Do-it-yourself Foucault pendulum. (n°20)

The primary aim of this project was to build a short, operational, self-maintaining Foucault pendulum, costing 100 francs maximum and requiring less than a day’s work.
The second was to offer a free, duplicable, ‘open source’ object, so that anyone could appropriate it and build their own. The 5 main parts are 3D files that can be downloaded and printed (see bottom of page), along with part numbers to order.
The third is to demystify this fascinating scientific tool and offer this experience to as many people as possible. It’s every school’s dream tool, both in terms of construction and use. All that was needed was to democratise it and get it out of the cathedrals where it had become accustomed to oscillating.
The tools required are basic: a hand drill and drill bits, a few screwdrivers, sandpaper, a soldering iron, tin, a multimeter, a hacksaw and that’s it. The 3D files can be printed in a fablab or ordered from a 3D printer. The software used is Sketchup for 3D and Inkscape for 2D.
Building your own pendulum is a wonderful school for life. It teaches us the simplicity that alone can make it work, but always bear in mind that this simplicity is the hardest thing to achieve. It also requires humility, listening, method and patience. Even if you’ve built twenty of them, the last one will remind you that you’re just a child who has everything to learn, and whose past experiences can just as easily become obstacles.
The explanatory videos that follow will only be of interest to those who are passionate about the subject. They are long and heavy, so if you want to watch them in full, it’s best to download them rather than read them on the site. Please also take pity on my mailbox by not sending me any questions, as all the possible answers are contained therein.
3D files to download: stem, wire guide, Charron ring, Charron ring 2 and base.