Guidelines

The general steps of remote design, analysis and manufacturing of the pendulum clock are similar to the MAE3 course that is taught in our Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department to freshman students. As such, the COSMOS students get an introduction to engineering that is very similar to our engineering college students when they were following remote instruction. The students proceed through the following steps to complete this project:

Design

1. Draw the Escapement Wheel (fixed design)
   The Escapement Wheel has teeth that are carefully design to work with the pallets of the pendulum.
   For remote instruction, the actual escapement wheel is part of the materials that will be shipped to you.

2. Draw the Pendulum (flexible design)
   The pendulum provides opportunities for creativity, design, and analysis. The shape that you choose and the placement of the bolt patterns on the pendulum will determine the natural frequency of the pendulum and the oscillation timing.
   For remote instruction, the upper of the pendulum is part of the materials that will be shipped to you, while you are asked to cut out your pendulum design in foam core.

Analysis (done before clock assembly)

1. Calculate pendulum oscillation time with point-mass and inertial analysis.
   Analysis is done via the lecture material and computational software such as MathCad or Microsoft Excel.

2. Import pendulum design in WM2D and simulate pendulum oscillation timing.
   Use of WM2D  is provided via the lecture material with detailed instructions on importing a pendulum design into WM2D and you are urged to create a video of your WM2D simulation.

Clock Fabrication & Assembly

For remote instruction, assembly of the clock will be done in foam core and part of the materials that will be shipped to you. 

1. Print templates for your clock consists of part 1, part 2 and part 3.

2. Detailed instructions for remote clock fabrication and remote clock assembly can be used to create your clock remotely.

Reporting

1. Summarize and share pendulum prediction analysis and measurements.  

2. Take photos and a video of your clock (for your clock website report)

3. Update your personal clock project website summarizing the analysis, design and measurements on your pendulum.

4. Provide a side-by-side comparison of your video of your WM2D simulation and your actual clock video.