CYCLOPS

Hello
Here is Cyclops... all metal, shiny, very industrial. I can picture it sitting on baron Harkonens mantel....
I have been wanting to build a single digit Nixie clock for a while now,  I looked around the workshop and found a bunch of bits and pieces that I would start the design with, little is sketched its more of putting pieces together and seeing what they look like. after I started I saw the Shop Bot Challenge and worked hard late nights to complete this in time....
Just A starting note, I tend to communicate better through an image so please read the tags, they will sometimes hold a lot more info then the body of text...
here are my parts list, remember not finding the identical pieces is not a problem , just explore what you get your hands on and something is bound to climb out of that mass of parts....

here we go.....

 

• Found 13 pieces of an aluminum bottom plate, 1/8”thick and looks like it has a 4” hole cut for a speaker.
• Had some misc brass parts from a previous project.
• will need access to the following tools
• A milling machine (preferably with X Y Z readouts)
• Band saw,  need a pretty robust one for this project
• Lathe
• soldering skills
• Buffing wheel with compounds.
• sand blasting booth (not necessary can substitute sandpaper for a similar effect)
• Basic electronics and machining skills
• All kinds of hardware
• loc-tite retaining compond (green).
• loc-tite 430 metal cyano-acrylate.
• 20AWG wire, red /black, and some 28AWG ribbon wire 12 conductor.
• an assortment of clear acrylic tubing
• Blink M programmable RGB LED. here is the info...  http://thingm.com/products/blinkm and this is where i got mine http://www.sparkfun.com/search/results?term=blinkm&what=products
• you will need to buy the BlinkM interface too, Looks like a USB flash drive with a 4 pin input..

• Single digit Nixie kit.... I got mine here....

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/petes_kits/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Pete has to my knowledge the only Nixie prototype board out there that gives the experimenter options of screw terminals, solder pads and designated Nixie patterned mounts for leads,this isn't the kit I used in this instructable but will aid you on any 6 digit clock you wish to build.....

Pete always answers and is there to help you out.

If this kit is not on the site right now, be patient .

• 9vdc- 15vdc power supply

• 3 momentary buttons + caps (got mine off an old record player)

• delrin and nylon washers and stand offs

• soft rubber tubing

• a multimeter with a continuity function (prefer an audible function).

• 24 blue 3mm LED's

• (1) aqua 5mm LED, (1)orange 5mm LED, (1)amber 3mm LED

• led sequencer kit (Ebay)

• 4 tactile momentary buttons
• an old black and decker smoke detector
• keep track of the wires, number everything
• imagination and keeping track of plate sequences and directions
• An understanding spouse because this takes time....

Step 1: Gathering the pieces

I had a total of 14 plates to work with, the original concept was to keep the plates intact except for the front where the Nixie would show,covered by a vac u-formed piece of clear PETG plastic was this sarcophagus. I was going to sculpt an animated cosmonaut that was in deep sleep but at set intervals would wake and thrash in terror, articulated eyes, brow and jaw would display the terror then he would fall back to sleep, I have built automata pieces in the past and this was going to be a time and terror piece.....but as you all know ideas change and flow in all directions and that was soon put aside......

Comments

[repguy2020]

A nixie clock covered in awesome sauce! Absolutely wicked! the alien parchment would have been a great gag, but the work on the clock is spectacular. Painstaking and detailed are understatements. As I saw in a comment on another instructable of yours, a clean desk is, indeed, a sign of a sick mind. Besides, where would you put the stuff you need, if not on your desk? Keep up the ... superlative ... (yeah, that's a good word) work!

[Cyclone1764]

dear santa.......

[Gravity Boy]

Very good work, nice craft, and attention to detail; and I love the design.

10, 11, 12?

[dimtick]

Awesome job!!!
just don't try to take this thru airport security. if this doesn't say "thermonuclear device" i don't what does. next thing you know, you'll spend the weekend with homeland security being searched in places you don't want searched, while your really cool Cyclops which you worked so hard on gets hauled away by bomb robot and blown up in a disposal range.......
:)

[hellboy]

Ha ha yes a few of my creations have drawn attention from authorities...some good and some curious

[diy_bloke]

So if you suddenly wld never publish here anymore we can send cards to Gitmo?

[hellboy]

I would be happy to forward you my new address, but it would be hard to read with a burlap sack over my head

[diy_bloke]

I am in absolute awe

[hellboy]

Thank you

[shradius]

You are a artist !!! stunning craftsmanship!!!

[hellboy]

Thank you very much.

[Uptonb]

Congrats on being a finalist, and good luck!

[hellboy]

Thanks for letting me know, just found out.... And congrats to you too, I enjoyed the VW bunk bed project, nice layout.

[ROBBIE777]

Wonderfully speaking...Brother...you're among the first best artisans...In addition to wise technological Instructables! Cyclops is a amazing piece of art and technology! I believe that...to production in series...in a short time your serious a rich and famous man! from here, from Northern of South America you send my most sincere congratulations and be sure to amaze me with your creations! Best regards

[hellboy]

Thank you Robbie, I'm happy you liked it so much...

[Bluesbilly50]

Your works would be right at home in the museum of modern art in.n.y.c.!

[hellboy]

Thank you, hopefully soon, have a few more pieces to go, and I will put all of them up here....thanks again..

[freazzer1]

Absolutely beautiful.. it would be awesome if you made some to sell.

[hellboy]

Thank you, my other clock had some manufactures offering to make a production run, I declined the clocks will be part of an art museum exhibit.

[freazzer1]

wow, that's awesome... I saw both clocks and if I saw aether one for sale, I would definitely buy them.

[sitearm]

@Hellboy; Reading your instructable, I felt like the characters in Total Recall when they see the ancient alien terraforming reactor. First you call your device Cyclops, then you refer to it as a Nixie clock (at which point I begin losing the thread), then you present an incredible tour de force of designing, milling, electronics, and finishing. NOT to mention a threat of 300 volt electrocution if the insulations are not done right. Thank you! Cheers : ) Site

[hellboy]

Sorry about that, you can see why my instructables are picture heavy....
The clock is Named a nixie clock due to its main component the Nixie tube, I just came up with the name cyclops but it could as well have been anything else.
And the thing can give you a nasty sting if you are not careful...
I thank you for your intrest...
And I appreciate it....

[sitearm]

@Hellboy; Hi! Nothing to be sorry about I meant what I said it is art... that said, now that you expalin it is a Nixie tube, it is of COURSE all clear now *serious eye roll*... I shall google "nixie tube" immediately... I love technology and technology specific jargon... and I love great crafting, as the others are saying too. Cheers! :) Site

[Aleator777]

This is terrific! Such craftmanship. I would love to have this as a clock.

[hellboy]

Thak you.

[Lundis]

Wow, I didn't know something that beautiful existed... I hope to see more of your projects in the future!

[hellboy]

Thank you kindly, and you will see more,it just takes a while, I have that irritating trait that if something is not perfect I try another route, this burns up time but I think the end result is satisfying , to me at least

[Kaeghl]

This is impressive.
Do you have a store or something?

[hellboy]

Thank you, No store....

[woofman]

Hellboy, you are definitely one of the finest craftsmen on instructables. This is an amazing project that benefits greatly from the meticulous nature of your complex mind. I would love to see a video that showcases its true look and sound. Wish I could vote more than once.... ; )

[hellboy]

Thank you Sir, I tried to load video during the process of making the instructable and got error message after error message.....

[coolacid]

This reminds me of COD Black Ops.

[agiledesign]

LOL " I was going to sculpt an animated cosmonaut that was in deep sleep but at set intervals would wake and thrash in terror, articulated eyes, brow and jaw would display the terror then he would fall back to sleep....and this was going to be a time and terror piece.....but as you all know ideas change" I hope someday you still approach this idea! This is yet another amazing piece by Hellboy! great work! I look forward to seeing this in person sometime!

[raffyb]

Amazing talent. You are genius.

[Vedjourian]

Awesome, The craftsmanship is incredible. I cant wait to see it in person.
Congratulations on another masterpiece.

[hhufalar]

Such an Awesome JOB! and again.. I feel very lucky to see this in person ^___^