The Antikythera Mechanism Episode 7 - Making The Saros Gear Train

Hello mate - I will release the CAD model at the end of the project. Its still changing quite a bit as I move through the build and figure things out - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Hi Chris; have you made the cad plan you've mentioned occasionally for this project available anywhere? I'd like to try my hand at some of the simpler parts/assemblies along with you to develop my skills, and it would really help not only to have your dimensions, but also to just be able to fiddle with the model and see how things are supposed to fit together.

Ja

Hey Graeme - Yes aluminium tends to be quite gummy compared to brass and so is not the most pleasant to cut on the scroll saw. Other than the usual advice of backing off on the pressure, it might be worth trying a little WD40 applied with a brush?

Clickspring

Oh great vid as always :-)

Graeme Brumfitt

Hi Chris, I have a Hegner scroll saw variable, was cutting some alu a while back first time "mostly used for wood" and broke about 4 blades I think I tried various combos. You cut your brass so easy, any tips please. Regards G

Graeme Brumfitt

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Another brilliant vieo Chris- thanks!

Matt Lukes

Thank you Ron :)

Clickspring

Possibly Rene, we'll see what it needs in due course - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Are you planning to use some grease or oil during the final assembly to reduce friction and wear?

Rene Schickbauer

Great work as always Chris.

Ron Hunn

It really was Matt! it even makes a nice tinkling sort of noise :)

Clickspring

Cheers David :)

Clickspring

Wow!! That must have been a considerable thrill to see everything moving as it did when you assembled everything together! It was certainly incredible to see from this side of the screen! :D

Absolutely amazing.

David T

Thank you mate - that compilation you're after is going to be a long player!

Clickspring

Possibly Andy, although I most certainly would not be able to hit the required accuracy with a chisel - Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

So pleased you enjoyed it Michael :)

Clickspring

Thank you Christoph, I very much appreciate your understanding on the time between videos :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate, very much appreciate your support :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! Plenty more to come Franco :)

Clickspring

Thank you Chris!

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

I was kinda wondering where you have been.... After seeing all those teeth get filed now I know! Keep up the great work, Awesome as always. Still loving the music!

Clifton Ballad

The original maker was so fond of square holes I am beginning to wonder if they might have chiselled them out. The use of the cold chisel is almost forgotten nowadays, but my grandfather (trained as a steam engine fitter early last century) had quite a remarkable collection of chisels in a bewildering array of styles. Oil grooves in bearing surfaces, for example, were almost always chiselled by hand. If you can work cast iron that easily then perhaps brass is amenable too? (A veru different fracture behaviour might well mean that it isn't)

Andy Pugh

That was simply amazing and relaxing to watch. Ancient world, yes... Primitive? no way...

Michael Lloyd

THAT is one of the most incredibly detailed work I have ever seen. Great, great attention to detail. I personally like best that you are using all the ancient tools for some of the most challenging parts of the build. Impressive alone that you built all those tools. But then you really use them with such precision. Amazing. I was waiting so long for that new video of yours. Would for sure like to see updates more often. However, seeing how much effort and patience you put into this build - it's all forgiven. It just takes that long. I very much look forward to seeing the next steps and expecially a the new fragments video you are talking about.

Fantastic work, once again Chris. Your work is outstanding, thanks for all those fabulous contents you share with us !

excellent as always Chris. Make sure you don't run out of projects please...

franco pucci

More top work from Mr Clickspring, I agree with other comments that this video is one of the best so far! As an educational do-it-yourself series, this has got to be the best I've ever seen (along with the Skeleton Wheel Clock series). I'm continually amazed that you and those before you have been able to completely re-engineer this ancient device from a couple of badly degraded fragments... this is the definition of Living History. :) There's something so satisfying about seeing all these small and precisely cut/filed/polished components coming together, and once again I'm amazed by your patience! Your use of "traditional" tools e.g. the pump drill and workpiece clamp add a great deal of character to the series, and I'm learning heaps of interesting stuff about working with brass along the way. I always thought of rivets/studs as an inelegant but functional fixing method, until I saw how the peened end of a rivet could be made to disappear seamlessly into a face (as with many things... obvious once the concept has been demonstrated by an expert!). Keep up the great work Chris, cheers!

Chris Talbot

Another amazing video Chris. I am in such awe of your work. Beautifully presented, very well explained and such attention to detail. Make a nice noise at the end with it all put together. As always I look forward to all future video's.

Paul Busby

That's a great question Trey - the historical record on BC saw tech is pretty meager - some extant copper and bronze examples (mostly without tooth set and a rather wide kerf). Not much at all in the way of iron/steel examples on record, although its likely that they simply didn't make it due oxidation. All are fairly crude, and not really suitable for fine metal work. A file would have been much more obviously the appropriate tool to apply to the components of this machine, and get the better result. Nevertheless I'm keeping an open mind - I'm mid research on the topic for a future fragments video, so will keep you posted - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! Thank you Scott :)

Clickspring

Amazing video (as always!), Chris! I noticed when you made the flat retaining pins for the square lugs that those could also have been formed by bringing a larger block to the required profile, then sawing into four and polishing. This made me wonder about the state of ancient metal saw technology. Would the original maker have had access to narrow-kerf saws? Or would the file choice been the same, given cost, precision, or material waste concerns? Would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for all your hard work!

I know it goes without saying, but I can not say it: Super cool, Chris!

My Growth Rings

Awesome Matt, I'm so pleased :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! He's very much a hero of mine that chap, a real trailblazer in the field and such an interesting speaker - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Cheers Russell!

Clickspring

Thank you very much mate, I am so pleased you're enjoying them :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate, same to you and yours :) Re the research hours, I've rather lost track of that, but for the build alone, it would have to be well over a thousand hours at this point. I have started work on a new research paper that will add considerably more to that count - Best not to think about it!!

Clickspring

Thank you very much Bob, and I am so pleased that you are enjoying the videos :) Yes I intend to make the plans for the AM available at the end of the build. You can pick up the plans for the John Wilding clock from here: <a href="http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/clock_construction_books.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/clock_construction_books.html</a> (scroll down to the Large Wheel Skeleton Clock)

Clickspring

Thank you Dan :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :) Yes on the practice - I have a scrap of brass plate that looks very Swiss cheese, yes also on the nerves for that first hole! A few things I've learned about using it: best surface finish results come from light pressure (ie reducing the depth of cut to the minimum) and a single uninterrupted cut. Also, I position the work so that I can anchor my hand against the cupboard above my bench which has mostly eliminated the movement at the top. It would be nice if the tool was a little more balanced, but the wood is unstable and flexes slightly once it gets to the peak speed. I'm inclined to think that this was probably an issue for the original drill too (even if a bow drill was used) so I'm going to leave that in play - its making good working holes that show the same sorts of small flaws that can be seen in the wreckage (mostly a very slight wallowing of the hole, and occasional slight out of round condition) - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Absolutely outstanding Chris, you've made my day with this. The amount of components constructed in this episode is incredible, I can only imagine the number of hours invested and it's clearer now than ever before that only a clock maker could have the patience required to complete this project. Can't wait for the next episode!

Matt Tester

Michael Wright has nothing on you. Maybe when you're done the National Archaeological Museum in Athens will come knocking as they could use it and put it on display. Not only that, but you are also explaining the why things are as they are. I started thinking about making one 15 years ago. Just the techniques you are showing makes me know I would be halfway done by now.

Kevin Reardon

And most of the Babylonian astronomical knowledge came from Sumerians, And they got fare share of it from pre agrarian civilisations. And if you live in a trailerpark they got their knowledge from aliens :)

Boguslaw Smalec

Incredible! Do worth the wait. The machine is really great looking so far. It's amazing to see what such a historic piece of archeology would have actually looked like. I have been fasiniated by this device since I was a child. So awesome seeing your take on it come to life. Keep up the great work!

Russell Reckman

The production quality you put into your videos is absolutely incredible and complements your incredible talent like no other I've seen. It's such a treat when I see you have another video available and well worth the wait.

Chris, this is coming together very nicely, hence my question. I do not know if you are finished with all the research yet, but how many hours of research do you think you have put into it ?? Great videos. best to you and yours Ralph

Ralph McCoy

Chris, I don't recall whether or not I've commented about your videos before, but here goes anyway. I am truly awed at the hand tool skills &amp; patience that you display in your videos. The same goes for your research and editing. I suspect that many young men &amp; women entering the metalworking trades do not have to learn how to use metalworking hand tools anymore. I haven't had that training either, but I've done enough in my home workshop to be impressed by your skills with layouts, files, and other hand tools. I also admire how you edit your videos in a way that non-Machinists can understand what you are doing -- the overlaying of your SolidWorks models onto your lathe &amp; mill shots makes what you are doing in an extremely clear way. Will you eventually make any of your drawings, etc., available for these projects, like your big clock and this Antikythera Mechanism? I'd pay for those/these drawings!

Bob Vines

Really amazing stuff as always. Your videos really do keep getting better.

Dan Cowsill

Your stuff is always special but this was just ridiculous. Firstly, the Greeks got their knowledge of eclipse cycles from the BABYLONIANS? That basically means we don't know how old that knowledge is because unless they're recording who worked that out, it's literally lost to the mists of time. So there's that and my brain is already leaking out of my ears at the very idea. Then there's the scale you're working at. i mean, you've done this before but the fitting of the two larger gears with the teeny tiny lugs and all hand filed with no binding or excess play, just shhffff on all perfick and shiny. The whole video had me gaping. Glorious.

Forth Sadler

G'day Chris. I think this one is your best yet, and I've seen them all, several times. Worth every second of waiting. :) Presumably you practised with the hand drill on some scrap first, but even so that first hole in the main plate must have still been a bit nerve racking. The quality of the holes from the hand drill is quite impressive. Do you think there is room for improvement in the drill design? Is there anything you don’t like about it?

Sean Kirby

Thank you Tim - Yes I think it was probably so. I have a feeling that another one (or perhaps a derivative) will show up one day. Or equally as exciting would be a cache of tools :)

Clickspring

Cheers Gary :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate, this one was definitely harder than most to get over the line - very much appreciate your understanding :)

Clickspring

Hey Dmitry, yes its a hand held countersink - I will put into a TGT if you like - Cheers :)

Clickspring

I cast the net fairly wide for music, most of this videos music comes from epidemicsound.com, taketones.com and the artist Sappheiros on soundcloud - Cheers :)

Clickspring

I'd say relatively consistent, although with evidence some of the less consistent scrap (?) was used for tasks like what Michael Wright refers to as 'kerbs' (the bumper features underneath the B and E assemblies) - the stock tapers to the edges, suggesting it comes from the edges of an otherwise reasonably consistent plate - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Cheers David :)

Clickspring

Another video full of amazing craftsmanship Chris. It would of been incredible to watch the master craftsman put the original together for sure, I wonder how long it took the first time? Guess it was something that evolved over time with ever more complexity.

Tim bennett

Stunning work

Gary Knight

Wow, this is getting diabolically difficult! I can see why it's taking you so long between videos. Amazing work as always! 👍👍👍

I have to say, as much as I hate waiting for your videos, the quality and content is always worth the wait

Aidan Jeffes

amazing as always! thanks! always wanted to ask you, what is the name of the tool you use for cleaning drilling holes, the one with wooden handle - is it kind of a hand senker?

I think it's not often said about your videos, the music is awesome. Fits perfectly with the voice and the image, I would love to know where you get it from. Thumbs up!!

Ludovic MOUROUVIN

based on the available scans, does it look like the original makers were starting from consistent/standard stock material?

Dylan T

I'm just amazed that you have the patience to file all those teeth so accurately... I'm not sure I could do it! In fact, it's all looking amazing.

David Jenkins

Thank you Marco, terrific to have your support mate :)

Clickspring

Thanks for being patient mate, it was a crazy one to edit and narrate :)

Clickspring

No reason at all other than I like being able to use the one hammer - Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Awesome, thank you :)

Clickspring

This is like watching the Mona Lisa being painted. Inspiring.

Marco Vujevic

So glad to see you're back with another video. I was getting anxious but it was well worth the wait.

Scott Clausen

I was wondering if there is a specific reason to use a strip of leather instead of aleather faced hammer?

I liked the explanation fo the gearing and math.

Paul Devey

Thank you mate - I do very much wish that I could complete the work faster :)

Clickspring

Oh my gosh, the wait for the new video has been excruciating, I love watching them.

Joshua Clark

Thanks Derek, I'm so pleased to hear that. I feel exactly the same way about making it - its turned out to be something so much larger and more interesting than I ever imagined possible - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Thank you Adam :)

Clickspring

Thank you Tom :)

Clickspring

Another incredible video. I'm enjoying watching this series develop more than I can express. Thanks!

Derek Meisenhelder

I think most of us would agree, it doesn't matter if we get a new video like every 4-6 weeks... With the attention, and quality of videos you produce, who cares!! Someday, I'll be able to afford some decent tools to make something.. I don't know about anything this complex, most of us don't have the patience you exhibit from time to time. I'm sure, behind the scenes you made some mistakes.. We're only human, right? Lol, you make it look so simple!....

Adam Ackels

Another fascinating episode. Very interesting to see the various techniques from your hand filing video in use. Maybe you've been using them all along and now I'm finally aware enough to notice?

Tom Colson

Thank you mate! Technically I'm locking in up to a 1/2 tooth arc position error when I file the square, because that ends up being the position resolution when the pointer assembly is put in place at assembly, but in practice its not going to matter because of the low-fi dials and cumulative backlash of the train - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Awesome work as always Chris! Random question, does it matter which direction way you mounted the small arm relative to the gear? (The tear drop shape bit)

James Cromwell

Ha ha! Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you Chris - A big part of it is aligning the work with the floor (ie gravity lets us instinctively know where 'flat' is), and to the other square references in the shop - ie vise edge, bench, walls, cornices etc. Its surprising how much these subtle peripheral vision cues affect the outcome. A great test to show what I mean is to deliberately put a test workpiece in the vise at an off angle ie put the object line not horizontal, and set the whole thing at an angle to the walls, and then try to hit the line - its so much harder, and you will immediately spot a bias to follow the walls and floor (edit: a bit more info here: <a href="https://youtu.be/h4KaiG7CpSQ?t=6m37s)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/h4KaiG7CpSQ?t=6m37s)</a> - Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Arrrr now all I need is a cigarette lol Thanks Chris wonderful as always

Luke Pettit

I am at a loss for words. The way you work with the brass, it's like it's a natural extension of you. I do have a question Chris. When you are hand filing, especially those square holes, how do you maintain the parallelism from one edge to the other?

Chris Muncy

Thank you Justin, thrilled to have you watching mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you John, still a fair bit to go :)

Clickspring

Well done, Chris. Your commitment to craft and your scholarly approach to this work are a lesson for us all.

Justin J.

Love it. So close to finishing it!

john horton

So pleased to hear about the new lathe John! - this is a great first project for you and your son to work on together: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Bd8G21Vv8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Bd8G21Vv8</a> - Cheers :)

Clickspring

It completely blows my mind how effective all of the relatively "crude" tool tech actually is - Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Chris, how many different ways can I say it man?? HOLY CRAP you are amazing! It is a pure pleasure watching your videos, I sit here in wonderment watching you work. You are an absolute pleasure to watch and I enjoy every one of your videos. My only complaint is that there aren't enough of them, I have watched every one of them at least 3 times!!! I am picking up my new to me lathe this week and can't wait to feel totally incompetent after seeing how you do things!!! LOL I plan on using your videos to help me and my son learn the new lathe and have some fun creating our own mistakes, err I mean our own projects. Thank you sir!!!

Thank you Peter, so pleased you enjoyed it :)

Clickspring

Wow - nice surprise to get my weekend go into over-gear. It's worth all the wait! I'm really liking how you are emphasizing how/what the greeks would have used for tooling and what still looks complex, would be even more complex seen through the glass of time. Great stuff - metal working extraordinaire.

Peter Larsen

Thank you Luke :)

Clickspring

Woot! It’s like a full length TV show, just more enjoyable than normal TV.

Peter Kransz

You have the most amazing persistence, passion and patience with all the things that you create it's truly inspiring to see someone so amazingly detailed at their work! And 15:30 to 15:37 is one of the sexiest things you can see. Damn that looks so satisfying!

Luke Lowrey

Thanks for your patience mate, I do appreciate it. This one was quite an ordeal to edit - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Aw yeah!

PseudsPie

I've waited way to long for a new video! But this is awesome Chris

Jochen Heuser

So pleased to hear that mate :)

Clickspring

Cheers mate!

Clickspring

These are my most anticipated video! Thanks Chris!

A Glimpse Inside

Awww yeah, my daily dose of maschinist porn :D glad you are back with a video!

Strothy2