A Word Clock

Step 4: Make a case for your clock - and enjoy!

Finally, construct a case for your clock. in my case, I will be creating a case from acrylic, that will allow people to see inside the clock . it will also allow light spill from the case to create cool effects on the desk.

Comments

[Patrick.Firganek]

 im doing this project too. Until now i go the Display and theController Board ready. All the components are mounted, only the LEDsare in progress (bought at ebay and wait for deliver....). I startedwith this 1 week ago, so when you have the right stuff in work or homethen this project will not take too much time. And the price for thecomponents is very small.

If someone have questions or want to see some pictures, send me an e-mail:

[e-mail]

greets

Patrick

sorry for the bad english, i am german....

[drj113]

That is awesome news .....  Well done, and thanks for the feedback!

[dresch]

Extremely cool! And wonderful. Can you chop the current to the LEDs to add a dimmer or save energy? Using copper clad PCB as an art material is genius. One other thought, a single board version using surface mount LEDs might feasible... but you would still need a letters bezel to make it look good. That is for when you go into commercial production! THANKS, great instructable.

[drj113]

I originally had a 1:15 duty cycle component in the code, that reduced the brightness when I was working on it in the study. I found that when I took it into work to show it off, it was way too dim... the fluro lights in the workplace are much brighter than the lighting in my home, so I removed the duty cycle code. You are welcome to re-enable the code yourself - it is located at the end of the main routine: // 1/15 duty cycle - not used because it makes the clock too dim for an office displaytime(); DelayMs(1); ledsoff(); DelayMs(15); As you can see - the time is shown, then I wait for 1ms, then I turn off the lights for 15ms. this reduced the rightness very effectively, and didn't flicker at all.

[skrubol]

Did you try using the stencilled PCB front panel backwards? With the copper on the light side and the unclad on the outside? Was it too blurry or unreadable?

[drj113]

I have never thought of using the PCB backwards - that may work well - I'll have to try it when I make one for my mum! (She asked for one)

[wozlaser]

Did you intend to include the names "woz" "megan" and "doug?" because i was quite startled to see mine and my ex girlfriend's name on your clock.

[drj113]

Woz was there in the middle, as he is one of the great designers, and I had 3 letters to fill in in the middle :-) Megan is there, cause she is the beautiful lady who the clock is for (My wife) Doug is there - Me!

[KABUKISTAR]

Does your clock ever read "IT IS DOUG OCLOCK"? It could

[drj113]

While it could -- it is Megan's clock - the word Doug only flashes during the power on self test. Megan's name flashes 10 times on the hour!

[hammer9876]

This is bloody awesome, although beyond my ability. Don't you think that the names, Woz, Megan and Doug, ought to randomly light up in different colors? Everyone should sign their work.

[wozlaser]

i knew it! im glad it was all on purpose thats super rad. Woz and i share a name but im a steve wozniak fan regardless, so cool to see that.

[PKM]

I didn't notice the Woz- Doug and Megan are plain but I assumed the z was padding between "one" and "two". Any chance of a timelapse of twenty minutes or so of the clock running?

[drj113]

Done - on the front page, there is an animated Gif - Hope it is helpful!

[PKM]

Was that there all along and I just didn't notice it, or was that the fastest request fulfilment ever? Either way, awesome!

[drj113]

I got to take a bucket load pf photos, and play with Image Magick - Never a bad thing!

[jackofallcrafts]

This is amazing. I love it!

[amotoalain]

I like it a lot