Flying Bird Mechanical Clock Wall Clock DIY Splicing Fun Home Art Pendant Decoration

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This is a fully printed functional mechanical clock. All parts are dimensioned to fit on build plates at least 18x18cm.

When assembled the clock measures 60x42cm (weight not included).

The weight is designed as a container with screw lid which can be filled with rice or sand.

Total running time will depend on how high up on the wall you hang it. With the smallest reel the weight will drop ~111cm per hour (54 min per meter) for the standard version. With the tail feather remix the weight will drop ~9.6cm per hour (10h 25m per meter).

Below are tables with the relation between reel center size and how fast the weight drops.

Table 1. Dropping speeds for original version

This is a fully printed functional mechanical clock. All parts are dimensioned to fit on build plates at least 18x18cm.

When assembled the clock measures 60x42cm (weight not included).

The weight is designed as a container with screw lid which can be filled with rice or sand.

Total running time will depend on how high up on the wall you hang it. With the smallest reel the weight will drop ~111cm per hour (54 min per meter) for the standard version. With the tail feather remix the weight will drop ~9.6cm per hour (10h 25m per meter).

Below are tables with the relation between reel center size and how fast the weight drops.

Table 1. Dropping speeds for original version

Table 2. Dropping speeds with tail feathers remix

Update 2021-06-20: Added remix of tail feathers which increases running time of the clock. See section Tail feathers remix.

Print settings

Layer height: 0.2mm

Infill: 10-20% (pendulum weight 100% infill)

Seam: All shafts and gears have a small notch for the seam. Make sure when slicing that the seam is placed in that notch (in PrusaSlicer seam position should be Nearest or Aligned, in Cura it should be set to Sharpest corner).

Top infill: I used concentric infill for the top layer which in my experience gives a smoother top surface.

Post processing

No post processing of parts should be needed but to be sure, check that the top surface of all gears and nuts is smooth. If it is not, gently sand down any imperfections.

Additional parts

Almost everything for this clock is printed but you will need a few things:

• A string or fishing line for the weight. I recommend a fishing line or other thin (diameter <1mm) but strong string.
• Silicone spray or other suitable (non greasy) lubricant for the moving parts
• Something to fill the weight with, e.g. rice or sand.
• Glue if the press fits are not tight enough

Testing tolerances

Start by printing the models press_tolerance_test and rotation_tolerance_test from the folder Common parts.

Press fit tolerance

Use the press fit test to decide which press fit parts to print. The pieces should be held together tightly but you should be able to assemble them without a hammer.

If press fit #1 is too loose, use glue when assembling the press fit parts. If press fit #2 is too tight, use more force when assembling or check your printer/settings.

Rotational tolerance

Use the rotational test to decide which rotational parts to print.

Cylinders

Place the cylinders on the shaft and try to spin them. Select the one with lowest number which can spin freely.

Nuts

Select the nut with the lowest number which is easy to screw on and off.

Table 2. Dropping speeds with tail feathers remix

Printing

You need to print three (3) instances of the part gear_48-12_rx, all other parts which require multiple instances already have them in the .3mf files. (Three instances of gear_48-12 will not fit on most build plates which is why I decided to only add one instance).

The parts are divided in folders (and have suffix, _pX for press fit, _rX for rotational) depending on their tolerances, print only those who match what you selected from the tolerance tests.

You do not need to print all reel_center_X pieces directly, start with reel_center_s if you are using a fishing line or other thin (<1mm diameter) string for the weight, otherwise reel_center_m. You only need to print other dimensions if needed later.

Lubrication

For proper functionallity it is crucial to lubricate the moving parts correctly. I used silicone spray applied with a small brush.

Lubricate the parts as indicated with orange in the picture below.

Assembly

Backplate

The order in which the backplate parts are assembled are not important unless you use glue.

If you decide to use glue in the puzzle joints I would recommend to assemble them in their numbered order as this will let you apply glue to the pins which will always be pressed down into the slots when assembled in order.

Lay the parts on a flat surface and press them together.

When all backplate parts are put together, secure them with the connector pieces, one over each joint.

Update 2021-06-20: Added remix of tail feathers which increases running time of the clock. See section Tail feathers remix.

Print settings

Layer height: 0.2mm

Infill: 10-20% (pendulum weight 100% infill)

Seam: All shafts and gears have a small notch for the seam. Make sure when slicing that the seam is placed in that notch (in PrusaSlicer seam position should be Nearest or Aligned, in Cura it should be set to Sharpest corner).

Top infill: I used concentric infill for the top layer which in my experience gives a smoother top surface.

Post processing

No post processing of parts should be needed but to be sure, check that the top surface of all gears and nuts is smooth. If it is not, gently sand down any imperfections.

Additional parts

Almost everything for this clock is printed but you will need a few things:

• A string or fishing line for the weight. I recommend a fishing line or other thin (diameter <1mm) but strong string.
• Silicone spray or other suitable (non greasy) lubricant for the moving parts
• Something to fill the weight with, e.g. rice or sand.
• Glue if the press fits are not tight enough

Testing tolerances

Start by printing the models press_tolerance_test and rotation_tolerance_test from the folder Common parts.

Press fit tolerance

Use the press fit test to decide which press fit parts to print. The pieces should be held together tightly but you should be able to assemble them without a hammer.

If press fit #1 is too loose, use glue when assembling the press fit parts. If press fit #2 is too tight, use more force when assembling or check your printer/settings.

Rotational tolerance

Use the rotational test to decide which rotational parts to print.

Cylinders

Place the cylinders on the shaft and try to spin them. Select the one with lowest number which can spin freely.

Nuts

Select the nut with the lowest number which is easy to screw on and off.