Finish celestial train demonstration drive and orrery output gearing - November 2013                     

This month we finish the orrery output gearing needed to manually demonstrate the orrery in both forward and reverse. During this time we begin the sculpting of the movement's frames, bridges and cocks.

The above photos show the build up of the orrery output gearing. The fourth photo shows the drilling of a wheel to accept screws which secure each wheel to its arbor collet.

Next Buchanan begins the orrery clutch. This is represented by the large wheel blank in the second and third photos. The clutch will allow the user to manually adjust the orrery apart from the demonstration drive. But the most important reason for this component  is to protect the complex gearing that will comprise the orrery should there be a jam anywhere within that system while the demonstration crank is being turned.

Next the clutch wheel is spoked out and the remaining components fabricated including a fancy knurled knob.

The clutch is next mounted within its frame and then within the context of the orrery drive subassembly.

One does have to admit that it would be tricky to get ones fingers between the delicate antifriction wheels and around that knurled knob! But as previously mentioned the real function is to protect the orrery during manual demonstrations. 

During the past several months I discussed with Buchanan the idea of making the overall design of the clock's frame components more refined. While these components cross sections are beautifully curvilinear, their front and rear surfaces are a flat plane. The first photo shows the considerable difference between a sculpted component in the background and the untreated one in front. The second photo gives another view. It should be noted that the machined sculpting is performed equally on both sides. The result I think, is striking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUXfBC8kwQoIupflS7aD8H_A&feature=player_detailpage&v=tx8TQuxyjb0

This photo should be used in conjunction with the video below to follow the demonstration of the celestial transmission and orrery drive.

Now begins the sculpting of the frame components that have already been fabricated over the previous years

On those frames, the strike frame shown here, that have been fabricated before now only the frame's arms or the "branches of each tree" which comprise the forest of this fantasy machine can be machined. The areas that hold the pivot bearings whether they be jeweled or roller bearings must remain untouched. This is necessary since the corresponding arbors and all of the wheel works they support have already been made and so these areas cannot be changed. This is in contrast to the first photo shown earlier in the orrery drive where the entire branch with the pivot area was machined. That part was done after we decided to commence with the contouring of the movement frame parts. As with a real tree, the lower branches are thicker than those toward the top. The contouring is done equally on both sides of each frame.

One might ask "what about the large, vertical flat area of the frame?" Well this is the tree's trunk and will later have an articulated "barked" surface employing an EDM machine. That surface will be within a polished perimeter that will encompass the frame's edge like a picture frame. We decided to do this not only to accentuate the idea of the frames as trees but to reduce the large mirrored surfaces that these parts would represent if the entire area were polished. Too many large mirrored surfaces would be disruptive to the viewer and obscure an intelligible interpretation of what one was seeing; the effect being like a 'carnival house of mirrors'.

The first photo vividly shows how much of the frame Buchanan was able to reduce on both sides. The next photo shows the front celestial train frame undergoing contouring, these frames are the most complex set in the clock. 

Close up sections of the contouring process. 

The rear celestial frame is shown joined to the rear pendulum support bracket.

This photo shows the sculpting to full effect. What we see here are the ripe, red fruit bulging at the ends of each tree branch. The pillars joining the rear pendulum bracket have been changed from brass to stainless steel and have been tapered and decorated at each end. The pivots provide a spangle of red, which when combined with the blued screws and silver pillars give a beautiful set of colors spread over the gold backdrop of the organically shaped movement frame structures.

The trees will contain the forest of wheels and arbors and within that forest there will be allegorical birds and snails. Above that forest will hang the firmament as represented by the sun and planets of the orrery. This machine is designed not only as a timepiece, but as a moving, living fantastical mechanical world.

And lastly just for fun...Buchanan has assembled the entire celestial train with attached escapement assembly all precariously held by one frame piece on the corner of the bench, many hours worth of work displayed. I hope the vise has a good grip!!!