The Bitcoin Watchmaker publishes original build logs, machining experiments, movement-design notes, and technical lessons from developing a mechanical watch inspired by Bitcoin.
This archive is the primary record: direct observations from the workshop, long-form write-ups, and ongoing research into horology, CNC, tooling, and Bitcoin-native complications.
TLDRYou're diving into George Daniels' watchmaking with a focus on the "Semi Equidistant Club-Toothed escapement," nailing it with 15 teeth but hitting a snag with 24 teeth, especially with the locking face angle and left jewel placement. If precision watchmaking and problem-solving with escapements is your jam, you'll find this journey relatable. Check out the sketches for a closer look at the challenges you're tackling. 🕰️
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Escapement Wheel
been making a script that follows George Daniel's Watchmaking,
particularly the "Semi Equidistant Club-Toothed escapement"
(which I think is a good option?), and it works great for 15 teeth escapements,
but, for a movement Im working on, I need 24 teeth,
Im mostly having trouble calculating the Locking face angle and the position of the left jewel.
TLDRGot a fascination for gears? This blog post dives into mastering the Joint function in Fusion 360 to precisely position a "train of wheels," ensuring each gear fits perfectly. If you're into watchmaking or intricate machinery, it's a handy guide with gear specs and a video for practical insight. 🤓
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🤯
Wow fusion is quite powerful,
Here Im learning the Joint function,
This will allow me to position the train of wheels exactly as I will like it, keeping the circle dedendum of each gear in place for the gears
TLDRGot some new gears for the watch movement, but had a hiccup with the fourth wheel since the escapement didn't fit—had to swap it out. The post dives into gear ratios and specifics if you're into the mechanics. Check out the video to see the gears in action—it’s pretty satisfying! 🕰️
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New gears in the movement! woho!
I had to change the fourth wheel though, as the escapment didnt fit... oops
Main Barrel m=0.1298 z2=112 z1=16 ratio: 7:1 a=8.3072
Center Wheel m=0.104 z2=80 z1=8 ratio: 10:1 a=4.576
Third Wheel m=0.104 z2=60 z1=8 ratio: 7.5:1 a=3.536
TLDRCreated a script to design a wheel and pinion using the NIHS 20-30 standards, and there's a video demo to check out. This is niche stuff for watchmaking enthusiasts or anyone into precision engineering. The real takeaway? It's a practical tool for those in the field, blending tech with tradition. 🕰️
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NIHS-2030: Wheel and Pinion
Made this script, that creates a wheel and pinion using NIHS 20-30 standards
TLDRIf you're into gear-making, the NIHS standards like 20-01, 20-02, and 20-10 are your go-tos, but the new NIHS 20-30 is the latest hotness. It's not available open-source, but the author plans to upgrade their project to this new standard. Check out their work on GitHub for some cool insights into cycloidal gears. ⚙️
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NIHS 20-01 NIHS 20-02 NIHS 20-10
Recommended in the book "Wheel & Pinion Cutting in Horology"
This look amazing, but apparently there's NIHS 20-30 now, which is the latest, just purchased it, but I dont think I can open source that one
As is, it works and follows the rules, but will move to 20-30 and make it awesome.
TLDRIf you're into watchmaking, check out the British Standard 978 part 2 for cycloidal gears, as recommended by George Daniels. It's a solid guide, but the NIHS standard might be worth exploring, too. For more hands-on details, the GitHub project linked in the post offers practical insights. ⌚
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Recommended in the books "Watchmaking" by George Daniels, and "Wheel & Pinion Cutting in Horology"
These are a nice set, but it seems NIHS is also an option, will explore
TLDRThe blog post dives into the complexities of crafting a movement, revealing that the author's initial understanding of gears was flawed and requires a redo. It touches on specific components like the balance staff and barrel arbor, with accompanying videos for a visual insight. Ultimately, it's about the journey of learning and refining skills in watchmaking, with a nod to the intricacies involved.
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Been exploring understanding how a movement is deeply made, realized a whole bunch of things, like... my understanding of gears is wrong
I will need to re-make all these gears
A Balance staff
A Barrel arbor (you can see it installed in the first video)
TLDRThe blog post talks about a subtle design tweak to a watch, specifically reducing the strap metal border to give it a rounder feel. This small change seems to enhance the look, making the watch more appealing to the writer. There's also a video included if you want to see the watch in action. ⌚
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Shrinking a bit strap metal border, so the watch feels a bit more round, I like it a bit more.
TLDRThe blog post discusses a project involving the use of a strap metal border to conceal holes, with a video demonstration included. If you're into DIY fixes or crafting, this could be a practical tip for tidying up small imperfections. Perfect for those looking to add a clean finish to their projects without a major overhaul. 🛠️
TLDRStill fine-tuning the strap holder, especially the missing spring, and making minor design tweaks like adding a chamfer to the case. Not entirely sure if these changes will work with the CNC yet. Check out the video and sketches for a closer look at the design process.
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Working on the strap holder thingy, still missing the inside spring,
Also added a little bit of a chamfer to the case, not sure if this is ok for the cnc yet.
