La mia passione per gli orologi Arduino, mi ha portato a fare un " Word Clock ", dal momento che vivo in Italia, ho fatto parlare in italiano .

Per la realizzazione del progetto, mi sono ispirato a un tutorial Nitrohawk " Word Clock Javelin ", ho fatto un paio di piccole modifiche ... e qui per te "Word Clock d'Italia"

Oltre a "raccontare le ore" in italiano, ho voluto aggiungere i compleanni della mia famiglia (compreso il gatto)

Step 1: Material

For the construction of the "framework" I used one already made by IKEA, and internal changes I used the material I had at home

Wall frame RIBBA (Ikea)
Gewiss box cover 150 x 110
aluminum strips 230 mm x 10 mm x 1mm
NEOPIXEL DIGITAL RGB LED STRIP (144 leds)
LCD 16x2 I2c
DS1307 RTC
DC DC Converter Adjustable Step Down
Arduino Nano 3.0 (or any Arduino / Genuino)
1 Stripboard
4 Buttons
3 resistors 10 k ohms (pull-down)
1 resistor 470 ohm (for neopixel)
3 diodes 1N4007
Male Connector Strip 2.54
Panel switch
2.1mm DC connector panel
Sponge with adhesive
multilayer panel 6 mm
bolts
dice
Electric wire
Power supply 9-12 Volt
Welder
Pond

Step 2: The Panel

For the construction of the panel, I suggest you follow the Javelin project, while for the realization of the screen will carry over the pattern designed with Inkscape and Excel.

Excel was used for the preparation of the project, then with Inkscape, I created the display

My panel measures 12 x 12 letters with a footprint of 200 mm

Since I do not have a 3D printer, I made the grid with the aluminum strips, and I have isolated the LEDs' contact with the adhesive sponge, this also served to isolate the light

Step 3: Electronic Circuit

To keep time, I used a RTC (Real time clock, easily found on ebay).

To be able adjust the time, I added buttons (P1, P2, P3) and a 16 x 2 display.(See also the project "Weather Clock")

As seen from the wiring diagram, the buttons are connected to the Arduino via a pull-down circuit.

Since the display only serves to adjust the time, I replaced the jumper with a button, by doing so, it illuminates only to its use.

The diode D1 serves as reverse polarity protection.

The diode D2 serves to not feed the neopixel strip, when, for whatever reason, we have to change the sketch Arduino (too much current could damage it)

The diode D3 serves to bring at 5 volts, the voltage at Neopixel.

I am attaching the circuit diagram, the Fritzing scheme, the PCB layout

Step 4: Control Box

The circuit was placed inside of a lid of a sctola of Gewiss, I had at home, and because it was the most suitable size (150 x 110 mm).

With a Drimmel I did the slot for the display.

Step 5: Assembling

Open the frame and clean the glass well
Insert printing in Acetate
Insert the print paper
Insert the grid
Insert the panel with the LEDs
Paste a piece of plywood, a little 'bigger than the control box
Secure with self-tapping screws the control box

Pay close attention to the alignment of the two prints

Step 6: Arduino Code

Arduino libraries:

RTC

LiquidCrystal_I2C

Adafruit_NeoPixel

Code:

https://create.arduino.cc/editor/Tittiamo/5e477421-6bc2-4240-982d-1a2d8b848527/preview

The code is divided into 5 main parts:

"DisplayDateTime": displays the date and time in the lcd display

"HourClock": displays hours in the panel

"MinuteClock": displays the minutes in the panel

"Auguri": Happy birthday

"Void paintWord (arrWord int [], uint32_t intColor)" is the heart of the code to turn on the neopixel, "arrWord int []" are the LEDs should light, "uint32_t intColor" is their color

To get a more accurate clock, I added the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 corresponding to the progressive minutes.

Example:“SONO LE ORE DIECI E VENTI 4”means 10:24 (10:20 + 00:04), “SONO LE DIECI MENO QUINDICI 2” means 09:47 (09:45 + 00:02)