Cleaning materials to get rid of oxcides. Be very careful with chemicals, some you can start the process of cleaning but find it hard to stop the acceleration of deteriation once you have started. You have to ask the question why does it need cleaning, is it to make it pretty or safe?
The plates of a mechanism dont have to be clean, just free of corrosive chemicals, its the pivot holes or jewels that do the work. As does the pinions of pivots. Not such a great problem with gravity arm clocks, for self winders it still relies on good old clock cleaning practice.
Files and abrasive papers. Ali papers can be bought by the roll of meter to take off a surface coat. If you have a microscope, have a look at it before and after processes and learn from this. What might look clean is actually worse, with regard to friction, than when you started.
Drills and broaches. The pivot hole is not just a hole, its actually V profiled from either end and has an oiling ring. The v section make the minimum amount of material to come in contact with the pivot. This is why broaches, not drills are used in the finishing processes.
Soldering Irons. The only use, within a centre lathe, is to 'sweat' a wheel onto an arbour. If you are using it to repair, its as bad as using super glue. The trouble with heating any material is you change its characteristics, as is the process of cooling it. This leads to silver soldering.
Silver soldering. The mechanical joint with this is far superior than that of lead and tin. The only trouble is for repair work the metals being joined will be heated up.
Power Drills. Every tool is made of a purpose, trying to make it something different risky. Power drill are used by builders and carpenters, swashing them in the vice and turinging them into something different, not something to get involved with, the right tool for the right job.
Pillar Drills. These are now the same price as a good power drill and with a good vice a very useful item. They have variable speed. For larger tools the cutting velocity is greater than for a small bit. Hence for small bits you need faster speads and slower for large bits. If you take a 1 mm drill and a 10mm drill, the circumferance is 2pi it. Call this 6, do for a 1mm drill 6 speed and 10mm 60speed.
Also lubricants come in to play for large volume removal and also multiple cuts to give the last cut the final finish you want.
Pillars, tweezers and cutters. These are the basic disassemble and hopefully assmebly tools. Care has to be taken with the self winders to 'load' the clock correctly. Their may be previous 'synchronisation marks' so the clock gets assembled to be in phase, to any inter-related gear work. For the gravity arm and slave clocks this is a relatively minor process.
Bench. The first thing is the lighting conditions and also to have a 'capture zone', so if the part does decide to pack its bags and whiz past you you can find it. Working on a large sheet of whit paper, with a tray underneath, the basic constrainment form. A part lost, or 'attacked' with poor vision, can lead to may hours of heart ache.
Thursday, 4 January 2007
Frecency Meters and counters
Highly accurate ones are available from ex-mod clearance and also from manufacturers of fibre optics. The frequency meter and counters are only as accurate as the basic oscillator.
They are calibrated in service and this has to be taken into account for workshop use. If they have crept, then this may not be a problem, if it is a steady state error. A bit of laterial thinking will get around most hurdles. If the oscillator is not stable, then you may be able to use the meter with an external clock.
The frequency meter and counter are fundamentally the same. The counter gets triggered and increments a counter, it then gets triggered to stop. These two transitional aspects critical, as is that of the basic oscillator. With a frequency meter the peaks within a period are measured by a counter, over a set period, F = 1/T so from this you get frequency.
For the slow response of the pendulum, assumed to be royal, the one second time period, makes frequency readings impractical, where as the precise period essential. This is not to say a frequency meter cant be used as a counter.
Variation of the basic oscillator is where to look, when purchasing one, its ironically only as good as its clock. What type of quartz oscillator is being used and what is the temperature stability of this questions that have to be asked. If you are measuring period, it may be you monitor it over say 100 cycles and take the mean and the deviation from this, to give you a basic statistical reference for the accuracy and precision of the clock.
The triggering can be done off the master clock signals, but this includes the mechanical response of the pawing action and switch contacts. As is any 'noise'/ clonks monitored. Triggering from the armature current of the solenoid, in some way cuts this out of the process. But is not the switch action, i.e. that to wind or reset the gravity arm, that is the clock. Its the pendulum.
The obvious route is a proximity switch, then an opto switch or go really over board with a digital camera monitor system. This can track the movement of a marker on the pendulum, rather than the ticks. Its in the fine monitoring of the phases of the pendulum, and if really good multiple reference markers that gets you to vibrational monitoring of the pendulum.
The basic rules of thumb of instrumentation is that the meter has to be 10 times greater accuracy than whats being measured and should not load the system. The latter in simple terms is that the experimental equipment should not effect what is being monitored.
So what started as a simple accuracy reading of the pendulum opens up the true world of horology, that of the study of the motion of the pendulum. I cant tell you how rewarding this is, to think like a pendulum, allows you to consider it and come up will a whole host of exciting projects to apply to your electric clocks. These are done with now modification to the clock, so history is preserved.
The mechanical fixing of test equipment has to be stable, as physical movement (variation to it) adds uncertainity to the measurement. This comes down to the old chestnut, constrain or compensate. In the same way its relative to the clock its relative to the instruments.
The luxurary we have is computer power and statistical process that can 'refine' data, allowing what was done in a physics lab to be achieved in the workshop.
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
They are calibrated in service and this has to be taken into account for workshop use. If they have crept, then this may not be a problem, if it is a steady state error. A bit of laterial thinking will get around most hurdles. If the oscillator is not stable, then you may be able to use the meter with an external clock.
The frequency meter and counter are fundamentally the same. The counter gets triggered and increments a counter, it then gets triggered to stop. These two transitional aspects critical, as is that of the basic oscillator. With a frequency meter the peaks within a period are measured by a counter, over a set period, F = 1/T so from this you get frequency.
For the slow response of the pendulum, assumed to be royal, the one second time period, makes frequency readings impractical, where as the precise period essential. This is not to say a frequency meter cant be used as a counter.
Variation of the basic oscillator is where to look, when purchasing one, its ironically only as good as its clock. What type of quartz oscillator is being used and what is the temperature stability of this questions that have to be asked. If you are measuring period, it may be you monitor it over say 100 cycles and take the mean and the deviation from this, to give you a basic statistical reference for the accuracy and precision of the clock.
The triggering can be done off the master clock signals, but this includes the mechanical response of the pawing action and switch contacts. As is any 'noise'/ clonks monitored. Triggering from the armature current of the solenoid, in some way cuts this out of the process. But is not the switch action, i.e. that to wind or reset the gravity arm, that is the clock. Its the pendulum.
The obvious route is a proximity switch, then an opto switch or go really over board with a digital camera monitor system. This can track the movement of a marker on the pendulum, rather than the ticks. Its in the fine monitoring of the phases of the pendulum, and if really good multiple reference markers that gets you to vibrational monitoring of the pendulum.
The basic rules of thumb of instrumentation is that the meter has to be 10 times greater accuracy than whats being measured and should not load the system. The latter in simple terms is that the experimental equipment should not effect what is being monitored.
So what started as a simple accuracy reading of the pendulum opens up the true world of horology, that of the study of the motion of the pendulum. I cant tell you how rewarding this is, to think like a pendulum, allows you to consider it and come up will a whole host of exciting projects to apply to your electric clocks. These are done with now modification to the clock, so history is preserved.
The mechanical fixing of test equipment has to be stable, as physical movement (variation to it) adds uncertainity to the measurement. This comes down to the old chestnut, constrain or compensate. In the same way its relative to the clock its relative to the instruments.
The luxurary we have is computer power and statistical process that can 'refine' data, allowing what was done in a physics lab to be achieved in the workshop.
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
Oscilloscopes
These allow you to display voltage against time. If you put a series resistance (shunt) in the circuit, just before the earth terminal, you can measure the current flowing to the clock.
The normal oscilloscope has very little practical use, as the time response of the oscilloscope far faster than the response of an electric clock. Even with the 'persistance' fully turned up, the results from the scope poor. This used to main that you had to purchase a 'storage oscilloscope'. This rather than regular triggering of a rising or falling edge, allows you to 'window' the display bounds. The high persistant screen also allows the plot to be stored and viewed. Most have a photographic contraption, so you can use an instant camera to take a permanent record.
Some used to use x-y recorders, but pens are expensive and triggering can pose the same problem as with a traditional scope.
The major move forward is digital oscilloscopes or digital data loggers. With the advent of the personal computer and input output cards, the solution is literially now looking at you in the face. Most computers have sound cards, which will take an input from a microphone and output to speakers. With a little effort you can build your own digital scope or data recorder.
The beauty, in terms of instrumentations, is the dynamics of the clock and the speed of the computer, using a real time clock to preform the reference to the time base, are so far apart you never have to worry about the Nyquist sample theory, that the highest frequency has to be half that of the maximum of the input, if you dont want alising.
If you dont fancy blowing up your computer, digitial storage scopes are inexpensive second hand. The ones around 1990 use replaceable chips, later ones used custom technology. This means the earlier ones can be repaired and the later ones part of the trhow away technology, as is computer technology now. It works to it drops and then gets replaced, sadly.
There is a major step forward with a digital storage oscilloscope, in that the time domain information can be FFTed to the frequency domain, where the convolutions of time are simplified. Much rewarding work can be done with this analysis.
The normal oscilloscope has very little practical use, as the time response of the oscilloscope far faster than the response of an electric clock. Even with the 'persistance' fully turned up, the results from the scope poor. This used to main that you had to purchase a 'storage oscilloscope'. This rather than regular triggering of a rising or falling edge, allows you to 'window' the display bounds. The high persistant screen also allows the plot to be stored and viewed. Most have a photographic contraption, so you can use an instant camera to take a permanent record.
Some used to use x-y recorders, but pens are expensive and triggering can pose the same problem as with a traditional scope.
The major move forward is digital oscilloscopes or digital data loggers. With the advent of the personal computer and input output cards, the solution is literially now looking at you in the face. Most computers have sound cards, which will take an input from a microphone and output to speakers. With a little effort you can build your own digital scope or data recorder.
The beauty, in terms of instrumentations, is the dynamics of the clock and the speed of the computer, using a real time clock to preform the reference to the time base, are so far apart you never have to worry about the Nyquist sample theory, that the highest frequency has to be half that of the maximum of the input, if you dont want alising.
If you dont fancy blowing up your computer, digitial storage scopes are inexpensive second hand. The ones around 1990 use replaceable chips, later ones used custom technology. This means the earlier ones can be repaired and the later ones part of the trhow away technology, as is computer technology now. It works to it drops and then gets replaced, sadly.
There is a major step forward with a digital storage oscilloscope, in that the time domain information can be FFTed to the frequency domain, where the convolutions of time are simplified. Much rewarding work can be done with this analysis.
Multi Meters
Digital forms of these are now very inexpensive to a high accuracy. Providing voltage readings across terminals and series current by 'cutting' into the circuit. There response time is high enough that you can now look at the responses of solenoids within electric clocks.
The best way of monitoring currents is to use the meter itself. It has a accurate shunt resistor. You measure current in series, this means you have to break the circuit and put the meter in the series. The shunt restistor is very low impedance and remember to turn to 'Voltage Meter' afterwards. If you dont, and you have the meter set to current and you attempt to measure (connect)voltage, the meter low resistance will short the circuit. A large current could flow, blowing the circuit or the fuse of the meter!
If the meter has not got automatic amplitude adjustment, in that it automatically goes from the top scale FSD (Full scale deflection, for the old analogue meters), through the ranges until the value uses the maximum amount of screen digits, always use the highest setting first and work down. Most have this automatic 'metering' now.
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
The best way of monitoring currents is to use the meter itself. It has a accurate shunt resistor. You measure current in series, this means you have to break the circuit and put the meter in the series. The shunt restistor is very low impedance and remember to turn to 'Voltage Meter' afterwards. If you dont, and you have the meter set to current and you attempt to measure (connect)voltage, the meter low resistance will short the circuit. A large current could flow, blowing the circuit or the fuse of the meter!
If the meter has not got automatic amplitude adjustment, in that it automatically goes from the top scale FSD (Full scale deflection, for the old analogue meters), through the ranges until the value uses the maximum amount of screen digits, always use the highest setting first and work down. Most have this automatic 'metering' now.
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
Shaping Machines
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
Surface Grinders
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
Gear Cutters
This is the start of the tread for this category. These start from a set of antique turns, to modern cnc lathes. Please if there is a sub-section to this label please use the subject area and then the sub-section.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
The process of ordering the post allows people to make reference from it and then to make more precise post on the main site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synchronome/
If you have specific experience with a machine why not share it and build and store the information about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
