I am very happy to share with you people my latest find. smile.gif . I always wondered if I should buy myself one of the machines that our watchsmiths have to calibrate and rate our lovely watches. I had enough of trying to figure out by trial and error the correct beat, and then wait for hours to see if I can get my watches in better rate. Yes, you can have your WSmith do it for you, but I have found out that this is a new hobby for me.. Like a jigsaw puzzle, or jenga smile.gif
Long story short, I found there is a software solution for it! smile.gif Read on, and don't skip to the links wink.gif The software I found can do the following:
Features include:
* Paper tape watch timing machine emulation with numeric and disk type readout.
* Any beat rate from 1 tick per 30s (Atmos) to 400 cycles per second (tuning fork).
* Amplitude measurement of lever and co-axial escapement; lift angle 20° to 120°.
* High resolution beat error measurement.
* Clear and detailed waveform display for fault diagnosis.
* Trace magnification 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8.
* 'Paper' feed rate x 1, 1/10 or 1/100.
* 'Tape' length of several metres can be 'pulled back' to examine earlier results.
* Positional results annotated onto tape, analysed and recorded to QC file.
* Long term graphical output with vernier readout and selective zoom.
* Graphs of rate, amplitude, deviation and beat error with variable smoothing.
* Fourier analysis of cyclical variations
That is ALL I wanted and then some more.
Bad news: The problem is there is a price for it. 299GBP, that is 58$, 443euros. Ouch! I find this too much for myself as a hobbyist, but I uderstand the pricing of it, since it IS replacing equipment of multiple value.
Good news: There is a demo version to download from the site and use legally.
Bad news again: This demo version is crippled that you can only hear, and analyze prerecorded sounds of calibers.
Good news again: Included in the demo are sounds of different calibers. Rolex3135, some 28800vph, a coax(nice), and el primero espada 3019phf(wow)
The even better news: You can select ANY other recorded wave file.. idea.gif
You know where this is leading. Opened my 217, Out comes a simple pc microphone, placed it really close to the escape wheel (no touching..careful), and started up a recording software, amplified the sound (it is a standard pc mic after all), and the saved the file. Started the analyzing software, chose the wave file I saved before and there I was looking at the 21600vph A6497. Hmm.. 2ms beat error, running +405.3s.day. No prob, now you can record and analyze to your hearts desire. Then change from the dial down position to crown left, dial up, etc and the software will even average things out for you.
Ok, that paragraph is too big, but so is my excitement. smile.gif
Now, here are the links with only two requests from my side.
Respect the software copyright and if you are planning to make a living out of it, or know somebody who might be interested in it professionally, then do buy the full version of it. Plus being able to use a microphone live (vs recording and then feeding to the software) will make your life easier.
Second, try this at your own risk. A watch caliber is too fragile if you don't know what you are doing. This thread is not started to tell you how to calibrate your watch. Or how to open the case back.
The software (eTimer: watch escapement analyser and timer)
hxxp://www.delphelectronics.co.uk/products.html
Recording software that I use (freeware and very good)
hxxp://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
That is all you need.
I might write a guide latter, but it is easy if you know what you are doing. There is depth to this program, but you don't have to rush into things. These are the steps to get you started.
1.Place the mic close to the escapement
2.Record in audacity
3.Effect->Amplify
4.File->Export
5.Open the eTimer
6.File->Choose waveform file-> browse for your exported wave file
7.Top right corner is the setting for VPH, set accordingly.
8.Let it loop, and look at the measurements, the wave, the paper tape..
9.Amazing uh?
10.Make adjustments to the caliber and go to step 1.
You might want to read the help file, and do a calibration as it is proposed in it.
Please leave your comments and findings in this thread.
I would hate to read that somebody totaled his caliber while trying to fix the beat or rate, so please, use this only if you are confident enough. Otherwise, just use it as a monitor, and let our trusted moders do it for you.
I will be making a post later with some of my calibers.
Best regards
George
PS: Hey, maybe next time somebody wants to sell a watch in perfect working condition, you can back it with a print screen of the eTimer.
PS: I would love to see some of the waveforms of rare calibers like cortebert and angelus. Anyone with a gen PAM up for a try?
PS: I am in no way affiliated to the software company, but I extend my gratitude for the trial version and hope they will have some extra sales from the exposer they will get from us smile.gif
Long story short, I found there is a software solution for it! smile.gif Read on, and don't skip to the links wink.gif The software I found can do the following:
Features include:
* Paper tape watch timing machine emulation with numeric and disk type readout.
* Any beat rate from 1 tick per 30s (Atmos) to 400 cycles per second (tuning fork).
* Amplitude measurement of lever and co-axial escapement; lift angle 20° to 120°.
* High resolution beat error measurement.
* Clear and detailed waveform display for fault diagnosis.
* Trace magnification 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8.
* 'Paper' feed rate x 1, 1/10 or 1/100.
* 'Tape' length of several metres can be 'pulled back' to examine earlier results.
* Positional results annotated onto tape, analysed and recorded to QC file.
* Long term graphical output with vernier readout and selective zoom.
* Graphs of rate, amplitude, deviation and beat error with variable smoothing.
* Fourier analysis of cyclical variations
That is ALL I wanted and then some more.
Bad news: The problem is there is a price for it. 299GBP, that is 58$, 443euros. Ouch! I find this too much for myself as a hobbyist, but I uderstand the pricing of it, since it IS replacing equipment of multiple value.
Good news: There is a demo version to download from the site and use legally.
Bad news again: This demo version is crippled that you can only hear, and analyze prerecorded sounds of calibers.
Good news again: Included in the demo are sounds of different calibers. Rolex3135, some 28800vph, a coax(nice), and el primero espada 3019phf(wow)
The even better news: You can select ANY other recorded wave file.. idea.gif
You know where this is leading. Opened my 217, Out comes a simple pc microphone, placed it really close to the escape wheel (no touching..careful), and started up a recording software, amplified the sound (it is a standard pc mic after all), and the saved the file. Started the analyzing software, chose the wave file I saved before and there I was looking at the 21600vph A6497. Hmm.. 2ms beat error, running +405.3s.day. No prob, now you can record and analyze to your hearts desire. Then change from the dial down position to crown left, dial up, etc and the software will even average things out for you.
Ok, that paragraph is too big, but so is my excitement. smile.gif
Now, here are the links with only two requests from my side.
Respect the software copyright and if you are planning to make a living out of it, or know somebody who might be interested in it professionally, then do buy the full version of it. Plus being able to use a microphone live (vs recording and then feeding to the software) will make your life easier.
Second, try this at your own risk. A watch caliber is too fragile if you don't know what you are doing. This thread is not started to tell you how to calibrate your watch. Or how to open the case back.
The software (eTimer: watch escapement analyser and timer)
hxxp://www.delphelectronics.co.uk/products.html
Recording software that I use (freeware and very good)
hxxp://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
That is all you need.
I might write a guide latter, but it is easy if you know what you are doing. There is depth to this program, but you don't have to rush into things. These are the steps to get you started.
1.Place the mic close to the escapement
2.Record in audacity
3.Effect->Amplify
4.File->Export
5.Open the eTimer
6.File->Choose waveform file-> browse for your exported wave file
7.Top right corner is the setting for VPH, set accordingly.
8.Let it loop, and look at the measurements, the wave, the paper tape..
9.Amazing uh?
10.Make adjustments to the caliber and go to step 1.
You might want to read the help file, and do a calibration as it is proposed in it.
Please leave your comments and findings in this thread.
I would hate to read that somebody totaled his caliber while trying to fix the beat or rate, so please, use this only if you are confident enough. Otherwise, just use it as a monitor, and let our trusted moders do it for you.
I will be making a post later with some of my calibers.
Best regards
George
PS: Hey, maybe next time somebody wants to sell a watch in perfect working condition, you can back it with a print screen of the eTimer.
PS: I would love to see some of the waveforms of rare calibers like cortebert and angelus. Anyone with a gen PAM up for a try?
PS: I am in no way affiliated to the software company, but I extend my gratitude for the trial version and hope they will have some extra sales from the exposer they will get from us smile.gif
