DIY word clock kits

Arduino Technology
DIY word clock kits
diy_word_clock.jpg
diy_word_clock_side.jpg

Back in September, Matt blogged about the QLOCKTWO text-display clock from high-end German design firm Biegert & Funk. If you like their version, one can be yours right now for the low, low price of €885, which is about $1200US as of this writing. Matt mentioned, in his original post, that the design “could be a fun remake.”

And, as MAKE readers are prone to do when presented with a challenge, one of you stepped up.

Australian Doug Jackson not only re-made the QLOCKTWO, he published an Instructable describing how he did it. Now, in grand open-source tradition, Doug is offering supplies for those who want the DIY version. He’ll sell you a complete handmade clock (at about a fifth the cost of the designer version), a complete kit to build your own clock, or just the controller in case you want to skin it yourself. Kudos, Doug!

7 thoughts on “DIY word clock kits

  1. Matt Mets says:

    Rad!

  2. CircuitGizmo says:

    Does he date Megan? Or am I reading too much into a group of random letters?

    1. Collin Cunningham says:

      Actually I heard they broke up – she’s w/ Woz now … ithink.

      Very much digging the PCB in this kit – looks handmade!

      1. CircuitGizmo says:

        Or is it Doug+Woz?

        I saw the Woz, too, but then woz is in two, too. But not in a tutu.

        That just got strange…

  3. teknohippy.myopenid.com says:

    Doug’s chosen to go with a 13 by 13 layout. The QCLOCKTWO goes with 11 by 11.

    13^2 has given Doug lots of space for extra hidden words of course, as the QCLOCKTWO has as well.

    How small can you get, maintaining the square layout?

    10 by 10 is easy, can anyone fit it into 9 by 9?

  4. Bigrinner says:

    I dont know how to add attachments here, but I took the pdf from the instructable and edited it 48 times to make a jpg for every 15 minutes. Then put all the pictures onto a photo frame. The photo frame is set to move to the next photo every 15 minutes. How can I post a photo of my finished product here?

  5. pknoe3lh says:

    Hey nice project!!!
    If someone want to build it in there on language there is a nice tool to generate a Text Matrix:
    https://github.com/pknoe3lh/WordClockGenerator/releases
    And a tutorial Video:
    https://youtu.be/tNPpLDylUQ0

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Tagged

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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