A tutorial specific to the ball bearings used in the Sextus, but these tips can be used with any clock that also uses ball bearings, e.g Quintus.
Ball Bearing Tutorial
May 29th, 2013 by admin
A tutorial specific to the ball bearings used in the Sextus, but these tips can be used with any clock that also uses ball bearings, e.g Quintus.
i’ve often wondered how it is that hobbyists square their bearings without the benefit of some kind of prescision jig. your explanation makes the solution seem so obvious now. thanks.
sextus is a lovely piece. well done.
KEvron
There is a constant debate about ball bearing use in wooden clocks, but if used correctly they can greatly reduce friction on heavy load arbors, or as in the case of the Sextus for uses such as the pendula, which would be very difficult to realize without ball bearings.
By the way check out KEvron´s videos. Horolego! And I thought I was Crazy 🙂
“And I thought I was Crazy”
oh, is there evidence to the contrary? heh!
KEvron
It was not meant as an insult, on the contrary, I think it is great that you build clocks from lego, and I have watched all your videos and been fascinated by them all. Absolutely incredible. All I wanted to say was that the last material I would think to use for a clock would be lego.
So sorry if I insulted you, that was far from my intention.
i took no offense. all in good fun.
you might be interested in the work done by youtuber benvandewaal. his most recent piece is a lego harrison ecsapement with dual pendula, like your own.
watch?v=f6fttj0W4Yo
KEvron
KEvron
I guess my knowledge in this field is unsufficient. can you please explain why you want the ball bearing to be free on the rod and not tight? isnt the idea of the ball bearing to reduce friction? i would assume that the best thing to do is that the ball bearing is tight on rod and tight in frame, so only the bearing itslef will move freely without friction. seems like im missing something improtant here. please explain more, if possible. thanks!
The type of balls bearing I use are redial, which means they are at their most efficient when they run exactly 90 DEG to the load. As soon as they are no longer 90 DEG the friction increases exponentially, as the balls start to press against parts of the cage for which the bearing is not designed. To get exactly 90 DEG in wood is as good as impossible, so a looser fit will help reduce this effect.
So cool