OT: Help me build a toy watch winder

[Louis]

There are some really neat DIY winders out there, with this gyro-based device at the top of my list:
(I'm not interested enough to put in the effort to build one like this, but it would be cool.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLTEH6_23oc

Of course the "real" production version, a Dottling Gyrowinder, is only $18,000: (maybe less now, due to the strong $)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPhyaIbTL4

I already have a Wolf, so I don't need a "real" winder, but just for kicks I want to design and build a winder that doesn't use an electric motor, or at least doesn't have a motor right by the watch. There are some interesting DIY options out there, but nearly all of them are based on using an electric motor. One idea I had is to use an air supply like an aquarium air pump, but little bitty air motors are hard to find, if they exist at all. Small air cylinders are available (at McMaster Carr), but going from linear actuator motion to circular watch motion is not a simple job. I've figured out a few ways to do it, but it would take some effort. So...

I'm now thinking of starting off with a hand-powered one that uses gears. It would take very little effort to build one using the Quercetti kid's toy you see below as the foundation.

===> Here's where you come in: Anyone know of other toy-based (or non toy) source of gears and the related support hardware one would need to do this? (this wouldn't be to really wind a watch, it's just a toy, but it needs to work) It's easy enough to find real gears, but the hard part is getting the rest of the gearbox hardware required to support the gears. Construction toy stuff like the Quercetti are convenient because they're flexible and provide both the gears and the structure on which to hang them.

Any thoughts or ideas?

http://www.quercettistore.com/en/products/georellotech

[Louis]

Something else Google found - I wish I had the skill and the tools (and the time) to build this sort of stuff:

http://artisanscornernh.com/ian-johnsons-wooden-gears/

http://artisanscornernh.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Ian-Johnson-Colored-Gears-Set-1024x746.jpg

[gasman]

Louis -you officially have too much time on your hands.

[Louis]

Not if the watch is still running...

I found the wooden one above for sale:

-http://www.cog-works.com/

[ceolwulf]

This would be a fun project.

You could probably make a Lego one?

[MattTuck]

You know, as a power source, the gravity light (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dd9NIlhvlI) may be an interesting model.

You'd have to have some way to limit its descent speed, or else it would continue to pick up speed as the whole system gained momentum.

[Louis]

You'd have to have some way to limit its descent speed, or else it would continue to pick up speed as the whole system gained momentum.

That's what escapements do. He doesn't show it well, but the tool on the s-hook is the weight, which turns the axle, who's rotation is limited by the escapement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOie2rMdN6k

[AngryScientist]

very cool Louis. i've always been a geek about little projects like this. i may try and take something on myself. i had built one of these paper clocks years and years ago, and i remember, although fairly simple, it was a pretty rewarding time distraction.

http://papel3d.com/tienda/images/har_910662.jpg

[MattTuck]

That's what escapements do. He doesn't show it well, but the tool on the s-hook is the weight, which turns the axle, who's rotation is limited by the escapement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOie2rMdN6k

Indeed, hadn't thought of it exactly like that. If you did something like that, it would be a big energy transfer system. Transfer potential energy (the weight), into kinetic energy, back into potential energy (in the spring of the watch).

Sort of like cycling. We're all in the habit of converting energy via simple mechanical systems.

[Louis]

Update:

I've ordered the gears for the winder toy. They will also make a small one with an input handle, so I don't have to use the 24T for that, and will also send an extra "solid" 24T (like the one in the upper RH corner) so I can modify that one to hold the watch without ruining one of the other cogs.

If I decide to motorize it I'll have to figure out how to turn one of the gears to drive the whole deal. That's easy if you're willing to use an electric motor, but I want to find another way to do that. In the meantime, it will be hand-driven...