to sneak it in.

[@anissbenthami]

Miniaturized machining is so pleasing to watch

[@justasimplebutterfly]

the quality of these videos are meticulously delicious😍

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

Fantastic work! I rarely watch KZbin videos right through, but this held my attention from start to finish.

[@mattylarkspur9858]

this is super cool! also thank you SO MUCH for having actual subtitles from day 1, it's a huge deal.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Mesmerising from beginning to end 👌

[@Paul-ed3op]

Hello, Thank you for your work, it's amazing ! As a mechanical student, I love it ! For the miniaturization of an helliocentric model, I think about the the Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Planetarium. A watch showing the sun and every planets turning around it. It's a really nice piece. And as you mentionned Antikythera, there is Hublot, who made "Anticythère", a wearable watch powering the Anticythère mechanism. A beautiful watch piece. But otherwise, I don't know a model as small and elegant as yours with the moon, earth and sun. It's "cute" ^^ and I like it.

[@LaserGadgets]

Thought this would make a great ring when I saw the thumbnail!

[@dougidoug]

What an incredible piece of engineering.

[@QueenQuill]

What a beautiful piece! I have had a fascination with orreries since I was a small child in the 80s, when I saw an orrery in the Jim Henson movie, "The Dark Crystal". I'm also a miniature enthusiast, so this piece covers so many of the things I love! One of the first things I thought was that a piece like this would make an incredible ring, or even a pendant. One can dream!

[@theawesomer]

Incredible work! Bravo!

[@kmoecub]

Beautiful work. I'm inspired to make a scaled up version on my 6" Atlas. I have a wall clock to finish first though. The miniature painter side of me really wanted you to paint the sun to get the desired finish instead of just tint the resin. Getting that to look right is an entirely different skillet that takes as much time to learn as machining does though.

[@IanZainea1990]

10:00 even though I skipped the ad, I appreciate that you had someone else record the VO for it.

[@bjrn-oskarrnning2740]

I'd LOVE to see a more complex version of this! Beautiful already, but I sense so much more potential!

[@rusty911s2]

Wonderful in every way. Also, that is one mighty toothbrush!

[@jacksnow1703]

Bravo. Nicely done. Camera work, narration, machining, and concept. Excellent. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.

[@peirossmallhomemachineshop5364]

Outstanding and entertaining ... as always. A concentration of everything I love about micromachining. Schaublin 70 lathes are really superb pieces of small tabletop machine tools, very complementary to Lorsch-type watchmaker lathes. Waiting the next video.

[@IanZainea1990]

11:56 I appreciate that you machined a bucket for the little ball, but you could have just used like a pop cap, or a Peptobismol measuring cup lol

[@sakn415]

Would love to see an entire solar system. Nice work!

[@somugaienparfu7752]

This should be in a wristwatch. Please make it happen the next time you revisit this project!

[@TheRecreationalMachinist]

This is exquisite. Subscribed!

[@debrainwasher]

I am amazed by these watchmaker tools, like the lathe and milling adapter. I had no idea, how to even fix such small parts within my ER25 collet to turn or mill these parts. Not to mention the dividing table to make ultra-small gears.

[@marceloiannini8199]

Wonderful, as always! However, this is a Tellurium (sun-earth-moon model), not an Orrery (which is the whole solar system with the 8 planets and sometimes the dwarf-planet Pluto).

[@DylanEdmiston]

lovely. Can you explain the staking tool in a future video?

[@Azavelika]

This feels like what santa would do in their free time. Would love to see this attached to the steam engine powered by a tea candle

[@paultinwell5557]

Exquisite! Thank you.

[@cameronkollin7970]

I love your videos! As a machinist who makes parts for heavy industry, I find this to be incredibly soothing.

[@Tasarran]

This would be super cool mounted on a ring!

[@korebeast973]

this is stunning, thank you

[@divinenonbinary]

So beautiful! I would love to see all planets in the same scale 🫢

[@mrimmortal1579]

Absolutely amazing work!

[@mauvemoth569]

wrist mounting it with a glass dome over it would look incredibly sick

[@kristjank]

So well made video I found myself just completely sucked in slack-jawed and all. Subscribed!

[@fire17102]

This is so beautiful ❤ If you do make it more complex id love to see 1. the earth turn 365 times every year around the sun 2. The tilt of the earth, in ratio with the sun, creating summer, winter 3. Use a hot bulb for the sun and glow in the dark pigment for the earth, to really see the summer and winter , day and night All the best 🌍

[@georgeyoung613]

I am truly blown away by your amazing skill. Just attempting such a project is a serious undertaking regardless of the results. But you create a functional work of art. Much respect to you my friend 🙏 🫡. Thank you for sharing your incredible project with us all. Also I absolutely love your lathe. I would very much enjoy a deep dive into its workings if possible.

[@johnmoorefilm]

Ahhh…the Joy you bring, the loneliness you banish….thank you❤

[@kruszielski]

you should try injecting the red color of the sun directly in the mold. Also, die the center pin in red prior to insert it. I think it will give the effect you wanted.

[@Chiberia]

I've had ambitions to do watch part making nearly my entire life, but not time, money, training, or access to machinery to make it happen. This video makes me extremely jealous (in a good way, great job).

[@anon_y_mousse]

Neat. I'd love to see you have a go at doing one of those super complex watches. You know the type that practically dances on your wrist.

[@Dkmode1]

Its criminal that this channel doesnt get way more views

[@jameshicks7125]

Awesome video! Very inspiring. I like to think I am moving towards this level of precision, but have a long way to go. I am building two different planetarium projectors. The first is a relatively simple three axis starball. I am working on a more complex one with planets akin to the GOTO design approach. Basically it's a projection orrery. For this I am setting up a small machine shop, but this is a large machine with very loose tolerances by comparison to what you are doing. I am always impressed and deeply inspired by watchmaker's level of work. Well done!!!

[@tesmat1243]

Finish it and you can compete with jacob and co

[@OZtwo]

I am loving your work!

[@Michel-Uphoff]

Very nice build, and beautifully recorded. Love the atmosphere! Shouldn't the ratio be 1:13.4 instead of 1:12.4 as stated? (sidereal month and year instead of synodic). We are watching this tellurium from outside the Earth-Moon system.

[@chronovaengineering]

The gear ratio is 12.4 because the gears are mounted on the arm, which rotates. But you are right, I was ambiguous with my reference frame. I should have said the moon makes 12.4 orbits around the Earth, from the Earth's point of view and 13.4 from the Sun's. Good spot and thanks for watching!

[@rickpalechuk4411]

Always a pleasure Thanks for sharing

[@michaelyoung7261]

Absolutely fantastic!!

[@Etherglide]

I can’t explain it but I really enjoy these videos.

[@cassie.m.0723]

This is mind boggling and amazing!

[@littlehills739]

love a tiny lathe as quiet as yours

[@grahamdwells]

Astonishing

[@midgefidget5796]

I had tears, remembering how as a kid I wanted to learn how to make tiny things of detail.

[@GeologicalNerd]

Would love to see something like this with a sunstone sun and azurite/malachite Earth. TheMoon could possibly be a small jet bead. Excellent video

[@davidf9494]

Absolutely mesmerizing as always, watching your videos! Thank you!

[@Skeptical_Numbat]

If you're looking for inspiration, one of the most astonishingly complex, multi-planet, multi-moon, Orerries ever built (as a real mechanism) was created for The Dark Crystal (1982) by the brilliant artisans at Jim Henson's production company. There are both 3D models & toy versions available online.

[@lil-data]

Thank you for the production. There’s are very enlightening

[@Twobarpsi]

Level? Genius.

[@1puppetbike]

6:33 that moon hole!

[@Horus9339]

The Orrery (Tellurium) was way to big, I could see it when I zoomed in. Beautiful work Sir, I really appreciate your videos.

[@AJMansfield1]

11:00 Honestly, the main error here is using EcoFlex silicone -- that stuff just cures _way_ too soft for a mold. My go-to would've been MoldMax, but MoldStar or Smooth-Sil are also both excellent options.

[@chronovaengineering]

Good advice. I used the EcoFlex because I had it on hand but, agreed, it's too soft for this.

[@mrcactus_jones]

Every time I start to think about how I might me starting to accomplish things in life and be useful I see your videos and I remember I am completely useless and have no skills and I deserve nothing.

[@samuelcruz9258]

Wow...Favor de ir al oculista 2 veces al año para que puedas continuar con ese tipo de trabajo.

[@1paulbeth]

Out of this world!

[@jjordan73115]

People who can math are amazing

[@abmbarry]

That is superb! 12/10

[@jimjames4348]

I'd love one of these!

[@Craftix_Workshop]

Ive wanted to make an ornery for a long time and can't believe my faze KZbinr finally made one! Im probably gonna make one myself.

[@xDR1TeK]

I wish I had such machining skills.

[@dennisbormet5091]

What a beautiful and amazing work you did! Respect and also wonderful video. Thanks a lot :)

[@brandonmack111]

Best pencil topper I've ever seen.

[@imakeoscillations7026]

magnificent video, thank you!

[@tyremedlin321]

This man is gonna have the best collection of pencil in the world

[@romanieo]

My type of content. Liked and Subscribed.

[@terrienhumain6723]

Tu travailles très bien; c'est admirable de te voir à l'oeuvre. Amazing!

[@mortache]

Beautiful, but aren't there smaller mechanisms like watches that have more detailed versions? Like "Midnight Planétarium"?

[@ribbonduckling1314]

A little late, so idk if you will see this or already know, but you're supposed to put silicone into a vacuum chamber before you pour and/or a pressure chamber after you pour.

[@petesandberg3957]

What’s a pinion and how is it different from a gear?

[@2tonNe]

I believe the difference is the number of teeth on it. Below say 12 teeth it's a pinion and above that it's a gear.

[@chronovaengineering]

Gear is a generic term that encompasses both 'pinions' and 'wheels'. Pinions have a smaller number of teeth than wheels but it seems ambiguous when a pinion becomes a wheel. Some people say the crossover point is 20 teeth. I prefer to say 16 teeth or less is a pinion, since this seems to be the definition in British Standard 978. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.

[@minibigs5259]

Love thay every niw and again you're brought back to reality with a sense kf scale...... Oh, that's a toothbrush.... Oh, that's a fingerprint....

[@TheToFu]

Loved the video! I think the sun could look even better if you didn't make the pin go through the entire body of the sun. The top of the pin kinda throws off the awesome look of the sun, I think you could make a new one where the pin only goes half way into the sun, so that it isn't that visible from above. Maybe a good moment to also try that color mixing technique for the rosin again! Thanks again for the great content, it's great!

[@gowdsake7103]

Beautiful and skilful I suspect very expensive

[@fattern_]

Awesome work 😊

[@IMakeWatches]

F'in amazing! Thank you! 😂😂😂

[@obscurity3027]

I feel like this guy should be best friends with Chris from Clickspring.

[@jameselger572]

Hey, it's a analog star date clock! Build an escapement and make a hand-less astrological clock!

[@toddhull2371]

Simplified but still pretty damn cool!

[@blackcatsandbmws]

well i’m obsessed with this 😊

[@Richard.Dawson]

This is the 1st video of yours that I've watched, so I i don't know if you use epoxy frequently or not, but if you do, get some UV resin. For projects like this one, it would be extremely beneficial.