This is my first instructable and I hope you will like it. I have been reading this website for a while now and I decided to publish my project. I am non-native English speaker please excuse my language mistakes.
This project is inspired by a previous instructable from Hellboy and his Lantern Clock. In the meanwhile he came out with the Cyclops which has a kind of similar concept as mine, but God see my heart, I just took the Lantern clock as my starting point. Anyway I would like to thank him for that inspiration.
When I first saw Hellboy's clock, I said I want something like that. So I sat to my desk switched on my computer and started to design. After a while I came up with the final plan.
The rendered 3d image looked quite OK for me.
For the wooden parts I wanted to use wenge wood but I could not get wenge in that size for a reasonable price. So I decided to use the old proven walnut and maple combination.
I realized soon enough that finding a similar brass disks and gears what matching my design is quite impossible so I decided to make them, but I did not know how yet. The turning would kill my little Unimat machine, which set is meant to make small parts not these big ones, so I just put them on hold for a while until I find a solution and start the rest. And lately, the solution came to me by itself.
List of Materials, tools:
-walnut timber
-maple timber
-acrylic tubes
-circular saw, scroll saw
-drill and router machines
-brass rods, pipes
-threaded rods
-brass sheets
-screws, bolts
-lots of sandpaper
-lacquer
-nixie clock kit
-12v power adaptor
-wires
-soldering iron
-multimeter
-safety gloves, eye protection
Video:
This project is inspired by a previous instructable from Hellboy and his Lantern Clock. In the meanwhile he came out with the Cyclops which has a kind of similar concept as mine, but God see my heart, I just took the Lantern clock as my starting point. Anyway I would like to thank him for that inspiration.
When I first saw Hellboy's clock, I said I want something like that. So I sat to my desk switched on my computer and started to design. After a while I came up with the final plan.
The rendered 3d image looked quite OK for me.
For the wooden parts I wanted to use wenge wood but I could not get wenge in that size for a reasonable price. So I decided to use the old proven walnut and maple combination.
I realized soon enough that finding a similar brass disks and gears what matching my design is quite impossible so I decided to make them, but I did not know how yet. The turning would kill my little Unimat machine, which set is meant to make small parts not these big ones, so I just put them on hold for a while until I find a solution and start the rest. And lately, the solution came to me by itself.
List of Materials, tools:
-walnut timber
-maple timber
-acrylic tubes
-circular saw, scroll saw
-drill and router machines
-brass rods, pipes
-threaded rods
-brass sheets
-screws, bolts
-lots of sandpaper
-lacquer
-nixie clock kit
-12v power adaptor
-wires
-soldering iron
-multimeter
-safety gloves, eye protection
Video:
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Signing UpStep 1: The woodwork
First I made the mass model from cheap MDF to have a notion how it is going to look like, than I made a more accurate plywood model where all the openings and holes were correct.
I ordered some 5mm thick walnut sheets and cut all of them by laser to have the accurate curves. The cutting shapes are from the 3d design, just had to convert them to vector format.
That was the first time when I have ever used laser cutter, I can tell it is amazing how much work you can save just to use the laser... Of course I don't have a laser cutter at home, but there is one just 2 minutes away from my house in a public Fablab workshop. For a few Euro you can use it.
For the base I bought walnut and maple timber. After planing I glued the print outs of the base shapes and drilled all the necessary holes. My experience to make the holes first, then cut the shape. Where the bigger holes are close to the edge the drill bit or router bit could break off little chips from the wood if you cut the shape first and that is definitely not a good thing. So after having the holes I cut the ovals with my scroll saw. For the PCB panel I made the opening on all 3 base components.
After assembling all the parts the next step was to sanding all of them with a fine grit paper. I applied some dark stain for the walnut parts, the maple remained natural and sprayed them with a metal lacquer. I found it more hard and resistant than the one for wood.
I ordered some 5mm thick walnut sheets and cut all of them by laser to have the accurate curves. The cutting shapes are from the 3d design, just had to convert them to vector format.
That was the first time when I have ever used laser cutter, I can tell it is amazing how much work you can save just to use the laser... Of course I don't have a laser cutter at home, but there is one just 2 minutes away from my house in a public Fablab workshop. For a few Euro you can use it.
For the base I bought walnut and maple timber. After planing I glued the print outs of the base shapes and drilled all the necessary holes. My experience to make the holes first, then cut the shape. Where the bigger holes are close to the edge the drill bit or router bit could break off little chips from the wood if you cut the shape first and that is definitely not a good thing. So after having the holes I cut the ovals with my scroll saw. For the PCB panel I made the opening on all 3 base components.
After assembling all the parts the next step was to sanding all of them with a fine grit paper. I applied some dark stain for the walnut parts, the maple remained natural and sprayed them with a metal lacquer. I found it more hard and resistant than the one for wood.
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Can i ask you to describe tools and machines you had used during this project please?
Thank you!
I mainly used the Unimat hobby set to complete the clock. You can find all the informations from the set here: http://www.thecooltool.com/index_e.php
I have the Classic set and a lot of extra accessories plus a circular saw set to cut almost everything up to a certain (not too much) thickness. They have the Metal Line set which is much better for any work. I have some parts from that set since I broke some plastic tool from the Classic set.
The machine set has pros and cons of course. I got the Classic set as a gift a few years back so I upgraded that slowly. If I would start from scratch, knowing what I am going to do with machines like those I would go for dedicated machines. Circular saw like what I have or Proxxon circular saw for half price. For turning I would buy an old small engineer turning machine. Even Unimat had it in the past. They are last forever. Also a small and precise bench drill could be handy. All those dedicated machines are strong reliable, just what you need!
The Unimat sometimes is not enough or not that strong as a dedicated machine but there is always a solution to fix problems.
I always need a table router or 3D router or just something special for one little thing. Than the Unimat comes handy and I can build any machine what I want.
I dont promote any brand and I dont really have favorites. I prefer sturdy and precise tools. I really like my Unimat, but I am ok with my "SKILL" super cheap off brand sanding machine, which is strong and noisy and when it breaks I will throw away and buy another one :)
I hope this answers your question :)
Z.
I want to make for myself the nixie clock the same you! If you can send to me the pdf document please! Thank you very much! My Email: longpcb@gmail.com
I will keep you updated when it comes to production.
All the best!
Zoltan
perhaps i've missed it but what is the circuit diagram for this clock? i see the parts but not the way to arrange them.
thanks!
Would look really cool in a living room.
Well Done!