“Clocks are an essential part of our daily routine that help us manage time effectively and stay on track. Clocks can help regulate our sleep patterns and ensure that we meet our deadlines. They not only serve a functional purpose but also enhance the decor of our homes. In the next article, I will explore the construction of a LED clock, which combines functionality and style, making it a fun DIY project for those interested in electronics and design.
I wanted to make a special gift for our dear family members, and I searched extensively for something beautiful and unique. And since every home needs a special clock, I finally found exactly what I wanted. I know that my project won’t be very original, but I really liked Mukesh Sankhla’s two projects: RGB Hex Matrix | IOT Clock and RGB Hex Matrix | IOT Clock 2.0, and I decided that a clock based on his idea would be a perfect gift.
However, I wanted to make everything a little more in line with my style. I redesigned the casing, the matrix, the display mode, and used WS2812 LED strips. I also made everything slightly larger and slimmer so that the clock can be used either as a table clock or a wall clock and last but not least, a completely different software. But more about the construction in the following steps.
I hope you’ll have the patience to go through them until the end :)
Parts and Components:
- 3D printed components: LED base, grid, body, fixing and support elements, Wemos D1 Mini box
- WS2812 LED strip, 60led/m, 96 LEDs
- Wemos D1 Mini, ESP8266, module
- Smoked acrylic plate, 3mm thick
- 5.5mmx2.5mm Female DC plug with cable
- 5v/3A power source
- Mini screws (12 mm length, 2 mm thread diameter, 5 mm head diameter)
- Wires, Heat Shrinkable Tubes, Hot Glue
I started building the clock by 3D printing the LED base. (While I started mounting the LEDs on the base, I continued to print the rest of the components.) The order of mounting the LEDs is according to the diagram in the image above. I cut the required number of LEDs from the LED strip and pushed them onto the base. Unfortunately, the adhesive on the strip pieces wasn’t very strong, so after a while, the pieces came off, and I had to intervene with some drops of super glue. Pay attention to the direction of the strips, i.e., the direction in which the data flows, as shown in the electronic diagram above. After gluing all the pieces, I cut the hexagonal shape from smoked acrylic according to the dimensions on Tinkercad (I attached the SVG file, at the end of the step). I cut the same shape from a high-quality white copier paper.
When I had all the 3D printed components ready, I proceeded with the actual assembly. I placed the smoked acrylic piece in the body, followed by the paper piece. I positioned the grid over the LED base and neatly arranged the connection wires alongside the grid so that the LED base and the grid assembly fit nicely into the body. Then I fixed the hanger with mini screws, the two side fixing pieces, and the support foot.
Next, I made the connections between the LEDs, the Wemos module, and the power cord according to the electronic diagram. I then mounted the Wemos module (using a few drops of hot glue) in its own box, put the cap on, and fixed the box to the back of the clock (also with hot glue).”