Why is brass used in clocks?
Brass is a remarkably durable alloy, making it ideal for watches whose parts are in constant motion. Furthermore, brass offers excellent malleability, allowing it to be shaped into just about any manner needed to create components in a watch.
How do watchmakers make gears?
Watchmakers would have (and still do) make the tiny gears for watches by hand using any number of jeweler’s saws, needle files, and tiny drills. The website Adventures in Watchmaking has a good walkthrough of the author’s experience in making a watch without having done so before, if you’re interested.
What are the advantages of brass?
Strong – Solid brass is a strong and durable metal. The combination of zinc and copper contribute to the strength of the material. Long-lasting – Unlike aluminum and plated steel, a solid brass fixture won’t need to be replaced because of rust or corrosion.
What are clock gears made of?
Brass. Many gear mechanisms use brass for the gears. Brass is not as strong as steel, but it is strong enough for areas where only a little bit of strength is needed. Many clocks have brass gears since the stress is very small.
Where is the dividing plate on a clock?
The correct dividing plate is mounted on the rear of the headstock. Dividing plates are discs with accurately located notches evenly spaced around their circumference. Different numbered plates allow you to cut gears with different numbers of teeth. Most sets go include plates between 50 and 100 divisions.
Can a WW lathe be used to cut gears?
The lathe headstock is mounted on a WW lathe bed machined to fit the table of a small horizontal mill. These mills are far more rigid than any wheel cutting engine ever sold for cutting horological gears.
How do you check a new clock wheel?
Checking the depthing of the new wheel with its mated pinion (mounted in the frames of the brass depthing tool) against the original holes in the clock plates.
How many divisions are in a clock set?
Most sets go include plates between 50 and 100 divisions. Cutting the teeth. The teeth have now been cut. Another view of the teeth being formed (the new teeth are to the right of the cutter).