Medium Pendulum Wall Clock
$14.00 Medium Pendulum Wall Clock
3D
Published 2020-11-19T17:01:30+00:00
SP3: This is a medium sized 3D printed pendulum wall clock that was designed to print on a Prusa mini or similar sized printer. The completed size is around 165mm by 400mm.
SP3B: Major update in Dec 2024 to be more reliable and easier to build is seen at https://youtu.be/16tLtGy5KAE
The escapement and gears are highly visible. Runtime is nearly 8 days with an accuracy of 1-2 minutes per week. It is designed to be a fully functional clock. The SP3B update is a complete refresh that is easier to assemble with a much smaller bill of materials. The gear tooth profile is a new style that prints cleaner and the escapement has been redesigned to give more consistent printed results.
Total print time is around 130 hours on a Prusa MK3 or 70 hours on a Prusa MK4 with input shaping. Total filament is around 1.2kg of PLA.
Videos of a similar (slightly larger) clock can be found at https://youtu.be/kn1OaGAae5w
The design has been highly optimized for 3D printing including the following enhancements:
1) The gear teeth use a unique profile designed to print very smooth running gears. The new SP3B update adds a further enhancement to reduce friction.
2) The escapement has been optimized to provide very predictable performance. Traditional deadbeat escapements do not print all the way to the tip of the ponted teeth. The escapement in this design adds a wide active surface to print very uniformly on any printer. This escapement style may be unique to my clock designs.
3) The dial lettering was optimized to print perfectly using a standard 0.4mm nozzle. I go back and forth between CAD and the slicer many times to ensure clean print widths using a standard nozzle.
4) Gear ratios are optimized to utilize 12 tooth pinions for lower friction. This contributes to the long runtime.
A few non-printed parts are required to minimize friction and achieve a long runtime. They mainly consist of music wire for the arbors, bearings, common sized wood screws, fishing line, and filler for the weight shell. Most metal parts are well hidden so the clock appears to be completely 3D printed, yet the clock performs nearly as well as a traditional brass clock.
Go to https://www.stevesclocks.com/sp3 to download the latest assembly guide.
Use the forum at https://www.stevesclocks.com/forum to discuss clock making topics or assembly issues.
Parts kits are available at https://www.etsy.com/listing/1680193604 or you can source items locally (Amazon, eBay, Ace Hardware, etc.) if you prefer.
Assembly for the original SP2 design is very similar to the large version of the clock. They can be seen at
Part 1 - Subcomponent assembly https://youtu.be/NduVa_3wJFY
Part 2 - Final assembly and testing https://youtu.be/IOmcpzH5iek
Assembly videos for the updated SP3B design are coming soon.
Steve
Update 15-Nov-21 Added an optional front dial with simple numbers instead of Roman numerals. The numbered dial is called front_frame_lower_numbers.stl. It can be used instead of the Roman numeral front_frame_lower.stl.
Update 02-Sep-23 Added Rev 2 updates to create a solid connection between the pallet and pendulum. Adjustable height standoffs are also added. All new files have a "rev2" suffix in the file names. A complete description is in the rev2 addendum pdf. The files can also be found at https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-wall-clock-rev-2-updates-321782
Update 14-Dec-24 Major refresh to simplify construction and improve reliability. This is a complete redesign using methodology developed in some of my more recent clocks. The zip file includes the new release and also the original (now obsolete) reference design.
Update 27-Dec-24 Minor update to add properly sized gothic hands. No other files were changed.
The largest components will fit on a Prusa Mini or any printer with a 175x175x100mm print volume.
Tested using PLA with 0.15mm layer heights, 4 perimeters, 30% cubic infill, using an 0.4mm nozzle. Total print time is around 116 hours using just under 1kg of filament. Complete printing descriptions are included in the attached assembly manual.
| Date published | 19/11/2020 |
| Price | $14.00 |
| Time to do | 116 - 117 minutes |
| Material Quantity | 1kg |
| Dimensions | 175mm x 175mm x 100mm |
| Support Free | YES |
Great project, thank you so much!