Clock Project
CSU MECH 200 Clock project
The Clock Project is a fundamental part of CSU's MECH 200B class. The project, as its name implies, involves the manufacturing of a clock, using cutting, lathing, milling, and finishing operations, to demonstrate competency with the manufacturing equipment available at CSU's Engineering Manufacturing Education Center (EMEC).
Brass pen holder
This brass pen holder was turned, drilled, and threaded on a manual lathe. It was then sanded to 5000 grit and clear coated.
steel pencil holder
This steel pencil holder was turned, drilled, and threaded on a manual lathe. It then recieved 5000 grit worth of sandpaper and a Mag & Aluminum polish.
brass nut
This brass nut was faced, drilled, threaded, and shaped on a turret lathe.
aluminum clock base
This aluminum clock base was faced, drilled, counterbored, countersunk, and slotted on a manual vertical mill, before being slotted and engraved on a CNC mill. It was then manually chamfered with a file and sanded to 5000 grit.
acrylic clock face
This acrylic clock face was cut on a vertical bandsaw and sanded, before being drilled to hold pins and the clock movement.
Lessons learned
Start as early as possible, so you have plenty of room for error if you make mistakes and have to remake a component
Do not entirely rely on the Digital Readout to make your part, keep cross referencing the dimensions of your part with calipers
Do not procrastinate with any phase of the manufacturing process, if you have the time to get it done, do it. You have a lot less time than you think you do
Do not let failures put you in a slump. Get back on a machine and try again, and ensure you understood where you went wrong.
Cost analysis for one clock
Efficiency improvment proposal
A simple two-axis CNC lathe such as a Haas TL-1 with turning tools, drills, parting tools, tapping tools, chamfer tools, and corner shaping tools should be sufficient to rapidly produce the brass nut, steel pencil holder, and brass pen holder.
A three axis CNC mill such as the Haas TM-1P, TM-2P or TM-3P as found in the CSU EMEC will be sufficient to produce the features needed for the aluminum clock base and the acrylic clock face.
A CNC grinder would be able to drastically reduce the time required to produce an adequate surface finish on all of the required parts