Started the day by rough sanding the joints between the frame and cross members but decided to wait to until I have assembled the clock to determine how to blend these intersections.
As I am getting impatient to see what the complete clock looks like, I decided to drill the centers of the wheels and cut the arbors (shafts). Drilling the centers of the wheels is the most critical process in making the clock. If the centers are too close together the wheels will be tight and the clock will not run. If the centers are too far apart the gear teeth with rub across each other, rather than rolling over each other, as the wheels turn resulting too much friction.
I use the Zenbot CNC Router to drill to achieve the accuracy required to drill the holes for the wheel centers.
With the wheel centers drilled, I had to cut the arbors from drill steel, start to cut the brass tubes that fit into the wheel and turn on the arbors, and begin to assemble the Going Train of the clock for the first time. I deliberately cut all the parts to be longer than needed so that I can trim them to the correct length as I align all the wheels and pinions on the arbors. Over the next week I will make extensive use of my Dremel tool with a cut-off or grinding wheel to cut and adjust the brass tubes that position the wheels.
Very satisfying to see the clock take shape for the first time.
I am not sure what to tackle tomorrow. I am tempted to trim the escape wheel teeth to length so that the escapement mechanism works and I get closer to running the clock for the first time, but there are still a number of small brass parts to turn on the lathe and the last 20 pinion rods to cut. I am still waiting for the 3/4” brass rod that I need to mount the clock on the wall to arrive. Although there was nothing on their website about being closed, I am a little concerned that Hobby Metals may not be operating.