Gear Clock

1. Safety First: Ensure workspace is free of fire, electrical and other safety hazards. Be aware of all safety issues when cutting materials with a laser. Always have a fire extinguisher on hand
2. Power on the laser and all of its components.
3. Ensure that:
   - The laser is powered and the boot up cycle begins on the screen.
   - The cooling system is connected properly and water is flowing through the tube.
   - The air compressor is powered and exhausting air to the laser head.
   - The exhaust system is on and vented into a safe location.
4. Connect to RetinaEngrave 3.0 software using your machine’s touch screen to copy the software IP address into your favorite browser. The Wired IP address is displayed at the bottom of your touch screen.
5. Import your design and adjust power and speed settings. Double check settings including the number of passes and cut order.  (It is a good idea to have extra material on hand to run power and speed tests before hand)
6. Insert material into the laser bed. Use the focus tool to adjust to the top of the material. Focusing should be done each time a new material is introduced.
7. Use the “Perimeter” function to ensure that the file will fit within the cutting area. Adjust accordingly.
8. Run the job file. Do not leave a job running unattended.

Material Links:

• Clock Mechanism: Find it on Amazon
• AC Motor: Find it on Amazon

Included Files:

• Circle:  This is the back plate that everything is mounted onto
• Clock Number:  This file includes the numbers that span the circumference of the clock
• Gears:  This is the file that includes the gears that spin.  The AC motor will attach to one of these
• Crosshair:  The top layer of the clock.
• Clock Notch:  Mounted on the circle back plate, elevated using the spacers and held in place with the Cap Nuts.

Assembly Instructions:

Note:  You will need a drill since the holes are not included in the cutting files. These are meant to be sized to match your laser and materials.

Painting:  Chose your own colors for each component and paint them before assembly.

1. The "Circle" file will be the foundation to this entire project.  Everything will be mounted to this piece.
2. Size the gears file so the largest circle will be about 90% to 95% the size of the Circle file.  You will need to leave enough space around the edge of the circle to drill holes and use the spacers to mount the Crosshair file.  You will want to make sure the outside gear will easily spin and that it is not too tightly fit.
3. Drill holes close to the edge of the circle to attach the clock numbers (at 12, 3, 6 and 9 positions) to the back side.  Once this is attached, drill holes at each of the remaining numbers that don't have the holes.
4. Fit your spacers at each hole and hold them in place temporarily with the screws and cap nuts.
5. Fit your gears.  (Builder tip:  don't throw away or scrap your materials from the gear cut.  Keep the material from the gears in the negative space so you can have a template to place your gears).  Once your gears are fit, drill holes in the exact center of the gears, then drill the holes into the circle backplate.  The AC motor will fit into one of these and will allow them to spin, so make sure the hole in that gear is large enough to accommodate the motor.  Use washers as spacers between the gear and the circle back plate.  Locking Nuts will be used to keep the gears in place, since they will need to be kind of loose so the gears can spin.
6. Drill an appropriately sized hole in the center of your circle back plate that will fit your clock mechanism, and mount your mechanism.
7. Using the Clock Notches, you will attach the Crosshair portion to the front.  Mark the center spot where the clock mechanism will go through, and then drill a hole.  Feed a screw through the back side of each of your clock notch holes, then put the spacer on the front side.  On top of each spacer, you will place an individual clock notch.  Then you will place the crosshair on top of these notches, and then put a second notch on top of it.  Use a washer and cap nut to tighten these down, and the notches should hold the crosshair tightly in place.
8. Now to add the finishing touches, Attach the clock hands and safely connect your motor to a power cord so you can plug it into a wall socket.  Make sure there are no bare wires coming from your motor and your connections to it.

We would love to see your creations.  If you have created this project and would like to share it with us, make sure to tag us on Facebook and Instagram using the #MadeWithFSL hashtag!