Machining a watch case

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srs1286
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by srs1286 »

I have this bulova I'm happy to donate if it's what you're looking for (I assume you weren't referring to a dive bezel). Thought about tinkering with it many times but it will likely go to better use with you. Only issue is the international shipping. Not sure what an uninsured, untracked padded envelope would cost.

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Ian Mc
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

I thought it would be interesting to see how the patina is developing.
Here it is now:

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And 4 months ago, fresh from polishing:

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I have, at long last, made a start on the next one. If anyone is interested I will be happy to post some pics.
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Savagemouse »

Great pics just finished reading from the beginning a great read and your attention to detail is stunning. Would love to see the new one as it comes along!
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by suicidal_orange »

Four months and, to my eyes, it just looks a bit dull rather than patina'd. Unless the reflection is of a plain ceiling, in which case there's a bit of a marble-y look going on... Will be interesting to see it in another four months.

Would be interested in pics of the new one too please :thumbup:
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

Had a slight hiccup with the new one.... Got measurements wrong and ended up turning the blank into waste... Doh!

Gonna take this opportunity to have a bit of a redesign.... Watch this space!
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

I have been having a go at making a different face.
This time, using a machined bronze base, with applied markers.
I had a few c..k ups along the way, but I now have a useable one:

first pic shows a blank being turned to diameter:
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Then we have the blank being thinned down to about 0.4mm. The diameter is 31mm:
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Drilling marker locating holes with 0.2mm drill:
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Chucked a bit of paint over it here:
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And the final result. The exposed bit in the middle is where a bit of paint chipped off, but that will be covered by the little brass washer that goes under the hands:
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Arbor22 »

Looking forward to following this as closely as I did your first attempt, real craftsmanship. The dial looks class :thumbup:
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Kip »

Excellent dial work Ian. :thumbup:
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by tempusmaximus »

That does look good Ian :thumbup:
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by shirehorse »

I was looking for something to read over a morning coffee and found this... read from start to finish totally hooked! The progression is fascinating.

It reminded me of another thread where miracles were being worked which people might like: http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?2 ... -on-page-3.
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

So, a little bit of progress on the next case:
This pic shows the blank in the lathe being bored out for the innards:

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This pic shows cutting a taper on the inner side, this will give a slight drop to the bottom of the lugs when all the waste material is removed

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Ian Mc
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

After machining the landing face for the diasl, a test fit with a redundant dial is in order:

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Moving the blank to the milling machine, the next step is to remove some of the waste material:

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Ian Mc
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

Here I have cut the large diameter curves for the sides of the case. Doing this requires 80 plunge cuts on each side to get the curve. This leaves a slight corrugated effect which will be polished out at a later stage:

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Next, the recesses for the straps are cut:

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Ian Mc
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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

The blank is then turned over and machined to final thickness and the crystal seat cut:

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The base for the bezel is then cut, and the chuck set to an angle to cut the angled face:

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Re: Machining a watch case

Post by Ian Mc »

Bezel sloping edge cut here:

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And with a little detail cut in here. At this point I have cut the detail at 45 degree intervals, I may do more between them, decision tomorrow:

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