Bezel fabrication

[Kappa505]

As part of my watchmaking journey I decided to replace some bezels on a watch that bezels are very hard to come by. I was able to pick up a donor watch with a bezel that I am taking measurements from. I am slowly learning fusion 360 and printing my prototypes. Once I have a working prototype I will manufacture them from either titanium or aluminum. This is where I am now on these orient dive watches. 

[Kappa505]

Update: finding an online cnc lathe company that wants to do these id difficult. No one wants to just make a few units. I have a few more options that I am looking into. 

[Kappa505]

Update: I have manufactured a trial bezel from ceramic. It has a nice friction fit but loses the fit when a spacer ring is used between the watch body and bezel. This needs to be adjusted. I still need to add the coin edge and other markings but I am getting closer and closer. Here are a few pics of this process. The first picture shows the ceramic bezel in it's green state before removing from the workpiece and an 8+hour sintering cycle. Notice how much this ceramic shrinks from green state to final state. Original bezel can be seen sitting inside the green state ceramic one. 

[gbyleveldt]

Wow, fascinating!

[Neverenoughwatches]

4 hours ago, Kappa505 said:

Update: I have manufactured a trial bezel from ceramic. It has a nice friction fit but loses the fit when a spacer ring is used between the watch body and bezel. This needs to be adjusted. I still need to add the coin edge and other markings but I am getting closer and closer. Here are a few pics of this process. The first picture shows the ceramic bezel in it's green state before removing from the workpiece and an 8+hour sintering cycle. Notice how much this ceramic shrinks from green state to final state. Original bezel can be seen sitting inside the green state ceramic one. 

Now thats pretty cool. Keen to see the edging and marking up.

[manjo]

On 11/2/2022 at 5:16 PM, Kappa505 said:

Update: I have manufactured a trial bezel from ceramic. It has a nice friction fit but loses the fit when a spacer ring is used between the watch body and bezel. This needs to be adjusted. I still need to add the coin edge and other markings but I am getting closer and closer. Here are a few pics of this process. The first picture shows the ceramic bezel in it's green state before removing from the workpiece and an 8+hour sintering cycle. Notice how much this ceramic shrinks from green state to final state. Original bezel can be seen sitting inside the green state ceramic one. 

that looks great. I am new to the "watch scene" but would like to design and make some watch components myself. I work in the machine building industry and have access to several CNC machines. Share your project. Maybe I can be helpful to you.

Jonny

[Klassiker]

On 10/17/2022 at 2:52 AM, Kappa505 said:

finding an online cnc lathe company that wants to do these id difficult. No one wants to just make a few units. I have a few more options that I am looking into

Maybe there's a facility like Munich's Makerspace in your area, where you can rent time on a machine?