The RepRap Clock by adrian-bowyer

Description

We needed a clock in the RepRap Lab at Bath University. So, of course, we made one.

It's shown mounted on the MDF build platform from ARNIE - the very first prototype RepRap that we made. See RepRap history at:

blog.reprap.org/2007/02/arnie-gives-it-shot.html

Naturally the hours are in binary...

Instructions

This uses the standard one-AA-battery quartz clock movement that seems to drive just about every analogue clock in the world. It's the black rectangle in the picture below with the brass nut next to it. In the UK you can get these for a couple of quid from Maplin:

maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&criteria=usb&ModuleNo=5034&C=SO&U=Strat15

Start by printing all the parts. You'll need 12 of the hour segments; one each of the rest.

Place the hour segments in a circle on a plastic bag on a flat surface. Put a weight in the middle, and string a large elastic band round the segments to hold them together. As an alternative to an elastic band, I used cable-ties chained together. The weight is to stop the middle flipping up, which it will do if you put the tension on without the weight.

Dribble super-glue down the cracks between the segments and allow it to set. The plastic bag was to stop the clock sticking to the flat surface on which you're doing the gluing. Also glue the hour hand into its centre.

Spray paint the hands a contrasting colour to the rest of the clock.

Print out the file pips.pdf and cut the pips out carefully with scissors. Put the pips in the recesses in the clock perimeter. I found that I could push them in with a small screwdriver and they would stay without glue, but you may need to put a small dab of glue on the back of each one. Now. You can count in binary, can't you?

Attach the movement to the clock face. You may need to put a fat washer under the nut - they seem to come with different retaining-ring diameters.

Put the hands on. You may need to clean out the holes with a drill bit. Start undersized and work up - you don't want the holes to get too big as you want a snug fit.

Put in a battery, set the time, and hang the clock on a nail in the wall.

Hey Presto! It's time to go down the pub.