Author Topic: [IC] THE CLICK CLOCK (Read 28253 times)

Firebolt1914 · « **on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:04:20 »

I have a rough idea of running a group buy of numitron clocks. I'm not sure if I should make an affordable acrylic case or a really nice aluminum case. I'm planning on having cherry mx switches as buttons although I have to see what sort of modifications I have to make.

I have access to a laser engraver so I can engrave some keyboard related things on the case. Here is an image of the original project done by Sean Voisen.

There most likely will be only 10-15 clocks done in a run.

Very rough estimate of 70 USD per clock. Higher price than I had hoped but not too bad

EDIT:
I am scratching the MX idea as the case is not too compatible with other switches. I don't think it's really possible unless you use wires to connect the switch to the PCB. Even if the case were to be modified, the parts are at the same level as the switches.

NEWEST EDIT 12/22/2016

NOW TO BE IN VFD FORM!

VFDs are different than the previously proposed Numitrons as they are not filaments, but instead are based on cathodoluminescene.

VS

Right now, once the maker of the PCB (www.nixieclock.org) responds to me, I will begin to make a case. I have still not decided between acrylic or aluminum. Aluminum will be more expensive, however I believe it will look the nicest with this type of vacuum tube. Please let me know so I can begin ASAP. I will post a rough approximation of what I want the aluminum case to look like soon.

Example of CNC'd aluminum IV-11 Clock

\

Possible Design(s):

64rky · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:06:14 »

Holy cow, that looks cool! I'd be down for one!

Edit: I like the acrylic case, just looks cool!

nmur · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:07:39 »

I've always wanted one of those!!

romevi · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:09:55 »

What is that?

fliptrik · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:10:22 »

Very slick. What's the rough price point your aiming for?

FLFisherman · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:10:31 »

You said you wanted to use Cherry MX switches as buttons. How would that work? I don't see where the buttons would be.

ImpendingxDoom · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:12:44 »

I'm always down for some nixies. Count me in

Zapheo · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:13:40 »

This looks like a headphone amplifier.

whmeltonjr · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:13:48 »

I could be interested depending on cost.

qazeqaz · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:14:30 »

I would be in for one of these bad boys!

HoffmanMyster · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:14:44 »

Nixie clock?? Sign me up!!

@FLFisherman, the AM/PM and Alarm buttons on each side of the tubes.

FLFisherman · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:15:54 »

Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:14:44

@FLFisherman, the AM/PM and Alarm buttons on each side of the tubes.

Ah, I see. In that case color me interested!

Firebolt1914 · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07 »

The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

64rky · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:30:17 »

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07

The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

The number of the unit, possibly the username

Hexterdude · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:35:15 »

I'd love to get one of these

Computer-Lab in Basement · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:36:16 »

does it support 24-hour time format?

ImpendingxDoom · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:40:30 »

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07

The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

I know, I just like nixies (and not just because my cat is named nixie). Something about their warm glow can't be encapsulated by numis. But I understand the reasoning. IIRC the tubes are similarly priced, but the lower voltage should make the kit as a whole much cheaper. I would guess $75-100 depending on the case?

mobbo · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:48:39 »

This looks super cool.

Personally I'd just like my GH username engraved. Or even the the Geekhack logo itself (not sure about permissions around this).

If you did aluminium cases I imagine you could get some pretty detailed images or designs on there.

jerue · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:58:36 »

whoa.

interested depending on price.

LukStarkiller · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:11:23 »

I prefer nixies but interested anyways

livingspeedbump · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:13:10 »

Im so ***** in for this

livingspeedbump · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:14:40 »

Quote from: 64rky on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:30:17

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07
The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

The number of the unit, possibly the username

Yeah, I like this idea. Simple and elegant. Or GH logo / username

chilldude_22 · « **Reply #22 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:31:52 »

Always wanted an aluminum Nixie clock. Consider me interested!

livingspeedbump · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:33:11 »

Quote from: bweeldreyer on Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:31:52

Always wanted an aluminum Nixie clock. Consider me interested!

Tube clock, technically not a Nixie

i3oilermaker · « **Reply #24 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:34:05 »

Interested if aluminum.

romevi · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:34:19 »

I still don't know what I'm looking at...

chilldude_22 · « **Reply #26 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:41:05 »

Quote from: livingspeedbump on Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:33:11

Quote from: bweeldreyer on Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:31:52
Always wanted an aluminum Nixie clock. Consider me interested!

Tube clock, technically not a Nixie

WHATEVER

trizkut · « **Reply #27 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:43:20 »

Interested

Dongulator · « **Reply #28 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:47:32 »

Interested for sure.

RoastPotatoes · « **Reply #29 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 12:53:25 »

Interested. These are awesome.

Psybin · « **Reply #30 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 13:02:49 »

Interested also.

livingspeedbump · « **Reply #31 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 13:12:14 »

Kits on ebay for something very similar to this are around $120ish, so I'd expect something similar, if not slightly more for this.

Dee1 · « **Reply #32 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 14:39:24 »

Interested in this.

Melvang · « **Reply #33 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 15:27:05 »

I was looking at getting a kit for a nixie tube clock but I wanted the bigger tubes and a proper 5 instead of the upside down 2. Was expensive. I might swing this depending on final price.

romevi · « **Reply #34 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 15:27:58 »

OH... HA HA!
THERE ARE NUMBERS ON THE TUBES!!!

Dernubenfrieken · « **Reply #35 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 15:39:42 »

It should be the "click clock"
Ill show myself out

Firebolt1914 · « **Reply #36 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 15:51:31 »

Quote from: Dernubenfrieken on Thu, 04 February 2016, 15:39:42

It should be the "click clock"
Ill show myself out

I love it

HoffmanMyster · « **Reply #37 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 17:42:46 »

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07

The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

My bad, I didn't realize numitron was a different thing.

Thanks for clarification.

Engraving should be #, (optional) geekhack, and (optional) username, in no particular order. At least that's my vote. It also depends on the intent here, whether you want to make a geekhack clock or just a clock that is sold on geekhack.

demik · « **Reply #38 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 17:59:36 »

Quote from: romevi on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:09:55

What is that?

a time teller

i'd get one, if it had the hhkb logo engraved on the bottom right hand corner just like the hhkb OuO

Firebolt1914 · « **Reply #39 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 18:07:39 »

Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Thu, 04 February 2016, 17:42:46

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07
The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

My bad, I didn't realize numitron was a different thing. Thanks for clarification.

Engraving should be #, (optional) geekhack, and (optional) username, in no particular order. At least that's my vote. It also depends on the intent here, whether you want to make a geekhack clock or just a clock that is sold on geekhack.

My intent was to get a bunch of clocks that are interesting and have some sort of geekhack flair. There will be a custom case, and hopefully it won't be too expensive. If it is too expensive, I will switch to the acrylic case.

HoffmanMyster · « **Reply #40 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 18:13:47 »

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 18:07:39

Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Thu, 04 February 2016, 17:42:46
Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 04 February 2016, 10:25:07
The important part of this possible clock is the fact that it uses numitron tubes instead of actual nixies. Niches require around 180VDC which put me off. Numitrons require about 5V, which is much safer and requires less circuitry.

I may want a poll for either acrylic or aluminum case.

Also, what sort of thing would you want laser engraved?

My bad, I didn't realize numitron was a different thing. Thanks for clarification.

Engraving should be #, (optional) geekhack, and (optional) username, in no particular order. At least that's my vote. It also depends on the intent here, whether you want to make a geekhack clock or just a clock that is sold on geekhack.

My intent was to get a bunch of clocks that are interesting and have some sort of geekhack flair. There will be a custom case, and hopefully it won't be too expensive. If it is too expensive, I will switch to the acrylic case.

Building off what demik just said, it might be fun to let people put etchings of their favorite keyboards on it in the style of the pixel art photos in peoples' sigs?

UsualSuspectXXX · « **Reply #41 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 18:49:17 »

Definitely interested! Most likely interested in the acrylic case. I love how it looks.

demik · « **Reply #42 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 19:16:16 »

Can you make one that tells me when the next clack sale is?

Spaceman1200 · « **Reply #43 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 19:58:47 »

Interested depending on the price

turboloser · « **Reply #44 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 20:00:16 »

I would be pretty interested, I considered getting a Nixie years ago but sort of just forgot.

Sinanju · « **Reply #45 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 20:03:03 »

Quote from: demik on Thu, 04 February 2016, 19:16:16

Can you make one that tells me when the next clack sale is?

Human, not miracle worker.

Would be interested depending on price. Looks great w/ acrylic.

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #46 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 20:08:55 »

I'm very interested in this

GL1TCH3D · « **Reply #47 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 20:09:27 »

Curious...

Hellcatz · « **Reply #48 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 20:20:50 »

depends on the price

Siegx · « **Reply #49 on:** Thu, 04 February 2016, 21:08:11 »

Definitely interested if the price is good.

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Author Topic: [IC] THE CLICK CLOCK (Read 28253 times)