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This is an extremely cool project, but calling it a tourbillon movement is disingenuous at best. With a tourbillon movement, the escapement rotates relative to

This is an extremely cool project, but calling it a tourbillon movement is disingenuous at best. With a tourbillon movement, the escapement rotates relative to the rest of the movement (the front plate, back plate, drive train, etc). This is only an escapement, lacking even a mainspring. In fact, in the displays pictured, the escapement rests on the framework in such a way that the escapement remains stationary when powered externally. This is, unquestionably, no where close to a tourbillon movement. Kudos to the author for building a 3D printed escapement, but he's abused the language of horology in a way that really put me off.

bradleyland 12y ago
The project owner contacted me over Google Hangouts after I commented similarly on the YouTube video. It's difficult to see in this first example, but this is, in fact, on its way to becoming a full fledged tourbillon movement. It's much easier to see in this Instagram video of the next revision: http://instagram.com/p/uRAeIImfNx/?modal=false http://instagram.com/p/uRAeIImfNx/?modal=false In the first revision, the movement rests on its cage, but if you look closely, you can see that the balance wheel, escapement wheel, pallets, and lever are all mounted internally to the cage (on separate plane). This is what makes this a tourbillon escapement. In a non-tourbillon movement, any of these components might be mounted to the front or back plate. This would prevent them from rotating. The key distinction is that this movement can be held by its fourth wheel and operated by applying pressure to the cage. This is how most tourbillon movements operate. The barrel from the mainspring actuates the drive train, which in turn drives the cage. The fourth wheel remains stationary, which you can also see in this video from the author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGHKRrkvFg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGHKRrkvFg

bradleyland 12y ago

The project owner contacted me over Google Hangouts after I commented similarly on the YouTube video. It's difficult to see in this first example, but this is, in fact, on its way to becoming a full fledged tourbillon movement. It's much easier to see in this Instagram video of the next revision: http://instagram.com/p/uRAeIImfNx/?modal=false http://instagram.com/p/uRAeIImfNx/?modal=false In the first revision, the movement rests on its cage, but if you look closely, you can see that the balance wheel, escapement wheel, pallets, and lever are all mounted internally to the cage (on separate plane). This is what makes this a tourbillon escapement. In a non-tourbillon movement, any of these components might be mounted to the front or back plate. This would prevent them from rotating. The key distinction is that this movement can be held by its fourth wheel and operated by applying pressure to the cage. This is how most tourbillon movements operate. The barrel from the mainspring actuates the drive train, which in turn drives the cage. The fourth wheel remains stationary, which you can also see in this video from the author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGHKRrkvFg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGHKRrkvFg