Your Nixie Clock Headquarters
Smartsockets
It looks like Chris Barron is making some good progress on the Smartsockets project. Head on over to their Yahoo group to learn more and if you're not already a member, join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smartsockets/ (It is things like this that make me wish I stayed in electrical engineering....)
If you're not familiar with smartsockets:
Smart Sockets were born from a desire to create a family of products which consists of different types of popular displays, each with a standard uniform command set and a large number of display mode functions.
There are many inbuilt fonts and transition effects which can run at several speeds. This allows you to make an interesting display display routine with the minimum of fuss, the only requirement in terms of data signals is an industry standard 9600,8,N,1 input. This means they can be driven directly by a PC, a PDA, or a microcontroller.
There are also user-definable characters, which allows for the creation of a new character set, which is stored in non-volatile memory.
KOSBO VFD Round Clock
by Kosbo.com
Price: 49.95 EUR
Kosbo has just come out with a new VFD clock that is different from just about any other on the market. Instead of using discreet 7-segment tubes like the IV-11, this used one single display in the shape of an analog clock.
I personally own one of his IV-11 clocks and I’m quite happy with it. The PCB board is professionally assembled and I like the design of it. This round VFD clock takes it to the next level – soon there will be an acrylic base to complete the device and based on the renderings provided, it looks quite attractive.
Once the base is released, I may order one and do a more formal review based on that. In the mean time, go over to Kosbo.com and check out the rest of the photos and the specs. If you already have one of these, please leave me a message in the comments. I'd really like to get your opinion on this device.
From the site:
- Newly designed VFD Round Clock - just arrived on the market
- Unique compact design - there is nothing similar on market yet
- Circuit boards diameter is the same as tube's one - just make 30mm hole for whole clock installation
- Based on the modern Vacuum Fluorescent Display, which has 60 two sizes handle segments for real analogue clock simulation
- Reliable, simple to connect and easy to use Clock
- High efficiency and low power consumption for energy saving
- Use it as a Clock on your office table or as Alarm Clock to wake you up in your bedroom
- Convenient Time display reading
- Easy control with only 2 buttons.
- Over current and mixed polarity protection.
- Integrated Backup battery to keep Clock running in case of power failure for up to 14 days.
Links
Segmentus
by Art Lebedev
Price: n/a
From the guy who brought us the Verbarius clock comes the Segmentus. (Is anyone else noticing a naming pattern here?) This concept clock was built to address the challenge of creating a digital clock with hands. While clocks have addressed this challenge before, this one brings the usual Art Lebedev polish to the final product. The only thing I want to know is how noisy would this be to operate? With dozens of little motors and mechanical parts, this might not be a clock that you would keep in your bedroom.
links:
IV-18 VFD 'Harp Clock' Kit
by Claus-Dieter Urbach / www.nixieclocks.de
Price: 120 EUR
I found this clock on Neonixie-l and I really liked the design. It is similar to the Ice Tube Clock from Adafruit but I personally like this design much more. It is housed in a acrylic cylinder and has a much more polished look and feel to it. If you're curious about the build, Claus has included the full manual and high resolution build photos to help you
From the site:
Technical details:
- 9-12 Volt AC 50 Hz or 60 Hz
- used tube: VFD IV-18
- current: 120 mA at 12 Volt
- Optional DCF77 Module clock shows time (mains driven) or DCF77 timing
- If in DCF77 mode, the clock shows the date for 5 seconds
What you get:
- kit with all parts needed (SMD parts already solder on the pcb)
- IV-18 VFD tube
- Power 9-12 Volt AC
- housing: Acrylic cylinder, 2 Acrylic side plates
- CNC milled and laser cut
- chrome plated connector
- silver wire
- wires for power supply socket and DCF77 socket
- stencils for mounting the tube correctly
- 2 x spacers for the 7 silver wires (pcb material milled)
- 2 sockets (power supply and DCF 77)
Links:
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