Introduction: Glow in the Dark RAM Clock
This instructable will show how to make a glow in the dark clock out of old computer parts.
Step 1: Tools Required
Tools Required:
1) Hot glue gun
2) Super Glue
3) Drill or dremmel tool
Step 2: Materials
The following are the materials used:
1) Hard Drive
2) RAM
3) CD/DVD
4) Clock Mechanism
5) Small SMD IC chips (Surface Mounted Device Integrated Circuit)
6) Lots of Hot Glue
Step 3: Find Hard Drive Platter
The hard drive platters can be removed from any hard drive by removing the screws on the red dots in the image. Drill out the middle of the spindle on the green dot big enough for the clock mechanism to fit though.
Don't forget to erase any important data just in case an ID thief breaks into your office and steals the clock.
Step 4: Find RAM
Mix and match any RAM although I found the 300mhz to give the clock the best performance. Depending on the size of RAM you may need to sand the corners at an angle to allow for a better fit when arranging them in a circle
Just in case anyone asks about the RAM you chose I've included a diagram to help your response sound smarter. Or you could mumble something about Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory and wave your hand dismissively.
Step 5: Find Clock Mechanism
You can strip the clock mechanism from an old thrift store / yard sale clock like I did or you can buy just the mechanism You can buy them at any craft store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby or you can buy them online here:
Clocks
http://www.klockit.com/depts/ClockMovementsfeaturingQuartexBrand/dept-355.html
Hands
http://www.klockit.com/depts/Hands/dept-5.html
Step 6: Small SMD IC Chips
1) These are easy to de-solder from any PCB board by heating up the opposite side of the board as the chip. I used a heat gun but you could use a lighter, torch or flame thrower.
2) Super Glue them to the Hard Drive Platter at the respective time positions. I used long IC's for 12,3,6,9 and short for the rest. Hot glue will not stick to the HD platter.
Step 7: Finding Parts
Just in case here is a view looking into a computer and shows where you can find each part in red.
RAM (left)
Integrated onto the motherboard in slots of 2 or 4. You can finally buy packs of old RAM cheap from ebay or a used computer store. They might even give them to you since anything older than DDR1 is pretty much obsolete.
Hard Drive (bottom right)
Flat, rectangle looking thing usually placed on a shelf in the front of the computer.
CD (top right)
Shinny flat circle that kids love to throw around and stick places.
Step 8: Glue It Together
1) Cut out battery slot on CD
2) Hot glue Clock Mechanism onto CD. Position battery slot over the cutout spot on the CD
3) Hot glue RAM around the clock mechanism. Keep the gluing area limited to what will be covered by the hard driver platter.
4) Glue HD platter over clock mechanism and cover up all that glue.
5) Drill hole to hang on wall nail
Step 9: Final Assembly
1) Paint hands white or glow in the dark.
2) Place Glow in the Dark Binary Stickers.
Binary 1-12:
1 - 0001
2 - 0010
3 - 0011
4 - 0100
5 - 0101
6 - 0110
7 - 0111
8 - 1000
9 - 1001
10 - 1010
11 - 1011
12 - 1100
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20 Comments
7 years ago on Introduction
ya, great job. Nice artistic unsymetrical look. Looks like its tool a while.
10 years ago on Introduction
nice, but not original, i do those PC comp stylish clocks for 18 year now...
here is a sample:
http://eclipse-online.info/IMAGES/SCULPTURES/ANCIENNES/horloge1.jpg
there are many other things on my site, take a look !
10 years ago on Introduction
Augggggh! Binary! LOL Well, as the T-shirt says, there are only 11 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. I'm lovin the clock, though! I've built a couple of hard-drive clocks in the past, may have to scrounge for old dimms and give a whack at this one!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
but doesn't 11 mean 3 in binary?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Yeah....that whistling sound you hear? That's my sense of humor (and memory skillz) bombing. Again. LOL
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
lol, Just remember 128-64-32-16-8-4-2-1
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
So what's the third type of person? I'm certain you meant to say 10 types of people!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
LOL Yeah, meant to say 10. Told ya I didn't particularly enjoy binary....too much math involved.
10 years ago on Introduction
Wow and I thought i had a lot of old ram.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
This is one of those moments where my hording old electronics came in handy and then fed the bad habit. Its a vicious circle.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
True true :D
10 years ago on Introduction
Great 'ible. Cheers mate!
10 years ago on Step 3
I've taken apart many many hard drives and there is a lot of variance in how they are assembled. I will say I never seen one like that picture, where the 2 screws on the right-top release the disk platters and/or motor. Some motors are pressed in and nearly impossible to remove without breaking something, and most have screws but you have to remove the platters first.
Also, some platters are metal, and some are glass with a magnetic coating. Be very careful drilling holes in glass, it can shatter into many tiny blood drawing shards.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Good point, thanks for the safety caution. Wear your PPE.
10 years ago on Introduction
Forgot to add...when popping out the center spindle of the hard drive, a trick I found that works (demonstrated to me by my wife's handyman grandfather) is to take two sockets, one large and one small (say, 3/4" and 3/8" or so). Set the drive on top of the larger one, where the motor windings sit on top of the rim of the socket. Put the smaller one on top, and use a hammer to tap on the socket. With luck, everything should pop out into the interior of the larger socket on bottom (sorta like a hole-punch, but without such tight clearances. Or paper.).
10 years ago on Introduction
The ultimate in geek design. Applause!!
10 years ago on Introduction
for a second you scared me, i thought you used good ram, i used the same type to make a splint one time. its pretty useless. Beautiful clock too
10 years ago on Introduction
lol finally a use for those old dimms.
10 years ago on Introduction
Cool clock!
10 years ago on Introduction
That is a pretty sweet clock!