Galileo Clock

NOTE:
A newer version 3.1 is available here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5549040

This is the design (made with OpenSCAD and fully customisable) of a functioning mechanical clock following the original ideas of Galileo Galilei dating back to 1600, that can be made on a laser cutter (with the addiction of standard bearings and a few other simple parts).

The oscillating mechanism uses a clever escapement system attributed to Galileo himself and also the first application of a pendulum to a clock (Galileo was the first to observe the isochronism of the pendulum, in 1602!)

The design has been modelled with OpenSCAD (sources included: two files form the BOSL library are also needed and are included here, just create a folder named "BOSL" and move them inside: constants.scad and involute_gears.scad), it can be animated to show the movements of all parts, and it is fully customisable. Generation of the DXF vector files is easily achieved by uncommenting the "projection" lines and then select "2D export as dxf" within OpenSCAD.

This model is part of an effort, promoted by the "Associazione Amici dell'Orologeria Pesarina Giovanni Battista e Remigio Solari", to teach the basics of the ancient clockmaking traditions of Val Pesarina (Pesariis, Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy) to the students of high schools and technical schools in Italy. The model mechanics are based on the original drawings by Galileo Galilei and on many other modern renderings and reconstructions found on the Internet (see source code for links), and have been re-designed in OpenSCAD by Carlo Fonda with contributions from Alberto Tonelli and Stefano Solari.

The design and the laser-cut prototype (all pieces are made from 10mm plywood, 608 bearings and wooden axes of 8mm diameter) has been done at the Scientific Fablab of the ICTP (The Abdus Salam International centre for Theoretical Physics) based in Trieste, Italy.

List of 2D vector files and number of pieces needed (from 10 mm plywood):

BASE_A.dxf
BASE_B.dxf
BLOCCO.dxf
BOCCOLA_Z20.dxf
BOCCOLA_Z40.dxf
CARICA_1.dxf
CARICA_2.dxf
CARICA_3_x6.dxf (six copies)
Galileo_Clock_2.1.dxf
Galileo_Clock_2.1.pdf
Galileo_Clock_2.1.svg
GEAR_Z10.dxf
GEAR_Z20.dxf
GEAR_Z40.dxf
NOTTOLINO_x4.dxf (four copies)
ORIZZ_x2.dxf (two copies)
PENDOLO.dxf
PLINTO_1A.dxf
PLINTO_1B.dxf
PLINTO_2A.dxf
PLINTO_2B.dxf
PLINTO_3A.dxf
PLINTO_3B.dxf
PLINTO_4A.dxf
PLINTO_4B.dxf
RANELLA_x2.dxf (two copies)
RUOTA_GALILEO.dxf
SECONDI.dxf
UNGHIA_A.dxf
UNGHIA_B.dxf

List of axes length (diameter = 8mm):

165mm lower axe
60mm middle axe
160mm higher axe
70mm (2 pieces, axes for the blocking mechanism and for the pendulum)
30mm (12 pieces, pins for the wheel)

Other materials:

• 11 bearings of type 608 (ID 8mm, OD 22mm)
• screws and glue for wood
• 2 rubber bands for the charge mechanism
• metal washers as weights for the pendulum
• rope and heavy weight for the charge mechanism

UPDATE (2023):

Version v3.1 added.

Changes from v3.0 to v3.1:
axes diameter moved from 8mm to 10mm, but small pins are still 8mm;
bearings changed from 608 to 6000 (ID:10mm, OD:26mm, thickness: 8mm);
charge mechanism simplified (one less part);
one vertical pillar removed;
one transfer gear (Z10) removed;
base with rounded corners;

You find version 3.1 as separate item on Thingiverse here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5549040