Creating a joint between two components that only interact when touching each other.

[lsnook]

I have created a clock escapement wheel with a rotational joint between the shaft and the wheel.
I have one pallet of the escapement arm located between two of the teeth but not touching the teeth.

When I animate the joint relationships of the wheel, it rotates but the teeth move through the arm as if it were not there.

How do I get them to interact?

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

Please attach your model.  If you do not know how to attach your Fusion 360 model follow these easy steps. Open the model in Fusion 360, select the File menu, then Export and save as a F3D or F3Z file to your hard drive. Then use the Attachments section, of a forum post, to attach it.

[lsnook]

Thanks, I was in the process of learning how to upload this file to the forums.

I just did so.
If you turn the wheel, it just goes through the extended arm on the escapement.

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

The video will explain the process of getting your Escarpment to function.  I must tell you that this simple example will work with a Contact Set but if you plan on using this mechanism in a large motion assembly, contact sets will let you down.  I created a wooden clock with a similar escarpment and I drove it from the opposite direction, just allowing the escarpment to move giving the impression it was working.  Fusion animation of joints is too fast for this motion and in the video I show you how to slow it down.  What I did in NOT same in the model, you must set it on your application.  Model I used in the assembly is attached. 

[lsnook]

Very good John! Thanks for taking the time.

The escapement I will be modeling is the "Dead-Beat" escapement. The model we have been working on is not the final configuration. I was just getting started. The direction will be clockwise, and the escapement and pendulum will swing freely until the one of the two pallets swings into the tooth valley. At that point it hits the backside of the tooth and comes to a stop and slides down (Locking Face) until it encounters a less steep edge (Impulse Face) which accelerates the pendulum.
The only problem I see with you approach is that at times the escapement is not touching the wheel. Using "Contacts", the two surfaces are continually in contact. 
Anyway, I really appreciate your lead. Have not used contacts so learned something new!
Here is a link describing Dead-Beat;

Quardecimus - Escapement - YouTube