Signature Clock

Project description

 * The objective of team Anchored Engagements is to design, build, and manufacture two enclosures for the two signature clocks of the Mechanical Engineering Department. These two enclosures should serve to compliment the W.R. Smith designed clocks, educate members of the university on a variety of engineering subjects such as: design, manufacturing, kinematics, kinemetrics, and acoustics. They should inspire perspective students to pursue a career in the Mechanical Engineering and show off what this department is capable of.

Team Anchored Engagements
From left to right
 * Matthew kologi
 * Senior in Mechanical Engineering
 * Jacob Sabata
 * Senior in Mechanical Engineering
 * Chris Roberson
 * Senior in Mechanical Engineering
 * Erik Illum
 * Senior in Mechanical Engineering

Background

 * The inspiration for this project was derived from the master clockmaker, W.R. Smith. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Mr. Smith got his start in the engineering field at the age of just 10 during the Roosevelt's REA(Rural Electrification Association) program. By age 14, he was fixing watches and learning all he could about the latest problems and their solutions. It wasn't until 1995 that one of our two clocks was invented, the Wall Clock. This clock was in W.R. Smith's works for several years before he published his works. Years later our second clock made and appearance, The Grasshopper Clock.

Benefactors

 * This list represents all who would benefit from the completion of this project.
 * Dr. Edwin Odom - Dr. Odom is our client that has been with these clocks from the beginning. The skeleton wall clock was completed five years ago and now it needs a display to go in. The grasshopper clock was designed and manufactured last semester (Spring of 2013) and also needs a display to go into.
 * The faculty of the Mechanical Engineering department.
 * The Mechanical Engineering student body of the University of Idaho

Display Goals

 * Unique display for each clock
 * Implement Raspberry PI/Arduino for:
 * Live video output
 * Optical sensor for heart beat monitor
 * Sound amplification for the engagements
 * LED accent lighting

Clock Goals

 * Wall Clock
 * Design a new weight drop system so the clock can run for a week withing a space constraints
 * Design new winding mechanism so it can be wound from the back of the clock
 * Disassemble, polish/lacker, and reassemble the clocks for final installation
 * Grasshopper Clock
 * Finish key components in the manufacturing stage
 * Tune to keep accurate time
 * Disassemble, polish/lacker, and reassemble the clocks for final installation

Struggles Thus Far

 * Learning Curves
 * Computer programming and fire codes
 * Getting a Design Down
 * So many options with infinite complexity
 * Settling on one that we all agree on and agrees with input we have received
 * Finding one that is both doable and complies with building codes
 * Getting Both Clocks Running Reliably
 * So many unknowns and learning curve. With every small change there comes with it more problems.