Clock: Prototype 1

longnow.org > projects > clock > prototype 1

Completed on December 31st 01999

Images

The images below are of the entire three year development of the first Clock prototype. The Clock was primarily designed by Danny Hillis, additional design work and project management by Alexander Rose. Engineering and part drawings were done by Elizabeth Woods. The Escapement and movement were designed and built by David Munro and General Precision Corp. Almost all other Clock parts were machined and assembled at Rand Machine Works.

All engineering for the Clock of the Long Now is done in Pro Engnineer courtesy of PTC. All CAM processing is done in GibbsCAM courtesy of Gibbs & Associates. The Long Now Foundation thanks them for their support.

 

General

These images are scans of large format photographs taken by Rolfe Horn.

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These images shot with a digital camera of the newly finished 8 foot tall Clock Prototype which performed two millennial bongs on new years eve 02000.

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These images show some of the Clock parts as they were being assembled as well as some of the crew working.

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These images are of different configurations of the whole clock computer model.

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These are images of the wooden 1/2 scale model of the prototype. This is just the face, intercallator, adder, and solar synchronizer. There are some parts missing and some that have yet to be refined but it is proving quite useful to begin to understand how everything integrates.

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These are sketches of the two different types prototype designs: Altar and Object. Altar having all the components generally exposed and a horizontal face, and Object where everything is stored within a case that resembles a grandfather clock. The Object clock is of the two face design where one side shows a 12 hour dial and pendulum and the other shows the 10,000 year face and the helical drive units.

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Timing

These are the prototype torsional escapement parts being built by David Munro.

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This is the concept proof model of the Solar Trigger. The cylindrical lens is long enough to work on one setting year round focusing a line of light into the center slot at noon triggering the synchronization. (force output is ~4 oz/inches).

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This is the first torsional pendulum prototype. Kiersten and Chris ended up hanging it upside down from the orientation in these images for more stability. After being impulsed 90 deg. from zero it runs for about 24 hours in free air with a 40 sec period.

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These are images of our first torsional pendulum escapement prototype. We have since radically changed the design. (see the 5/11/99 update).

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These are images of our Huygens Pendulum for the Prototype. Although at this point we probably will be using a torsional pendulum, we were so far along with this one and we felt we could still learn from it, we built it anyway for testing purposes.

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These are the various rolling mechanisms that Danny and Kiersten worked on for the delay this summer. The ball roll ones did not seem to work out due to the amount of drop at the convergence of the channels. The Plinth Roll ones are far more effecient.

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Power

These are final CAD drawings of the helical ball screw drive method.

Helical Drive PDF

Helical Drive (Bottom Zoom) PDF

Helical Drive (Top Zoome) PDF

These are images of the built 4" helical drive unit.

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These are sketches of the ball screw alternative for power.

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These are of the Differential Hoist or N(N+1) alternative for power. The idea is that the greater amount of torque allowed by the slightly larger (1 to 5 more teeth) main gear allows for a slow constant drive. The Explanation file is an Acrobat file with both text and a numbered diagram, as well as building notes.

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Differential Hoist notes PDF

These are sketches of the rack and gear alternative for power

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Display

These are early pictures of the four foot tall Adder/Intercallator 'mill' or 'brain' of the Clock. This prototype is built out of monel, brass, and stainless steel.

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These are images are different views of the Adder/Intercallator pic 3D computer model.

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This small Acrobat diagram shows the different parts of the clock face we are using in the first prototype.

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Clock Face diagram PDF

These are Danny's non-concentric face sketches.

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These are some of clock face sketches by Alexander Rose.

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This is the ten thousand year cam that keeps track of the 'equation of time' which adjusts solar time to actual time by about plus or minus pic 1pic 5 min./year.

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If you need higher resolution images, they can be made available upon request.

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