Watch finishes, by CNC
Posted by
Chuck Knight
on 2003-12-01 00:05:50 UTC
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/timconnor/ham922/ham922_07.jpg
I want to do this type of finishing to a watch movement, just as an
experiment...isn't it pretty? This style of decoration is done by using
a rotating emery disc, and a watchmaker's lathe...lots of tedious
handwork. I'm thinking of attaching an emery disc onto the end of a
dowel, and chucking it into a router. Needless to say, there is no
pressure involved, but only light contact and a precise and slightly
overlapped toolpath. Given a small, reasonably accurate CNC router,
this should be simple to achieve. FYI: This watch is from the turn of
the last century -- one with this level of decoration would cost a
minimum of $2500, and most are closer to $4000, in today's market. This
one cost >$100, 100 years ago...this is one of the super-accurate
railroad watches that kept the trains on time.
Back to CNC. As I see it, once I have a tool made, it should simply be
a matter of programming the toolpath. Does anyone have a program that
would automatically generate a spiral, concentric circles, straight
parallel lines (cotes de geneve) and other simple "filler" patterns
which I could use for this purpose? I don't want to "reinvent the
wheel" if I don't have to. I already know that the dust generated will
require me to clean the movement afterwards, but for the purpose of this
experiment, I'll happily do it. I could probably do it myself, but I've
never programmed in G-Code.
I know there are simple "pocketing" programs floating around...what
types of paths do they generate?
-- Chuck Knight
I want to do this type of finishing to a watch movement, just as an
experiment...isn't it pretty? This style of decoration is done by using
a rotating emery disc, and a watchmaker's lathe...lots of tedious
handwork. I'm thinking of attaching an emery disc onto the end of a
dowel, and chucking it into a router. Needless to say, there is no
pressure involved, but only light contact and a precise and slightly
overlapped toolpath. Given a small, reasonably accurate CNC router,
this should be simple to achieve. FYI: This watch is from the turn of
the last century -- one with this level of decoration would cost a
minimum of $2500, and most are closer to $4000, in today's market. This
one cost >$100, 100 years ago...this is one of the super-accurate
railroad watches that kept the trains on time.
Back to CNC. As I see it, once I have a tool made, it should simply be
a matter of programming the toolpath. Does anyone have a program that
would automatically generate a spiral, concentric circles, straight
parallel lines (cotes de geneve) and other simple "filler" patterns
which I could use for this purpose? I don't want to "reinvent the
wheel" if I don't have to. I already know that the dust generated will
require me to clean the movement afterwards, but for the purpose of this
experiment, I'll happily do it. I could probably do it myself, but I've
never programmed in G-Code.
I know there are simple "pocketing" programs floating around...what
types of paths do they generate?
-- Chuck Knight
Discussion Thread
Chuck Knight
2003-12-01 00:05:50 UTC
Watch finishes, by CNC
mayfieldtm
2003-12-01 07:48:44 UTC
Re: Watch finishes, by CNC
doug98105
2003-12-01 08:05:06 UTC
Re: Watch finishes, by CNC
Jon Elson
2003-12-01 09:43:41 UTC
Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Watch finishes, by CNC
Alan Marconett KM6VV
2003-12-01 10:03:33 UTC
Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Watch finishes, by CNC
Statman Designs, LLC
2003-12-01 10:05:38 UTC
Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Watch finishes, by CNC
Chuck Knight
2003-12-01 20:17:32 UTC
Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Watch finishes, by CNC
alenz2002
2003-12-02 00:45:07 UTC
Re: Watch finishes, by CNC
Fred Smith
2003-12-02 05:56:39 UTC
Re: Watch finishes, by CNC
Tim Goldstein
2003-12-02 07:53:23 UTC
RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Watch finishes, by CNC
Dave Dillabough
2003-12-03 02:38:28 UTC
Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Watch finishes, by CNC
turbulatordude
2003-12-03 06:15:40 UTC
Re: Watch finishes, by CNC