Movement holder made with 3D printer

[Waggy]

New version of parametric movement holder, link HERE, updated based on feedback from other WRT members and removed a few bugs. I have printed in PLA+ and PETG and prints well, rendering below:

I uploaded FreeCAD, step and .stl versions to printables web site as this seems to have replaced thingiverse as the go-to place for 3D models - opinions?

Note, parametric functionality only works in the FreeCAD file version

All you need to do is measure your movement outer diameter (OD) and then put this value into the model spreadsheet and it will generate a bespoke model of the holder to fit your movement that will look something like the one above. Depending on your settings the print time will be around 1 hour.

On 4/11/2021 at 7:27 PM, LittleWatchShop said:

I am attaching the Freecad file.  I use Freecad which is open-source software that is heavily supported and it is FREE.  Been using it for three years and love it.

 

STL file also attached, but it is not as useful because it is much harder to edit.

When I get some time, I will parameterize this for easier mods.

movement_holder 2.FCStd 23.36 kB · 15 downloads movement holder.stl 30.16 kB · 11 downloads

How do you upload the FCStd and stl files here? Whenever I try I get a warning box saying that the file format is not allowed.

 

Edited January 8 by Waggy
Clarification

[LittleWatchShop]

6 hours ago, Waggy said:

How do you upload the FCStd and stl files here? Whenever I try I get a warning box saying that the file format is not allowed.

I don't know how I did it!!  It was a long time ago.  Maybe they changed the file type available.  Here's an idea.  Change the extension to ".jpg" and inform the reader to change it back to ".fcstd"

[Zedster]

Hi, guys

I'm very interested in printing out this design as I've seen the orignals used on many occasions and I'm fed up with my movements popping out the standard Bergeon type so want to give this type a go  

As I've never used this type before should the movement be a snug fit in the holder? Once you've measured the diameter of the movement do you put this exact value in the spreadsheet or increase it a little 

Comments would be appreciated   

[Waggy]

I use the exact OD and it fits in with a little force and a pleasing 'click' so it's snug and wont rotate within the holder, but that depends on how you have set up and calibrated your printer so you may need to play with the settings/dimensions a little to allow for any discrepancies in your printer calibration.

PS

I just finished (2 days ago) a new revision which automatically prints the movement OD on the bottom of the holder, I'll see if I can upload it here

Here is rev 4 remember to change the .pdf to .FCStd so it will open in FreeCAD - also you may need to install the LiberationSansBold font and tell FreeCAD where it lives on your PC, or change the font to something you already have on your system.

Para Movement Holder V4.pdf

Examples below:

Edited April 23 by Waggy

[Neverenoughwatches]

58 minutes ago, Waggy said:

I use the exact OD and it fits in with a little force and a pleasing 'click' so it's snug and wont rotate within the holder, but that depends on how you have set up and calibrated your printer so you may need to play with the settings/dimensions a little to allow for any discrepancies in your printer calibration.

PS

I just finished (2 days ago) a new revision which automatically prints the movement OD on the bottom of the holder, I'll see if I can upload it here

Here is rev 4 remember to change the .pdf to .FCStd so it will open in FreeCAD - also you may need to install the LiberationSansBold font and tell FreeCAD where it lives on your PC, or change the font to something you already have on your system.

Para Movement Holder V4.pdf 419.16 kB · 0 downloads

Examples below:

I like calibre dedicated holders, i have a strong interest in the Smiths brand and I have just joined a men in sheds group at the end of my road, i am sure my waffle helped me to jump the queue as initially he said there was a waiting list of around 50, should i feel guilty ?They have two 3d printers so that is going to be another learning curve for me.

[LittleWatchShop]

1 hour ago, Waggy said:

I use the exact OD and it fits in with a little force and a pleasing 'click' so it's snug and wont rotate within the holder, but that depends on how you have set up and calibrated your printer so you may need to play with the settings/dimensions a little to allow for any discrepancies in your printer calibration.

PS

I just finished (2 days ago) a new revision which automatically prints the movement OD on the bottom of the holder, I'll see if I can upload it here

Here is rev 4 remember to change the .pdf to .FCStd so it will open in FreeCAD - also you may need to install the LiberationSansBold font and tell FreeCAD where it lives on your PC, or change the font to something you already have on your system.

Para Movement Holder V4.pdf 419.16 kB · 0 downloads

Examples below:

Nice work.  In the last year, I have been servicing Accutron 218s.  I have the official Accutron hoder that provides electrical contact to the movement.  It is a pretty clever design.  There is a cut in the ring of the holder (shaped like a "C").  When in relaxed state, the holder is slightly smaller than the watch movement.  You spread the cut slightly and drop the movement in and release.  Very clean.  I have made 3D versions of this setup.  Have not explored using it generally for other movements.

[Waggy]

1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

I have made 3D versions of this setup.  Have not explored using it generally for other movements.

Would be interesting to see it

[LittleWatchShop]

1 hour ago, Waggy said:

Would be interesting to see it

 

[Kalanag]

This is the slotted holder for my JLC889

 

[Waggy]

15 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

 

 

I was just thinking, maybe a better solution for my design would be to have a standard base, and then use insert rings for each movement? This would reduce plastic used and print time as well as storage of the different holders?

Something like this:

 

Edited April 24 by Waggy

[LittleWatchShop]

3 hours ago, Waggy said:

 

I was just thinking, maybe a better solution for my design would be to have a standard base, and then use insert rings for each movement? This would reduce plastic used and print time as well as storage of the different holders?

Something like this:

 

Well, when you first posted some time back, I downloaded and ran it through my slicer to get a print time. A bit long for me. Your new idea would solve this. I am anxious to see your progress!!

[Waggy]

Printing the prototype holder and ring now:

I put the bump (keyway) on the holder and ring to stop it spinning

Edited April 24 by Waggy

[LittleWatchShop]

58 minutes ago, Waggy said:

Printing the prototype holder and ring now:

I put the bump (keyway) on the holder and ring to stop it spinning

I LIKE IT!

[Waggy]

All Done,

Here are the finished pictures:

This one shows the generic "one-size-fits-all" base which accepts the bespoke rings - notice that the parametric movement OD (27.40 mm) automatically prints on the ring

From another angle:

Here is the ring about to go into the base:

And finally the base and ring together:

Here it is next to a pen for scale:

On my system with 20% fill each ring will take about 18 mins to print, but I am sure this could be optimised:

Here is the screenshot of the spreadsheet in FreeCAD, you just need to change one value to create the ring in cell C3, (the base doesn't need any changes).

I just uploaded the files to printables link here, but also include  here as a fake pdf, please change the .pdf to .zip to make the file work once downloaded:

Modular Movement Holder.pdf

Any feedback welcome!

 

 

I'm also going to make a parametric ring insert for rectangular/oval movements - but I just finished a parent teacher evening so too tired now

 

Edited April 24 by Waggy
Typo

[LittleWatchShop]

 Very nice

[GuyMontag]

3 hours ago, Waggy said:

All Done,

Here are the finished pictures:

This one shows the generic "one-size-fits-all" base which accepts the bespoke rings - notice that the parametric movement OD (27.40 mm) automatically prints on the ring

From another angle:

Here is the ring about to go into the base:

And finally the base and ring together:

Here it is next to a pen for scale:

On my system with 20% fill each ring will take about 18 mins to print, but I am sure this could be optimised:

Here is the screenshot of the spreadsheet in FreeCAD, you just need to change one value to create the ring in cell C3, (the base doesn't need any changes).

I just uploaded the files to printables link here, but also include  here as a fake pdf, please change the .pdf to .zip to make the file work once downloaded:

Modular Movement Holder.pdf 529.65 kB · 3 downloads

Any feedback welcome!

 

 

I'm also going to make a parametric ring insert for rectangular/oval movements - but I just finished a parent teacher evening so too tired now

 

I'm curious if the base diameter could be changed so that it could be used with the hand press tool, which I believe is 31.0 mm.

[Waggy]

7 hours ago, GuyMontag said:

'm curious if the base diameter could be changed so that it could be used with the hand press tool, which I believe is 31.0 mm.

Good idea, working on it....

[Waggy]

So here is the new base (v 2.1), I made it so that the base will fit over and swallow the stump of the hand pusher tool (or at least my clone of the tool), I also reduced the OD of the bottom skirt a little as it looked/felt a little large, here are a few pictures and the fake .pdf file which you need to convert to .zip once downloaded.

 

The cut-out seen on the below image on the bottom of the base should swallow the OD (40 mm, +0.1 mm tolerance) of the stump and the height of the stump 9.5mm (measured to 9.1mm, but rounded to 9.5mm) - let me know if this works for your tool.

 

Note, I think you may need to print supports for the new internal shelf created?

Here is the fake .pdf for just the FreeCAD base file and 3mf files

Modular Movement Holder.pdf

Here is the fake pdf for complete set of the new base and ring FreeCAD/3mf files:

Modular Movement Holder base and ring v 2.1.pdf

However, I'm wondering how often you could use this feature, adding the dial usually increases the OD of the movement, so you would need a new (larger) adapter ring tuned to the OD of the dial and I wouldn't like to grip the dial in any kind of movement holder if It could be avoided for fear of damaging it. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?

Edited April 25 by Waggy
slight mod to design

[Waggy]

Here is the insert ring for rectangular or elliptical movements:

Note that the length is the side with the stem cut out on the spreadsheet (in the picture below this is 15.15:

Here is the fake pdf file, again you need to convert to .zip after download to access the FreeCAD and 3mf files.

Rectangular insert disc.pdf

 

 

[GuyMontag]

8 hours ago, Waggy said:

So here is the new base (v 2.1), I made it so that the base will fit over and swallow the stump of the hand pusher tool (or at least my clone of the tool), I also reduced the OD of the bottom skirt a little as it looked/felt a little large, here are a few pictures and the fake .pdf file which you need to convert to .zip once downloaded.

 

The cut-out seen on the below image on the bottom of the base should swallow the OD (40 mm, +0.1 mm tolerance) of the stump and the height of the stump 9.5mm (measured to 9.1mm, but rounded to 9.5mm) - let me know if this works for your tool.

 

Note, I think you may need to print supports for the new internal shelf created?

Here is the fake .pdf for just the FreeCAD base file and 3mf files

Modular Movement Holder.pdf 247.9 kB · 1 download

Here is the fake pdf for complete set of the new base and ring FreeCAD/3mf files:

Modular Movement Holder base and ring v 2.1.pdf 402.5 kB · 1 download

However, I'm wondering how often you could use this feature, adding the dial usually increases the OD of the movement, so you would need a new (larger) adapter ring tuned to the OD of the dial and I wouldn't like to grip the dial in any kind of movement holder if It could be avoided for fear of damaging it. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?

I'm going to give this a try today/tomorrow on my UTC33/Seiko 66, thanks!

Edited April 25 by GuyMontag

[GuyMontag]

I printed the base and it is a bit too large to fit on the base of the hand setter. The ring bumps into the column so it is unable to full seat on the central ring. I'm going to try removing some of the materal and see if I can't get it to go down.

[GuyMontag]

15 hours ago, Waggy said:

However, I'm wondering how often you could use this feature, adding the dial usually increases the OD of the movement, so you would need a new (larger) adapter ring tuned to the OD of the dial and I wouldn't like to grip the dial in any kind of movement holder if It could be avoided for fear of damaging it. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?

I missed this earlier. The dial isn't going into the holder, it should sit proud of it. This is what I am currently using which I print for each different movement.

 

 

[Waggy]

10 hours ago, GuyMontag said:

it is a bit too large to fit on the base of the hand setter

I discovered this last night when I printed my model, I'll try and tweak the design a little and re-post here

[LittleWatchShop]

Back home...printing now.  Will report results

[LittleWatchShop]

I had to squeeze the insert in which is ok. The movement size is slightly reduced.

One negative...you cannot wind or set the watch while in this holder.