Mechanical Watch: Exploded View

(fellerts.no)

1168 points fellerts | 2 comments | 22 Jun 25 14:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.775s | source

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modeless ◴[22 Jun 25 17:54 UTC] No.44348834[source]▶

Is there no transparent substance that is gel-like for a period of time before it cures solid so that the pieces can simply be suspended in it and nudged to their final positions manually? Like a gel suspension 3D printer but where the gel hardens instead of being washed away at the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swB5-GzX3nQ

I don't know how viscous SLA 3D printer resin is, but if it could be made viscous enough then it seems like maybe you could just suspend the parts in it, tweaking their positions as much as you want until they're just right, then blast the whole thing with enough UV to cure all of it.

replies(2): >>44349283 #>>44350212 #

1. hinterlands ◴[22 Jun 25 20:56 UTC] No.44350212[source]▶

>>44348834 #

There are gel-like resins, but you'd have massive issues with air entrapment. There's really no shortcut for making these. Casting in layers is the most common approach, but as noted in the article, it's hard to avoid slight refractive index discontinuities.

replies(1): >>44357290 #

2. Chris2048 ◴[23 Jun 25 16:16 UTC] No.44357290[source]▶

>>44350212 (TP) #

Strange thought, but, if you shine a uv laser through uv-setting epoxy, does it create a fishing-line-like column of set resin?

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