Precision Pendulum Assembly: Apparatus description

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Apparatus description

The pendulum apparatus is composed of three components: the supporting structure for the pendulum fulcrum, the launcher of the pendulum mass and the controller electronics.

The basic support can be a wall or a robust metallic structure like the one presented here. The choice for the bob was a training steel weight from the official shot put with 2kg. This weight has the advantage of having a drilled hole for holding an M4 screw and can be found in any good sports shop. This screw can be made of a threaded brass rod with 10mm length. A small 1mm hole is drilled on the rod were the pendulum cable is fixed using current soldering thin-plumb(or any silver-thin alloy) or by tying a proper knot. The cable used is from 0.4mm remanium wire that can be bought in any dentistry retailer.

The following drawings document the construction of the metallic pendulum's sections.

World Pendulum standard manufacturing drawings
Pendulo mundial vista.png
Pendulo apoio.png
Pendulo topo.png
Pendulo base.png
Pendulo fulcro.png


The support for the fulcrum is made from any robust and hard flat surface as for instance a brass or stainless steel piece with a 12-16mm hole. This surface has an indentation made with a diamond or hard steel blade which holds the pivot in place. With this design, slippage is avoided.

The fulcrum itself is made as well of stainless steel or brass consisting in a triangular prism with 50mmx9mm with a central 1mm hole in one face crossing the opposite edge. In this hole is soldered or glued an intravenous needle where the pendulum cable goes through and is secured by a small screw on the top.

Pendulum holder showing the pivot support structure for the 50mmx9mm triangular pyramid.
Pendulum string support to avoid elongation errors. The cable is fixed by soldering it into an M4 brass screw 40mm long or an intravenous needle.
Pendulum string fulcrum detail showing the screw to hold the wire. Remanium is very ductile and easily wound around the screw.
Fulcrum support structure to be held on top of the pyramidal pendulum support. Strong M6 or M8 screws are used.

Pendulum length limits

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