Creating a clock is as simple as connecting an OLED module to a microcontroller with WiFi support and loading code that allows it to stay updated through an NTP server. However, that gets boring very quickly: The clock by "andrei.erdei" on Instructables replaces the OLED panel with a strip of 35 WS2812b LEDs, arranging them in an unusual pattern, giving rise to a strange but very interesting linear LED clock.
At NeoTeo we have explored all kinds of clocks: We have minimalist designs with WiFi, weather clocks, domino clocks, magnetic clocks, CRT televisions, Soviet LED clocks, and even a wrist planetarium that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Personally, I always prefer DIY projects, as they turn the classic clock into an almost infinite source of experimentation and creativity. And with that in mind, I decided to return to the Instructables portal, where the user "andrei.erdei" shared details about his linear LED clock, inspired by strange retro designs.
A Linear LED Clock That Doesn't Use Numbers
The first thing anyone will ask about this linear clock is: "what happened to the numbers?" In reality, "andrei.erdei" decided to apply a system of three triangles. If all three triangles are off, the number is 0. The first triangle on the right is 1, the two lower triangles are 2, and all triangles on is 3. Three blocks of three triangles represent 0-9, and to form the digits of the complete clock, the number of LEDs rises to 35.
The LEDs are WS2812 (or WS2812b), available in strips of 60 LEDs per meter. "andrei.erdei" uses two strips of 17 and 18 LEDs respectively, connected in a very simple circuit to reproduce. The microcontroller is nothing more than a Wemos D1 mini, but I imagine we can use (almost) any clone based on the ESP8266. The code is pure Arduino, and the only necessary modification is changing the NTP server (that depends on the region). The files to print the case are available via Tinkercad, but you have to register first.
The rest of the components are reduced to a piece of dark acrylic, a piece of white paper, a power supply (5V and 2A), cables, and a good dose of glue to secure the LEDs. The intervention with the soldering iron is minimal, and the slowest part of the whole project is waiting for the case to print. Highly recommended for next weekend.
Official site: Click here
