Arduino Digital Clock uses Many Analog Clocks

Recently on the Electromaker Show we looked at a project that is definitely worth sharing. It's an oldie but a goodie, at least a year or two old, and I missed it the first time around. But, the Arduino Blog has just published it, and I had to take another look.

"Analog Digital clock - reincarnated" is the name of the project, which uses an obscene amount of motors and Arduinos to display digital time using 24 analog clocks. Each panel is an analog clock, but instead of running as independent timepieces, each has an Arduino and two stepper motors controlling the hands. Watching it in action is truly special. The creator has a video that shows calibration, each beginning at an origin point before moving to the appropriate space in the segment display. It's a fascinating dance. All of a sudden, it shows the correct time. It gets me every time. Simple pleasures, albeit through complicated and high BOM means!

If you want to know more about this project, you can read about the project on the Arduino blog, or head straight to Ira Heart's instructable about the build. This project really makes me smile. There's absolutely no reason to take apart that many clocks to make another clock, but Ira Heart did it, and I'm glad he did. It just goes to show what you can achieve with a 3d printer, a whole load of Arduino boards, stepper motors, and drivers!

If you like stories like these, you'll love the Electromaker Show, our weekly round-up of all things Maker and Embedded. Join us on YouTube or on all major podcast services.