Keep the Wheels of Time Turning

January 14, 2009

Six ambitious students have taken on a timely task for their final-year capstone project.

They are engineering a uniquely styled synchronous clock that is to hang in the main hallway of the new Engineering Technology Building now under construction.

Dubbed the Chronos Clock Project, the clock has a unique design featuring three metal rings.  A large stationary ring forms the perimeter of the clock.  A second ring, about a third the size, turns within the larger ring.  The point where these two rings are tangent tells the hour.  A third ring, smaller still, rotates within the second ring.  The point at which these two rings are tangent tells the minutes.  A synchronous motor delivers a constant rotary motion to both time-telling rings.

Daniel Borrelli, Michael Kish, Rajiv Sujan and Richard Yoon from mechanical engineering and management are working with Patrick Leroux and Jennifer Torosian from the School of the Arts to create a mechanical timepiece that combines both engineering concepts and industrial design with an artistic influence.  Mechanical engineering professor Tim Nye is their thesis advisor.

The students are now looking for resources and materials needed to build the clock.  Anyone willing to make a contribution of equipment, materials or funding is welcome to contact the group.  For more information, visit: chronosclock.mcmaster.ca