Introduction

Timetrax Model 350 timing machines were designed for use in calibrating mechanical watches and clocks.  There are two basic parameters that are addressed in calibrating a timelock movement, beat & rate.  Beat or “in-beat” refers to the accuracy of the escapement.  Rate references the net gain or loss of time over a twenty-four hour period or a single hour.  Timetrax is a CMOS based diagnostic tool that accurately converts a mechanical tick into an electrical impulse.  This impulse is expressed in numeric form on the built in LCD screen and interpreted by the operator.  The primary features include direct reading train, seconds per day, digital balance readout, seconds gained or lost per 24 hours, 40 programmed gear trains and audio amplification of the movement under study. 

Setup
The following procedures will help you setup your Timetrax for calibrating a timelock movement.  First, decide if you will utilize battery power or AC.  If you use a battery, we suggest Duracell Alkaline. 

1. Position the timelock movement to be analyzed in the normal upright position.  Wind the movement up for at least 1 hour. **The work surface must be stable, free from motion or noise.  Position the movement on a sound dampening pad.**

2.  Plug in the transducer and attach the alligator clip to the winding arbor of the timelock movement.

3. Advance the selector switch to the "Beat" position.  Advance the "Gain" control clockwise approximately 90º.

4.  Advance the selector switch to the “Timer” position.  The LCD screen will register - “350" is the series of the software contained in your timing machine.

5. Immediately after “350" appears the screen will register - Followed by a numeric pattern of numbers that represents the actual beats per hour the movement is producing.  This reading will flash rapidly and appear unstable.

6. Toggle upward the button marked on the control panel “Preset Train.”  Use the timelock train reference chart that follows.  The LCD screen will register gear trains in ascending order whenever you toggle the + button marked “Preset Train.” 

7. After setting the correct train, toggle upward the button marked “Preset Avg.”  The automatic default is 2, which means that the CMOS processor will analyze every 2 ticks of the timelock movement.  Set “Preset Avg.” to 30, which is a full revolution of a standard escape wheel. **An average escape wheel has 15 teeth, each one responsible for 2 impulses.**   Consider a “Preset Avg.” of 30 as a minimum.  Each time an adjustment is made the LCD screen will default to this screen -

8. The start-up default is always seconds per day, which registers as “BPH”   (Beats Per Hour)  on the LCD Screen.

9. Press the button marked “Mode.”  The first press will register the current setting of “BPH.”  Press the button again.  The LCD screen will register “SEC” ( Seconds Per Day) Press the mode button again and the LCD screen will register “BAL” (Balance).  This is the digital balance mode, used for setting the movement “In-Beat.”  In beat is the establishment of a neutral state for the balance wheel and escapement lever.  In the neutral state, the escapement lever will take exactly the same amount of time to travel from one banking to the other.  Additionally, each impulse from the escape wheel will be equal, which assures that the escapement lever will transmit equal energy to the impulse jewel in both directions.  “In-Beat” should be set prior to adjusting daily or hourly rate.

10. “Hold-Off” is a type of filter that allows the Timetrax Timing Machine to ignore extraneous noise that is either produced by the movement or by other sources of vibration.  Exercise extreme caution if you elect to use this feature.  Inadequate “Hold-Off” usually will not effect accuracy.  Excessive “Hold-Off” will affect accuracy.  To use this feature, advance the control knob, located to the left of the “Gain” control clockwise, while observing the blinking LED.  Rotate the “Hold-Off” control to the point where the blinking LED dramatically slows to almost a complete stop.  Rotate the “Hold-Off” control knob counterclockwise until the LED is flashing at a rate equal to the rate of the balance wheel under test.  With practice, you will be able to ascertain a synchronous state between the movement and the timing machine. **Readings should be taken with and without the use of “Hold-Off.”  Compare the two results.  If the reading with “Hold-Off” is radically different (more than 5%) adjust for less “Hold-Off” and repeat the test.** Hold-Off is a valuable feature, the use of which is best learned through practice.

11. After you have adjusted “In-Beat” depress the “Mode” button and return to “BPH.”  Adjust the accuracy of the timelock movement to within 2 seconds.  After you have adjusted “BPH” depress the “Mode” button, toggling up to “SEC.”  This is where adjustment net gain or loss for a 24 hour time period.  A net gain or loss of 3 minutes in 24 hours is considered acceptable.  Attempt to limit the net gain to 40 seconds per day.  Do not allow the movement to indicate a net loss.

Gear Train Factors

Manufacturer	Beats\Hour
Sargent and Greenleaf, Inc.  B, M & H	14,400	Manufactured by S&G until 1952
Sargent and Greenleaf, Inc.  All 144 hour	18,000
Yale 120 hour	18,000
Diebold Swiss made 120 hour	18,000
Mosler - all block assemblies	18,000
STB Microtechniques 120 hour	18,000
STB Microtechniques 144 hour	14,400
Timemaster, Inc. 120 hour	18,000
Timemaster, Inc.  144 hour	14,400
Timemaster, Inc. 168 hour	14,400
Rench 168 hour	18,000
Kumahira Precision-matic	18,000
Chubb 120 hour	18,000
Chubb 144 hour	18,000 & 14,400
Kromer 120 hour	18,000
Kromer 220 hour	14,400
Note:  There are several features that make taking accurate readings easier and the results more reliable: A.     Depressing the “Mode” button once allows the LCD to register the current status and test       sequence being performed. B.   If the movement under test is subjected to a shock, vibration or movement it will take up to       one minute to refresh the LCD display.  To speed up the process and ascertain true,        accurate readings, depress the “Mode” button on (1) time. C.     Timetrax timing machines have a feature known as “Super-Rate Update.”  This feature       refreshes the screen every .4 seconds.  The initial sample time will change, based on how        the “Preset Avg.” is adjusted.  When the reading seems unstable, remember “Super-Rate        Update” will refresh the LCD screen at regular intervals.    Tech Home