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Inspired by a project in "Making Wooden Mechanical Models", I used the ShopBot to cut out all the parts for my first actual working machine. My friend Steve Linton and I spent all one Saturday assembling and adjusting, (then dis-assembling and assembling again), the "time machine". After a long series of false starts, we gave the pendulum a nudge and it ran for 5 minutes and 35 seconds! A little more adjustment and it ran for 12 minutes, stopping only when the drive weight hit the floor. After some additional CAD work, a second model was cut. It has a couple of improvements over the first; a ratchet to rewind the weight string, a 64 tooth to 12 tooth reduction to get more running time, and a more easily aligned frame. This new mechanism has run for over one hour, with several improvements in the works to increase running time.
If you want to see the kinds of things that can be created by someone with an artist's eye, look at the Wood that Works home page. Their sculpture is amazing! Also fascinating is the Delightful Machines page, with tons of links on mechanisms of every shape and kind!