Lord Geordie Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Hi Guys! Just wondering if any of the members does laser cutting of steel? I have been searching for a specific spring clip for a few days now, and it would seem the clip is no longer available! I was wondering if someone could cut a new one from spring steel, using the old one as a template? Dimensions are 0.6mm deep, 0.5mm wide and 26.8mm long. The shape is curved. I am not asking for it free. I will of course pay for it! I would prefer as close to me as possible so I can drop the broken spring clip off. I believe you would either need to make a CAD file of the original or perhaps a 3d laser model can be done? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Wouldn't laser cutting destroy the temper of the steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliver90owner Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Might be a little more to it than simply cutting out the shape. Possibly made straight, then bent and tempered? Already some tension in one direction? Might be simple, but not sure .... Application and dimensions might lead to a source for the part? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NathanM Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Already some tension in one direction? There is now that Zayn has left! Sorry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 There is now that Zayn has left! Sorry... I feel the pain too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morningflight Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Water jet cutting is what you need, not cheap especially a one off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Might be a little more to it than simply cutting out the shape. Possibly made straight, then bent and tempered? Already some tension in one direction? Might be simple, but not sure .... Application and dimensions might lead to a source for the part? http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/308728-pocket-watch-parts/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 (edited) I believe that if you are trying to achieve an "authentic" repair to a period timepiece, then handmade is the only way to go Edited April 1, 2015 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Amateur. I can see where your coming from! But the spring was a mass produced part for these watches, therefor I would suspect they were most likely pressed out on a hydraulic machine? However! Today I found a bit of high carbon steel (being a 0.25" feeler guage blade) and set about cutting down to a blank. Then I marked it out as best as I could and started the process of filing down with needle files and reducing it to 0.6mm. I had to create a bending jig and do a little tweaking after the initial bend to get it where it is now! I now need to drill a 1mm hole for the fixing point and a few final tweaks after that no doubt! Not saying it's going to work, but at least I Gave it a bash. Pics to follow Pics Pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daystate 177 Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Fantastic but of graft there mate fingers crossed it works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Hi could you tell us how your going to temper the spring Or are you case hardening it Great stuff Admire you for having a go All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Well done. The click-spring that I hand-made for the Galileo was hacked out of gauge plate, then laboriously filed to shape and polished. The material had enough inherent spring not to need tempering, but I did cut it curved, rather than straight. It might take you several attempts to get it right. But that is clock-making for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Hi could you tell us how your going to temper the spring Or are you case hardening it Great stuff Admire you for having a go All the best Of Reading between the lines, I have to harden it by heating till red and then swill it in oil. Then temper it by heating it to 700 degrees until it turns deep blue. Then check it over Never made anything like this before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 You may get some inspiration from an not so unlikely source: Part which interests you at about 2 minutes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Well. Update time "no pun intended" Spent last night very patiently re assembling the movement. Drop of oil on each pivot, wound the watch and off it went! Very loud tick but wow! Chuffed to bits! I now have another 9 or so to work on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 How did you make it in the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 There is always something very satisfying about making something from scratch yourself. I am always astonished that anything that I make or repair works afterwards, but it usually does. Don't forget that the only difference between a professional and an amateur is that it takes us longer, much, much longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Lord Geordie - I am not often impressed, but this is one of those occasions. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Aris! Was very hard to drill the spring mount! Pain in the proverbial to be truthful. Then had to have a friend drill it because my drill didn't even scratch it. Got it back and tried it for fit. Didn't line up so took a fair few adjustments to get it right, heated it till red and dropped in oil. Used an old coal shovel on the hob and heated the spring till it started to change colour. Cleaned it up and fitted it. A few minor tweaks and wound the watch. Off it went! Am chuffed to bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 i just love it when people succeed......it give me as much pleasure as doing it myself.... well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Aris! Was very hard to drill the spring mount! Pain in the proverbial to be truthful. Then had to have a friend drill it because my drill didn't even scratch it. Got it back and tried it for fit. Didn't line up so took a fair few adjustments to get it right, heated it till red and dropped in oil. Used an old coal shovel on the hob and heated the spring till it started to change colour. Cleaned it up and fitted it. A few minor tweaks and wound the watch. Off it went! Am chuffed to bits I think the problem there is that you did not soften the steel before working it. If you had heated the piece with a gas flame on a fire-brick to cherry red and allowed it to cool overnight, it would have been much easier to drill and file. Then, of course, you need to harden and temper it, I have always found that a gas torch has given me an element of control when heating metal This might help http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/heat1.htm Edited April 11, 2015 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3vert Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Well done you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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