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Sleek word clock

Step 9Enjoy your creation!

Finally, stuff all the electronics and LEDs into the frame, turn it on and enjoy your hard work!

Let me know if you have any questions.

-Scott

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2 comments

Jul 22, 2010. 7:00 PMdmphan says:

Hi, this looks awesome! Can you post a picture of the completed circuit board? It would be really helpful seeing as how I'm not really good with circuit schematics. Also, I noticed that you didn't mention the 26 way display connector. Is that needed in your version?

Dec 9, 2010. 9:52 AM

drj113 says:

Hi,

I was the original author of the design for this clock - I do sell kits that can be used to help you make these. My Arduino compatable module has all of the driver electronics for you on a single PCB. All you need to do is create the display using the LEDs.

If you want to minimise the amount of soldering you need to do, I am very happy to pre-make your board for you - check out http://www.dougswordclock/modules.html

The 26 way connector was really important to help faultfinding - it allowed the display and the controller to be separated when a problem was discovered. It also made the design more robust - I tried once to not use the connector, and solder directly to the board, but I found that the wires would snap off sometimes as the board was being moved around as the project was being built.

Dec 9, 2010. 11:18 AMprodenver says:

I couldn't get your link to work.

Dec 9, 2010. 12:17 PM

drj113 says:

Opps That will teach me to type at 4am....

The actual link is http://www.dougswordclock.com/modules.html

Dec 9, 2010. 11:48 AMmarioman134 says:

The link needs a .com in it. The website is here.

Jul 22, 2010. 7:41 PMscottbez1 (author) says:

Thanks. Unfortunately I actually gave this clock to someone as a gift before thinking to snap any pictures of the completed circuit board... Bummer. I can tell you that my circuit board was a mess compared to drj113's since I wired mine up on protoboard rather than making a custom PCB. I'm actually planning to build another one of these with the same design in the next month or so, so I'll be sure to take some pictures then and update the instructable. As for the display connector - I just used some standard .1" pin headers that I had lying around (like these: http://blog.makezine.com/app_pins_clip.jpg). You can use whatever is convenient - having a connector isn't even necessary, although it does make it easier to solder and test.