# Automatic Mechanical Watch Winder ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/129/218/medium800/makecode_winder-8331.jpg?1712161864) https://youtu.be/k1JrUjwB6Pw Autowinding mechanical watches are wonderful, they stay wound simply by wearing them. But what happens when you don't wear it for a couple of days? It runs out of power as the mainspring fully unwinds. This means you need to re-set the time (and possibly the day/date) before wearing it again. But no more! This project is a watch winder to keep the auto-winder automatically wound! This is accomplished using a small DC motor powered by a Circuit Playground Express and a Crickit board all programmed visually with MakeCode. Your watch will turn the proper number of times each day to keep it wound just the right amount. It uses a LEGO-compatible brick structure to gear it and support the whole contraption. ## Parts ### Circuit Playground Express [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) **Circuit Playground Express** is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3333/guides) ![A Black woman's manicured hand holds a round microcontroller with lit up LEDs.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3333-05.jpg) ### Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express [Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093) Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our  **friends!** So if you find... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3093/guides) ![Top down view of a Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express with a circular board connected. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3093-07.jpg) ### DC Gearbox Motor - "TT Motor" - 200RPM - 3 to 6VDC [DC Gearbox Motor - "TT Motor" - 200RPM - 3 to 6VDC](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3777) Perhaps you've been assembling a new robot friend, adding a computer for a brain and other fun personality touches. Now the time has come to let it leave the nest and fly on its own wings– err, _wheels!_  These durable (but affordable!) plastic gearbox motors... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3777) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3777/guides) ![DC Gearbox Motor - TT Motor with two long wires and yellow body](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3777-00.jpg) ### DC Gearbox "TT" Motor to LEGO® compatible Cross Axle [DC Gearbox "TT" Motor to LEGO® compatible Cross Axle](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3810) Who doesn't love LEGO® compatible bricks? Nobody! Except when we accidentally step on them. There are soooo many mechanical things one can make with those ubiquitous bricks, plates, gears, pulleys. Say a [13-meter high London...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV2LXHvZHZo) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3810) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3810/guides) ![Lego Gear installed onto DC Gearbox TT Motor Axle, attached to TT motor](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3810-03.jpg) ### 5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed [5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) This is an FCC/CE certified and UL listed power supply. Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/276/guides) ![Angled shot of power supply.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/276-06.jpg) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ![USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/592-01.jpg) ### Black Nylon Machine Screw and Stand-off Set – M3 Thread [Black Nylon Machine Screw and Stand-off Set – M3 Thread](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4685) Totaling **420 pieces** , this **M3 Screw Set**  is a must-have for your workstation. You'll have enough screws, nuts, and hex standoffs to fuel your maker tendencies for days on end! M3 size screws fit a number of Adafruit breakout/dev board... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4685) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4685/guides) ![Opened box showing many nylon screws](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4685-01.jpg) ### LEGO-compatible Elements To build the winder you'll need a particular set of LEGO-compatible elements, either raid your collection or grab the .csv part list linked below and order parts from LEGO Pick a Brick, Brick Owl, or a similar site. You can also [use this link](https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studio/design.page?idModel=535466) to order parts from a seller on Bricklink. ![makecode_legoparts1.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/129/220/medium640/makecode_legoparts1.jpg?1712162183) ![makecode_legoparts0.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/129/221/medium640/makecode_legoparts0.jpg?1712162196) ![makecode_legoparts2.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/129/222/medium640/makecode_legoparts2.jpg?1712162208) [Adafruit_Watch_Winder_3.csv.zip](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/129/226/original/Adafruit_Watch_Winder_3.csv.zip?1712163472) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/automatic-mechanical-watch-winder/assemble-the-watch-winder.md) ## Featured Products ### Circuit Playground Express [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) **Circuit Playground Express** is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3333/guides) ### Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express [Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093) Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our  **friends!** So if you find... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3093/guides) ### DC Gearbox Motor - "TT Motor" - 200RPM - 3 to 6VDC [DC Gearbox Motor - "TT Motor" - 200RPM - 3 to 6VDC](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3777) Perhaps you've been assembling a new robot friend, adding a computer for a brain and other fun personality touches. Now the time has come to let it leave the nest and fly on its own wings– err, _wheels!_  These durable (but affordable!) plastic gearbox motors... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3777) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3777/guides) ### DC Gearbox "TT" Motor to LEGO® compatible Cross Axle [DC Gearbox "TT" Motor to LEGO® compatible Cross Axle](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3810) Who doesn't love LEGO® compatible bricks? Nobody! Except when we accidentally step on them. There are soooo many mechanical things one can make with those ubiquitous bricks, plates, gears, pulleys. Say a [13-meter high London...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV2LXHvZHZo) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3810) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3810/guides) ### 5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed [5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) This is an FCC/CE certified and UL listed power supply. Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/276/guides) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ### Black Nylon Machine Screw and Stand-off Set – M3 Thread [Black Nylon Machine Screw and Stand-off Set – M3 Thread](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4685) Totaling **420 pieces** , this **M3 Screw Set**  is a must-have for your workstation. You'll have enough screws, nuts, and hex standoffs to fuel your maker tendencies for days on end! M3 size screws fit a number of Adafruit breakout/dev board... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4685) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4685/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-circuit-playground-express.md) - [Transistors 101](https://learn.adafruit.com/transistors-101.md) - [CircuitPython Made Easy on Circuit Playground Express and Bluefruit](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-made-easy-on-circuit-playground-express.md) - [Spinning Logo](https://learn.adafruit.com/spinning-logo.md) - [Robotic Creatures ](https://learn.adafruit.com/robotic-creatures.md) - [Make It Sound](https://learn.adafruit.com/make-it-sound.md) - [Mouse Painter: Emulate Mice with MakeCode ](https://learn.adafruit.com/mouse-painter-emulate-mice-with-makecode.md) - [Paper Craft Zoetrope with Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/paper-craft-zoetrope-with-circuit-python.md) - [Circuit Playground Express Head-Tilt Ears](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-express-head-tilt-ears.md) - [Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 3D Printed Bladesaw](https://learn.adafruit.com/bladesaw.md) - [What is Web MIDI & BLE MIDI?](https://learn.adafruit.com/web-ble-midi.md) - [Make It Plot](https://learn.adafruit.com/make-it-graph-plot.md) - [CircuitPython Essentials](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-essentials.md) - [Crawling Baby Sea Turtle Robot](https://learn.adafruit.com/baby-turtle-makecode.md) - [Extending CircuitPython: An Introduction](https://learn.adafruit.com/extending-circuitpython.md) - [Trainable Robotic Arm](https://learn.adafruit.com/trainable-robotic-arm.md)