The Clockmakers Aid

Clockmakers Aid has been written to provide a quick and easy way of performing routine calculations needed in a clockmakers workshop. It is based on some articles published in the British Horological Institute's magazine 'Horological Journal' as well as the BHI's Correspondence Course.

There are 5 main menu functions in the program. Some menu functions have submenu functions:

Pendulum Menu

(i) Pendulum Length: This option is used to calculate the theoretical length of a simple pendulum required to maintain timekeeping on a clock that has a known gear train. The length of the pendulum will then be given in the units defined in the File/Set defaults screen. (ii) Change in length. This option is used to calculate the change in a pendulum's length to correct its timekeeping error. It is used when a clock has been running for a known length of time with a test pendulum, and it has not kept correct time.

Wheels Menu

(i)Diameter: This option is used to find the blank diameter of a wheel or pinion if the module and the number of teeth is known. The depth of cut is also calculated and displayed. During the running of this option, the addendum constant entered in the defaults screen will be used in the calculations. (ii) Module: This option is used to find the module of a wheel or pinion if the diameter and the number of teeth is known. As with the wheel/pinion diameter option, the depth of cut is also calculated and displayed. During the running of this option, the addendum constant entered in the defaults screen will be used in the calculations.

Cutting Speeds Menu

This option is used to find the suggested optimum rpm for machining metals. The rpm's are based on the assumption that sharp High Speed Steel tools are used. The formulae and the default suggested speeds are taken from the Presto Cutting tools advisory booklet. The speeds used for the calculations can be altered in the Set Defaults option in the File menu.

Mainspring Calculations Menu

(i) Number of turns: This option calculates the number of turns that a barrel will make when the clock is run for a known number of days. The calculation is based on the assumption that the centre wheel turns once per hour and that the centre wheel pinion is driven directly from the barrel. (ii) Size of mainspring: This option will calculate the theoretical strength (thickness) of a spring required for a known barrel. This is worked out from the principle that when the spring is unwound, it should occupy half the available area in the barrel. It should also have enough coils to drive the barrel for the given number of turns with a little to spare. The computer will display the limiting circle radius and the suggested strength required for the spring and the theoretical length.

Moonphases Menu

This option will calculate approximate moonphases using formulae published by F.W. Britten. The formulae were also published in the Horological Journal in January 1992. The moon phases given should be within two days accuracy of the actual phases.

This program is copyrighted and provided by: Tony Harrison-Smith (Internet address is Tony@pattens.co.uk) The download size is 157K.

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To Install:

This program is a DOS program, so will work under DOS, under WIN3.x or under WIN95. These are the instructions for installation under WIN95.

1. Create a subdirectory of C:\PROGRAM FILES\ named ClockAid.

2. Download the program by clicking on the link below. The program is in ZIP format so you will have to unzip it before you can use it. Unzip it into the C:\PROGRAM FILES\CLOCKAID\ directory. Once unzipped, you may delete the zip file if you want to save the disk space.

3. Bring up Windows Explorer. Drag the shortcut icon from the C:\PROGRAM FILES\CLOCKAID directory into the C:\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS directory (or any of the subdirectories in that directory.

4. The installation is now complete. By clicking the Start button, you should be able to find the short cut to activate the program.

5. The documentation is in the directory with the program and is named ClockAid.doc. This is actually a txt file (in spite of the extension on the name). You can open it with any text editor or with any word processor. Be sure to review the default values as shown in the documentation before trying to use the program.

6. The printing functions in this program might not work with laser or inkjet printers. However, this should not be a major problem, because you can print to a file and use a Windows program to do the actual printing.


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