Council Requested!

Alright, heres the skinny.
I am currently working on a new project, a clockwork heart. And i have everything all worked out, EXCEPT, the power source.
I would rather not use any kind of electric hoozamawhatzit, and i have yet to find a suitable music box movement.
My idea was to use a either a kinetic pocket watch or wristwatch movement, and epoxying anything i need to attach as opposed to soldering, in order to avoid melting my watch movement.

So here's the problem(s);
I don't know how much a watch movement can handle. If i where to run 10-20 interconnected clock gears off of it, would it even turn? I dont want to dish out the currencies for this watch movement only to have it not work.

Also, i need to find a good spot to GET a kinetic watch movement.

Any other tips you guys have for me would also be greatly appreciated.

So. Advice?

Thanks!

inspired by this, perhaps? (or the rest of the album)
http://www.videology-tv.com/viewclip.php?id=100

How big is the thing you're making? Can you make the gear axles low friction? Maybe look into alarm clocks for winding mechanisms? Or how about a gravity mechanism (think cuckoo clock), or even a motion mechanism (pendulum or motion activated ratcheting lever)?

It's quite small.
Not much wider than my fist.
And i guess i could use some graphite or something to lube the axles.
I think those things might be to big.
Im looking for somthing not much bigger than a pocket watch movement.

By Kinetic, I'll assume you mean automatic winding, not the electro-mechanical kinetics, a la Seiko..
Any watch movement, be it pocket or wrist, may not put out sufficient torque for your purposes.
Watches don't need a ton of torque to work.
I'd suggest you look at a clockwork motor along the lines of the old Meccano ones..

Cheers
Harold

What about straight up wind-up torque springs? Like what would be used in these mechanical wind-up alarm clocks? These things with the metal bells that can go *brrriiiinnngggggggg* in the morning?

I remember that every time I played at winding these things up, it required quite respectable energy to twist the little key....mmmmm.... so fun.

HAC wrote:By Kinetic, I'll assume you mean automatic winding, not the electro-mechanical kinetics, a la Seiko..
Any watch movement, be it pocket or wrist, may not put out sufficient torque for your purposes.
Watches don't need a ton of torque to work.
I'd suggest you look at a clockwork motor along the lines of the old Meccano ones..

Cheers
Harold

Thanks, great advice. Thats pretty close to what i need. As long as they arent to big. I can always cut some holes in it and make it look prettier.

heavyporker wrote:What about straight up wind-up torque springs? Like what would be used in these mechanical wind-up alarm clocks? These things with the metal bells that can go *brrriiiinnngggggggg* in the morning?

I remember that every time I played at winding these things up, it required quite respectable energy to twist the little key....mmmmm.... so fun.

Maybe, I'd need an alarm clock to break and tinker with.
Probably a couple. But that's like, THE best part. So good possibility there too!


I think what might end up happening is i slap together a sort of interim project while i look for the bits and pieces necessary.

Thanks for the advice!

Visited the local clock repair shop today, and picked these up!
Success!

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Ill post up pictures as the project comes along.