Independents

Ophiuchus
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Is that Autodesk.... Inventor 1.1?

I have a particular fascination with figuring out the 3D CAD software that various makers use
to design with. That is definitely Autodesk software as you stated, and I clearly see 1.1 there-
that looks like Autodesk Inventor 1.1. Wow, that's ancient at this point. I use the 2010 version!

It's really amazing to see how close the software I use for design is to what a watch designer
is using. And it's practical to design on a computer- it wastes less time and parts.

On CNC- it's practical. I honestly believe that had Breguet been alive today, he would be using
CNC to do much of the rudimentary work, while finishing by hand. CNC would be the new
jeweler's saw to him, not a finishing hand. CNC made components, however, I am against if it is
to be called a hand-made watch.

Let me clarify- handmade means nothing automated was used. 5 axis milling machines are fine-
if you crank all 5 axis by hand. And yes, it can be done. I own a manual 4 axis. It just takes more
time to use.

For production work, the hand is still what finishes in most cases the pieces, and that's fine. The
CNC just gets the majority of the metal away quickly so the important final work, that actually makes
a piece a piece, gets to more quickly.

But pure handmade has to at the very least mean hand-control of all machines involved, and mills are
fine to me, and made by hand means completely that.

In any case, I have great admiration and respect for Prescher's work.

I would love to see an article on Prescher's guillochage, he has some unique style on his multi axis
tourbillons.

Excellent article.