{"product_id":"moc-111898-vertical-ball-clock-building-blocks-1","title":"MOC-111898 Vertical Ball Clock Building Blocks","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTurn timekeeping into a visible mechanical performance with the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMOC-111898 Vertical Ball Clock Building Blocks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Designed and authorized by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNico71\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1,481-piece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e model uses rolling balls, a chain lift, reset mechanisms, pushers, and a ball pump to display the time through a fully mechanical counting system.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInstead of conventional clock hands, the model represents hours and minutes with groups of balls arranged across three vertical columns. A single motor powers the complete mechanism, making the movement of time easy to observe directly through the open structure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRead the Time with Rolling Balls\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe clock uses three ball counters arranged from left to right:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHours:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e up to 11 balls\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTens of minutes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e up to 5 balls\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMinute units:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e up to 9 balls\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReading the three columns together gives the current hour and minute.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne Ball Every 60 Seconds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBalls are stored in a lower reservoir equipped with a rotating agitator to help prevent jams.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA chain lift with a single fork carries one ball upward during each full cycle, with the mechanism designed so that one complete cycle takes approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e60 seconds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMechanical Minute Counter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach lifted ball first enters the minute-unit column.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe column can hold nine balls. When the tenth arrives, it is redirected into the carry mechanism, triggering the next stage while the previous nine balls are released back toward the lower storage area.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAutomatic Carry \u0026amp; Reset System\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe clock uses dedicated mechanical reset units to reproduce the same carry-over logic used in digital time displays.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen a counter reaches its limit, the next ball activates a pusher-and-lever mechanism that:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleases the balls from the completed column\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eResets that digit to zero\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTransfers one ball into the next time column\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis same principle is used between the minute units, tens of minutes, and hours.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScotch Yoke Ball Pump\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen the tens-of-minutes counter completes its cycle, the transfer ball must reach the higher hour column.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScotch Yoke ball pump\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e raises the ball to the required level before sending it into the hour display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12-Hour Mechanical Cycle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe hour column holds a maximum of 11 balls.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen the twelfth arrives, it activates the final reset mechanism, releases the hour balls, and returns the transfer ball to the main reservoir at the bottom, beginning the cycle again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle-Motor Drive System\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne M motor powers the entire machine, including the:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMain chain lift\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBall reservoir agitator\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBall pump\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThree reset pushers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoordinating all of these mechanisms from a single power source is one of the most distinctive engineering features of the model.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdjustable Timing Mechanism\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than controlling speed by varying motor voltage, the clock’s timing can be fine-tuned by adjusting the length of the main chain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original design uses \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e114 chain links\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and adding or removing links changes the cycle period in small increments, allowing the builder to calibrate the clock mechanically.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMechanical Rather Than Quartz Precision\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis clock is designed primarily as a mechanical demonstration rather than a precision timepiece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause timing depends on the motor speed and battery condition, the designer reports an accuracy of roughly a few seconds per minute, potentially accumulating to around one or two minutes per hour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the Designer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNico71 originally created the Vertical Ball Clock in 2015 before later revisiting the project with improved professional-style instructions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe challenge was to create a complete mechanical counting system where one motor could continuously lift balls, manage carry-over between digits, reset completed columns, and return the balls to storage without relying on electronic timing logic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result transforms a simple clock display into a visible chain of mechanical events, allowing the viewer to watch minutes and hours advance one ball at a time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Kinetic Mechanical Timepiece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1,481 pieces\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, three ball counters, automatic carry-over systems, a chain elevator, Scotch Yoke pump, adjustable timing, and a single-motor drive system, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMOC-111898\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e makes a striking kinetic display for mechanical-engineering fans, clock enthusiasts, and builders fascinated by complex moving machines.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LesDiy","offers":[{"title":"Default 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