Solid Wood Digital Clock

How to build a wooden digital clock powered by an atmega168 (arduino) with a built-in alarm and games.

I first thought about making this when I saw an LED clock covered by a wood veneer . I liked it when I saw it, until I saw the price. This is when I decided to build my own, I wanted it to build it for much less, from solid wood and play games!

Step 1 What You Need

Materials:
- 4, 18" x 4" x 1" wood planks (I went with Maple)
- 85 Red LEDs
- 85 Green LEDs (Optional)
- 1 4 to 16 pin Demiltiplexer
- 15 NPN transistors (such a 2N3904)
- 1 ATMEGA168 Microcontroller (or Arduino)
- 1 20 MHz Crystal
- 1 5 Volt Regulator
- 2 220uF Capacitors (for power spike leveling)
- 1 Old Pocket Radio
- 2 1/8" Audio Jacks
- 1 5-9V DC wall adapter
- 1 (or more) Old Game Controller(s)
- 4 3-1/2" Wood Screws
- Solid Core Wire (easier to work with)
- Solder
- Hot Glue Sticks
- White Glue
- Sand paper

For the game controller I use an Atari 2600 joystick (or even paddle if you re-program), but it is also compatible with with a Sega Master System Controllers, Atari 7800 joysticks (theoretically) or even Sega Genesis Controllers.

Tools:
- Drill press
- Flat End Hobby Tool Bit
- Soldering Iron
- Hot Glue Gun
- Miter Saw

Comments

[yaly]

This laptop is IBM thinkpad R50 right?
Mine is IBM thinkpad R50E. Yay I always thought I'm the only one in the world that owns that laptop.

[jwilliamsen]

I think a great way to do this would be to drill the holes all the way through, and then glue veneer over the face - that way you don't have to stress so much about drilling to an exact depth. Call me lazy :) Cool idea, though! - I'm thinking about making one

[rick6213]

why you drill out if you can saw it out it takes less time i think
but it is i nice idea to use less tools for a project
i really gonna build this clock

[the_prototype]

this looks so nice I gonna make a "mini" version of it for my desk :)
I think I'll use 3mm RGB leds...

[the_prototype]

oh noz 3mm RGB LEDs doesn't exist :o

[mattccc]

you can get multisim from www.analog.com/en/amplifiers-and-comparators/operational-amplifiers-op-amps/products/CU_multisim_SPICE_program_download/fca.html

[vxir]

Very cool project!  BTW, If you don't want to deal with all the electronics you could perhaps use the Lightuino (makersmarket.com/products/67-lightuino-led-driver), which controls 70 channels of LEDs.  Each channel could be 3 LEDs.  Since it is not doing a LED "matrix" the LEDs are on all the time instead of being flashed rapidly.  This means that they will be a lot brighter which might be pretty important for a project where the LEDs are hidden behind wood.

[estebu]

Hi!

First of all congratulations for that cool project! I just have one basic question. Attached here there is an example of two LEDs that I might want to switch on. They are inside a green oval.
From what I understand, for switching on those two leds, I might have to activate the Pin1 to select green, and Pin11, Pin12 to select those two rows. In order to make the current flow, I guess I might activate the 00 and 01 inputs of the demux by choosing the corresponding pin2to5.

But the problem is, how do I avoid that the leds in red ovals do switch on?

Thanks!

[junniver]

I was just wondering,what if you don't have an atari controller?How do you set the time?

[J_Hodgie]

It is possible to install a few buttons if you wanted, but I like the controller.

[raykholo]

can that alternative be done with a joystick such as this tactile one from lambind switches?

http://www.insidetech.com/nfs/insidetech/attachment_images/0005/5950/american-flag-2a.jpg

[junniver]

Can you upload some schematics?and btw I live in Philippines do you think that this part will be available here:ATMEGA168 Microcontroller?

[junniver]

Sorry for the double post,but the idea of using a PS1 controller came to me moments after posting.Would it be possible?

[ReCreate]

its ok this is not a fourm and its not considered double post

[ReCreate]

you can post behind of an other of yor comments because there is no edit!

[J_Hodgie]

IT isn't too hard to find a schematic of the controller on-line (like here). The PlayStation controller is very different. The Atari controller just uses buttons to connect pins together, while the PlayStation controller uses a form of serial communication.

The ATMEGA168 should be available there. If not, you could probably order it online from overseas.

[junniver]

Thanks J_Hodgie.

[cyberspyder]

What if I just wan the clock---no alarm and games? What components can I edit out?

[J_Hodgie]

There isn't much, just a few LEDs. but even then the titles "Clock" and "Alarm" would have holes when switching modes. Apart from that there isn't anything I can think of.

[drbill]

I got TinyCad. I got it working pretty good with an external HD. I find that when I do a lot of deleting and I don't save file enough, the program tends to crash. It has not done this for a long time now. Very nicely done project you got there. Dr. Bill KB1LZL

[drbill]

Very professional looking. What are you using for a CAD program?

[J_Hodgie]

The software I used was Solidworks, but I am currently using unigraphics NX 5. I don't really have a preference between the two.

[GnomeMaster]

ooohhhh I so want to make this...but sadly....I'm no good with electronics.....*crys*

[Kactapuss]

http://www.suck.uk.com/product.php?rangeID=41

[agent]

lol 100 euros and not a SINGLE game!

[sotsirh194]

I am looking into getting a Arduino and I don't want to have to bring the board in every robot. Is it possible to change out the chips and put them into other things without much extra components like a basic stamp? I have a basic stamp but to get a new chip is fifty dollars way too much to put in smaller projects.

[J_Hodgie]

It is possible with minimal components. All you need shouldn't be too hard to find on the arduino website. And as a bonus each chip is only $5.
If you are going to switch out chips I also suggest you get an AVR ISP mk II to burn a bootloader to the new chips.

[sotsirh194]

Is this a seperate device or just a program. I didn't understand what the wabsite was saying?

[J_Hodgie]

The AVR ISP mkII is a separate device that can attach to the arduino to burn a bootloader (a piece of software that allows programs to be quickly loaded over USB)

[sotsirh194]

OK, I see now thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it.

[lego187]

It would have been cool to use one solid block of would instead of 4 layers. Or possibly made it look like a solid block by making the face layer over lap the other 3 layers, cut 45 degree angles on the edges of the face and boxing the other 5 sides in with 5 pieces of wood, also with 45 degree angled edges. So you end up with a box around the whole thing with no visible joining edges. I just wish i had some electronic knowledge because i would be making one of these right now. really nice end product!! it looks pro

[guyzyl]

That looks so cool! But I think it's too hard for me to make (I wish I had one of those)

[cr0ybot]

Added to Arduino Group! ;D

[jephrandall]

What a wonderful instructable! I'm fairly new to electronics, but for the most part I can follow it. (that's a feat in itself!)

On the page discussing electronics setup.. why is it that when you show the solderless breadboard, I don't see any transistors, but they're on the soldered board? If I understand correctly, the set of 15 transistors are only necessary if I want to have two different color LED's on the clock. So this means that the pictured breadboard config will run the clock with just one color?

It'd be soo helpful to get a more detailed shot of the breadboard + Arduino setup.. pretty much because I only 50% understand all of the electronics lingo at this point. :-)

Again - amazing job on this thing!

[J_Hodgie]

Thanks for the comment! There are no transistors on the solderless breadboard because I took the photo mid-process of designing the electronics. You are also correct that the transistors are not needed with just one colour of LEDs. However, I would recommend adding one transistor to each anode row to boost the signal from the microcontroller, which makes the LEDs brighter. I'll see what I can do about getting a better shot of the soldered breadboard, but at this point it is difficult to do. I am also currently making the schematic.

[Ssly]

Agree and I would be pleased to get a schematic.

[J_Hodgie]

The schematic for the clock is now up in step 9, Let me know if it is unclear.

[tatagatha]

Awesome. I'm also a big fan of the wood clocks. I really like the game addition. I've got a project like this on the back burner, but perhaps I'll bump it up. My idea was to have more of an ambient piece. I plan on putting an stencil between a veneer and an electroluminescent panel. It looks like the panel might not be bright enough, so I may use another light source. Also, when it comes to any circuitry, I don't know whats going on, just that the panel is what I think I need. I'm not sure how to safely hook it up. That way the stencil would produce the design on the front. I've got some friends who want to put their own graphics in.

[J_Hodgie]

Thanks your idea sounds interesting, it would even look cool if you just had the el panel behind a stencil, no cover. I've never played with el panels before, but I'd like to see it if you do make it.

[Whatnot]

Nice job for a pretty original clock, but it looks like a bit too much trouble for me. However one could use it as a basis for something else, like a project with 2 LED's in wood for an external box the drive/power lights of a computer, or a wooden enclosure for a network router, that already has a bunch of LED and you don't need to mess with too much electronics, just need to get the standard LED into part-holes. So thanks for the worklog and warnings what can go wrong and how to do it cleanly :)