Analog Talking Glow in the Dark 3D Printed Clock

The clock will display the time using 4 analog meters. I have seen these type of clocks in various incarnations but I never saw an analog clock in this format that talked. This clock announces the time at half hour intervals and plays a message whenever the clock is first powered on. Many of these types of clocks use a real time clock module such as this one. The coin cell battery keeps the time when power is removed so the clock will always retain the current time. Most clocks of this type allow the time to be set when the Arduino program is compiled. This is fine except when you have to account for daylight savings time. You must advance or retard the time by one hour twice a year. Recompiling the program is a hassle so I decided to add time set capability to the clock via a rocker switch and pushbutton interface.

The analog meter gauge plates and pushbutton panel are 3D printed in glow in the dark material so they are always visible. I added ultraviolet LEDs to the gauges and the pushbutton panel that will provide a nice purple lighting effect and charge the glow in the dark material.

The power on message and time announce files are provided but can be changed simply by recording new .mp3 files and putting them on the music maker board micro SD card.

The clock is 3D printed and utilizes one Arduino Mega 2560, one Music Maker MP3 shield, one DS1307 real time clock, four rocker switches, one up/down momentary pushbutton switch and 12 3mm ultraviolet LEDs..

The .stl files for printing the clock parts, Arduino code, Meter faceplate template, wiring diagram and the audio files are located here. The files can also be found at www.guarnero.com. The clock was printed on a Lulzbot mini which has a print bed size of 150 mm x 150 mm.

The entire clock was printed with HIPS filament with the exception of the pushbutton panel and the meter scale plates. These items were printed with glow in the dark ABS.

A complete parts list along is provided at the end of this “Instructable”.

Warning:

Once the clock has been constructed, people are often mistaken that they may have had a supernatural experience once they bask in the warm glow of the clock and the sound of the angelic voice announcing the time. I assure you, the warm glow is just the ultraviolet LEDs and the angelic voice is my wife.