3D printed functional clock with a gyro tourbillon

Apr 27, 2026 12:50 PM

tomaszfortyfour

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11449

Likes

223

Dislikes

11

I am really not impressed by 3D prints unless it is a single print that works straight off the plate.

This is just precision engineering without the requirement of actually being good at machining the parts.

4 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

"Why have a tourbillion when we can have a... tourmillion?

4 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

For those curious: a tourbillon mechanism changes the orientation of the balance wheel (the one that spins back and forth on a spring to replace a pendulum), so that the influence of gravity is canceled over time.

They're obsolete since manufacturing got a lot more precise and lighter hairsprings became available, but they're neat to look at so some luxury watches have them.

4 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

There we go, that's the good shit! Thanks!

4 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Is there an outside energy source? I can't imagine the spring has enough energy to run this for more than a few minutes

4 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yes surely. In real clocks the escapement mechanism both controls the gears and gives little pushes to the balance wheel + hairspring to keep them energized. There are videos on youtube explaining how.

4 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Love that! Would be neat to order the parts in metal and build that too. I wonder hwo accurate it is, or could be with parts ordered like that. And what the difference in accuracy of the two would be. At least before the plastic one got worn down more.

4 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Hmm, this would be an interesting project for my CNC.

4 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

weeks of making the parts

4 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I have a tiny part of that as well. Just one part that spins in 3 orientations

4 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

By any chance are you a time traveler OP?

4 months ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

You know that I can’t tell

4 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Technically we're all time travelers.

4 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I wish I knew how to work my 3d printer

4 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

There's a TON of info online. YouTube videos have been especially helpful.

4 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Did you try turning it off and back on again?

4 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Spent more money than a luxury watch just on filament.

4 months ago | Likes 32 Dislikes 6

Kindly go fuck yourself and let people have a hobby.

4 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Could be worse. Could be LEGO.

4 months ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 1

$10-15 / kilo

4 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

As someone with 3d printers, it looks more like 2, maximum 3 full spools for the whole thing. So, like 40 or 50 bucks at the high end for the filaments I tend to get

4 months ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

Wrong, I bet they spent less than $70 on filament. That’s mostly hollowed out printed parts, no crazy color changing parts that cause excess waste either.

4 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Looks like it could reverse the flow of time.

4 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Great, now we are going to have a Morlock infestation to deal with

4 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Or jump to other one

4 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Dude, if you can use this thing to get to another timeline, then get going and don't look back. Save yourself!

4 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Was there…here is best

4 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

That's a horrifying thought.

4 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0