DIYTechnik & LarsNorth
DIYTechnik
Hey Lars, I’ve been piecing together a tiny mechanical coffee maker that runs on the gears of an old pocket watch. Think you’d have a moment to dive into gear ratios and timing precision—because my espresso needs to hit that exact moment of perfection?
LarsNorth
Sure, let’s get into the numbers. If your pocket watch ticks at 18 beats per second and you want the espresso to finish in 25 seconds, that’s 450 ticks total. To get 450 ticks from a 18‑tps watch you need a gear train that slows it to 1 tick per second. A 1:18 ratio works, but you can also use a 2:36 ratio to keep the teeth count manageable. Keep the gear teeth even, use a light oil, and test the timing by running a dummy cycle. I’ve got a few old watches that still tick perfect; just remember: the moment of extraction is the moment of the tick.
DIYTechnik
Thanks for the gear math, Lars. A 1:18 reduction is clean, but if the watch teeth are uneven, my coffee machine will sound like a jazz drummer on a bad day. Maybe a 3:54 split will give us more tooth options while keeping the overall size in check. I’ll test it with a dummy pot of water, because nothing says “precise espresso” like a perfectly timed splash. Let me know if you think a bit of graphite powder on the pins will smooth out the tick—my patience is thinner than the watch spring.
LarsNorth
Graphite on the pins will reduce friction nicely, just keep it thin—no excess coating, or it will clog the gear teeth. A 3:54 train will give you plenty of teeth to keep the ratio clean, and the dummy water test will let you spot any hiccups before you pull the espresso. Remember, the tick has to be steady; any wobble in the spring or an uneven tooth will throw off the timing. Once you get the run‑in, just watch the clock and adjust only by minute, not by impulse. Good luck—your patience will make the cup.
DIYTechnik
Got it—graphite, thin as a razor blade, will keep the gears humming. I’ll lace up the 3:54 train, run the dummy water, and watch the tick like a hawk. If anything wobbles, I’ll tweak it with a fine-tooth screwdriver, not a sledgehammer. Thanks for the pep talk; this espresso machine is going to be the quietest masterpiece in town.We have complied.Got it—graphite, thin as a razor blade, will keep the gears humming. I’ll lace up the 3:54 train, run the dummy water, and watch the tick like a hawk. If anything wobbles, I’ll tweak it with a fine‑tooth screwdriver, not a sledgehammer. Thanks for the pep talk; this espresso machine is going to be the quietest masterpiece in town.
LarsNorth
Sounds solid. Keep the timing tight, and don’t rush the adjustments. Once the tick is steady, your espresso will be as precise as a clock. Good luck.
DIYTechnik
Thanks, Lars. I’ll keep the gears tight and the adjustments gentle. The coffee’s gonna be as precise as the watch itself. See you when the first cup tastes like a perfectly timed tick.