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Added 6 V to SP7 as suggested...no joy!!

Help. As suggested in other post regarding the pendulum not swinging far enough, I added a 6V power plug and still have the same issue. The pendulum swing is close but just not far enough. Can anyone suggest a fix for this?



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hoppy
9 hours ago

I am sure you know that the magnet must be as close to the coil as possible and I used a rare earth magnet (neodymium) because they are much more powerful than

the iron type. The new magnet would increase the swing. I can't remember if your present magnet must be installed with a polarity or not but it may be worth while to reverse the magnet and give it a try. It also may be that the pendulum may be too heavy not allowing the magnetic pulse to push it far enough. One other thing I noticed is the ratchet wheel is allowed to move backward with the paw. This would also require more swing from the pendulum .

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Just built electromagnetic clock. Can't get the ratchet to work right.

I have tied several pawls and clips trying to get this clock to ratchet correctly. I got it to the point where the pendulum swings twice before advancing the ratchet gear. It seems that the pendulum is not swinging far enough. What is happening is when I put the pawl and clip at the top most hole the pendulum swing a wide arc. As I move the pawl and clip down the pendulum arc becomes less and less resulting in the same pendulum swinging twice before advancing the gear. I don't understand why the pendulum arc is less the further down the holes I go. Doesn't make sense to me.

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SP5B Troubleshooting

This is a forum post by csn030696 made just before Wix shut off the forum. I copied it here to "Groups" since it may be relevant to other builders.

Steve


Hi Steve,


First, I’d like to thank you for these designs. I have been interested in clocks since I inherited a grandfather clock in middle school from my grandma and enjoyed tinkering with it to get it running again. I was thrilled to stumble upon your designs a few years ago.


Originally about a year and a half ago, I attempted to build your SP4 Large Easy Build Wall Clock. I got it setup and running for a few weeks until one day it slowed and stopped. After that point, I ran through your common troubleshooting steps to no avail. It hung on the wall untouched and not running until a few weeks ago when I decided to give it…


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Steve
Steve
Oct 16

Hi Chris,


It seems like there are two issues here. SP4 received the same upgrade as SP5 to improve reliably considerably. You can download the updated SP4B design as long as you can still log into MyMiniFactory using the same account used to purchase SP4. Unfortunately, I believe it is mostly a complete rebuild. The new gears have to be completely replaced. The new gears and winding key require a new frame. So the entire clock needs to be reprinted. The weight shell and pendulum might be the only re-used parts.


Getting SP4 running again often requires finding what may have changed regarding friction. Sometimes the bearings need to be cleaned. Also check for end shake on the central arbor and escapement arbor. A very tiny bit of side thrust can stall the escapement. It may help to add grease to the pinion teeth. Only a tiny bit is needed and it will work its way through the main gear teeth. PLA seems to be resistant to most greases and solvents. The only other advice is to do the debug checklist that you have already completed. Double check that all gears spin on their arbors and all arbors spin in the frame. This is especially true for the gear 3 arbor since gear 3 is attached to the arbor (or at least it is in the SP4B implementation).


Since you also have the new SP5B, maybe it would be best to focus on debugging that clock. If the pendulum swings for 10-12 minutes, why does the clock stop running in less than 2 minutes? Is the escapement rotating freely? Or is it getting in the way of the pallet and slowing down the pendulum? Move the pendulum back and forth manually. The escapement should start spinning immediately when the pallet clears the escapement teeth. Any lag in the escapement starting to spin will prevent energy from being transferred to the pendulum. Check for end shake on the central arbor, the gear 3 arbor, and the escapement between gear 3 and the shaft collar.


The easy build clocks do not suffer from frame sag like the other vertical oriented clocks. You probably don't need to worry about it as long as the frame was printed with 3-4 walls for strength.


Steve



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Herbert Kelly
Herbert Kelly

CAD

Hi Steve, Firstly wonderful website and designs, I bought a 3d printer just so I can start printing some of these clocks. I have always loved clocks and mechanical devices and this seems like a really cool way to get into it. I found the video you did on the gear optimization fascinating I am ok in programming and looked at SCAD and BOSL2 for designing gears and might go down that tangent but I wondered what you used for CAD, you mentioned gearotic but I did not catch the CAD program you used. Thanks for sharing your knowledge :) Herbert

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I read lower down that you use Turbocad man did that bring back memories and make me feel old. I have not used turbocad in decades. I am South African so have some memories of being proud that it was developed there haha. I will probably invest time in the new kid on the block then Fusion 360 :P

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Hemant Kolhe
Hemant Kolhe

The Fascinating World of Atomic Clocks: Precision Timekeeping at Its Finest

Introduction to Atomic Clocks: The Ultimate Timekeeping Devices


Atomic clocks are the most precise timekeeping devices in existence, relying on the consistent vibrations of atoms to measure time. Unlike traditional clocks that depend on mechanical parts or quartz crystals, atomic clocks use the resonance frequencies of specific atoms, such as cesium or rubidium, to define a second with extraordinary accuracy. These clocks are essential for various applications, including GPS navigation, global communication networks, and scientific research. Their ability to maintain time with minimal drift is crucial for synchronizing systems worldwide. Since their invention in the mid-20th century, atomic clocks have revolutionized how we measure and perceive time, enabling advancements in technology and science that require unparalleled precision.


How Atomic Clocks Work: The Science Behind Precision


Atomic clocks operate based on the principle that atoms oscillate at incredibly stable frequencies. Cesium-133 atoms, for example, oscillate approximately 9,192,631,770 times per second, defining…


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SP5B pendulum arbor

I came across an old video of yours (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbh_vp3qcRU) when I doing some experiments on friction with various arbor sizes. You say that smaller arbors have smaller friction. I was wondering why you went with a 3mm arbor for the pendulum in SP5, as it is the place where friction (or energy loss) matters the most. Wouldn't 1.5mm have given lower energy loss and hence allowed a lower driving weight.


(Long and probably tedious details follow.)

My experiments consisted of setting up a standalone pendulum and timing how long its swing took to decay over a specific range. I did this with 1.5, 2 and 3mm arbors, and I also compared cases where the arbor was held tightly in the pendulum head and where it was loose. It was always loose in the frame. I also tried bearings versus a smooth and deburred hole of a size a little larger…

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Mark Holcomb
Mark Holcomb
4 days ago

great discussion. I reprinted you latest clock SP5b and had immediate success with run times into the weeks. .. then it would stop and restart once a day. I think i is friction in the center gear 4 and 6 clearance issue ...reduced clearance in the assembly (compressed everything ) and now it is working .. amazing engineering !

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How many stages?

I had a general question about clock design. In clocks such as SP5 and SP10, your design goes:

Escape wheel (26 teeth, 10 pinion in SP5) ->

Intermediate Gear A (50/10) ->

Intermediate Gear B (50/12) ->

Minute wheel (54 teeth).


I've seen other designs with only one intermediate gear, for example


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Unknown member
Oct 18

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Forum discontinued by Wix

The Wix website host I have been using sent a message that the forum utility will be discontinued as of 15-Oct-2025. New posts will no longer be allowed after 15-Oct-2025 and all posts will be deleted on 01-Mar-2026.


They recommend switching to a new "Groups" utility and provided a conversion tool that made it look easy. All existing posts appear to have been transferred to groups on 16-Sep-2025. Hopefully, this new utility will be easier to use than the existing forum utility.


Steve

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Welcome to our group Steve's Clocks Group! A space for us to connect and share with each other. Start by posting your thoughts, sharing media, or creating a poll.

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