Reconstructing the Antikythera mechanism with ancient Greek tools: Observations and conclusions on the construction and use of a functional model

The Functional Reconstruction of Antikythera Mechanism Project team (FRAMe Project) after studying and processing a large number of X-Ray Computed Tomographies (CTs) of the Antikythera Mechanism, taken from AMRP, detected new data that led the team to redesign-reconstruct the components of the Antikythera Mechanism and assemble two fully functional models. In AMRP CTs conical holes were detected in a number of shafts and axes of the ancient prototype, which were made using a drill tool. These holes were made on the bronze raw material by the ancient manufacturer beforehand, in order to adapt the material to a kind of lathe and construct shafts and axes. The conical holes make any hypothetical existence of a planet indication gearing (as an extra mechanical system on the front of the Mechanism) unlikely. Also, the FRAMe Project team found in ancient ceramic vases and wall paintings important tools that could be considered as the progenitors of the tools used by the ancient manufacturer: the ancient bow drill (about 490 BC) and the Ptolemaic vertical lathe (ca 300 BC). These tools were redesigned and reconstructed by The FRAMe Project team. During the use of the functional models of the Antikythera Mechanism, new useful conclusions were drawn for the Mechanism and for its mechanical components which were of unknown operation until today.