Seven Segment Clock

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I undertook the development of a project that allowed me to enhance my skill set. At the time, I was enrolled in classes that were transitioning to an online format, leaving me with a significant amount of free time. With lots of free time I wanted to improve my skill set, so while browsing reddit I found my inspiration for my next project! It stemmed from a piston clock I saw. This piqued my interest, I wanted to make a clock with real-world physical movement.

As a college student, I was operating on a tight budget and used economical materials such as cheap servos, 3D printing, and inexpensive wood. I found and 3D printed parts that would attach and move with the servos, incorporating white plastic for the front and black for the rest to blend with the background. Additionally, I collaborated with my father to construct the housing for the clock.

In retrospect, I acknowledge that the programming of the clock was less than optimal as I had not yet familiarized myself with object-oriented programming and the advantages of utilizing a class. Should I have the opportunity, I would revisit and restructure the entire code to make it more readable and maintainable.

This hands-on project was a big source of enjoyment that allowed me to utilize many different skills and combine them into one final product. The culmination of these skills was a source of great pride for me, as I witnessed the project come to fruition.

Below is a time lapse of the clock working.