Running Man Reverse Clock

Everyone wants to go back in time. For that everybody wants time machine. I have a quick hack to go back in time. Well this can reverse time, but you have to move forward in life.While most clocks display time in a conventional way, some people prefer a unique and unconventional approach. One such approach is to make the clock tick in reverse direction. This can be achieved through modifications to the clock mechanism, which involves reversing the direction of the gears that move the clock hands. By doing this, the clock ticks backwards, with the hands moving counterclockwise. With a bit of creativity and effort, you can create a functional and stylish reverse clock that adds a touch of uniqueness to your existing analog clock. In this project, I've provided a guide on how to make an analog clock tick in reverse direction, but please note that the exact steps may vary depending on the type of clock you have. With some creativity and DIY skills, you can make your own reverse ticking clock that's sure to turn heads.so let's get started!I

Laser Cutter

3D Printer

Nose Plier

Hammer

Cutter

Clock machine

1. First of all remove the three hands (hour, minute and second) and battery of the clock. Then remove the back cover of the clock carefully.
2. Once you remove the back cover you will see the gears assembly. We are going to remove the gears one by one, you can take pictures at each step so it will help you when we assemble it again.
3. I have attached the pictures in sequence. First remove the top 3 gears.
4. To make the reverse clock no soldering is required and no need to cut any wire. We are just going to flip the ferrite rod. That's it!
5. Now remove the cog with magnet. Then carefully remove the ferrite rod. Take out the ferrite rod from copper coil. No need to cut any wires or unwinding of coil.
6. Now just flip the ferrite rod and insert it again inside the coil.
7. The ferrite rod looks almost identical on both sides. But on one side it is straight and other side it has different shape. You check it in pictures above.
8. Now, put the coil with ferrite rod again in its original place. Some clocks have plastic pegs which hold the ferrite rod. When we flip the ferrite rod, the pegs dont fit to the rod. In that case cut some pegs with the help of cutter and put the ferrite rod in its place.
9. The clock machine which I have doesn't have peg mechanism, it has slot for the ferrite rod. So its quite simple.
10. Put the cog with magent and 3 gears in proper position and put the back cover.
11. Now attach the clock hands ad connect the battery. Check if clock ticks in reverse or not. It should work.

Lets design fancy clock with the help of inkscape. I have attached the image of running man which we will use to design our clock. First convert this image to object.

1. Load image into inkscape software. Now, select the image and and go to path--> trace bitmap option.
2. New window will pop up. Select brightness cutoff and check the live preview. Now change the value until you get the desired result. This process will give you black and white(bitmap) image. It is nothing but thresholding in image processing. Once you are done click OK.
3. Now delete the original image and keep the bitmap image. Now select eraser tool for right hand side toolbar menu and remove the head. We will draw new head.
4. Select circle option from right hand side toolbar, and draw big circle at position of head. Now we have two objects one without head and one circle. Now select both these objects and goto path-->combine. select combine. Now we have running man with big head as one object.
5. For laser cutting we need only outline. So select the object and goto object-->fill and strokes. First click on fill option and select no fill. Second, click on stroke paint option and select flat color. Third click on stroke style and kepp width as 0.1 mm. You have the outline now.
6. Lets draw numbers. Select text option from right hand side toolbar. click on workspace to type text. Now type number and select font, style and size. Now move your number to appropriate position. Do this step 11 times for remaining numbers.
7. Now its time to outline the numbers. Follow step number 5 for outline.
8. Draw center circle of 8mm to attach clock machine.
9. If you want to hang this clock on wall you can add more holes.
10. Now our design is ready. lets save it as in dxf format. goto file->save as and select dxf format and click save/OK.
11. Our clock is ready. Lets laser cut it.

I have attached dxf files for clock desing and numbers. Use this for laser cutting. once you have the clock desing and numbers ready, put the numbers in clock. attach the reverse clock clock and check if it is working properly or not.

Its time print some fancy and unique hands for the clock. I am going to attach only two hands (hour and minute hand). As the theme for this clock is running man, lets design hands of same theme. First convert the image to dxf and then use that dxf file in Fusion360 software to make it 3d.

1. Open the silhouette image in inkscape software. We have to split it in two parts, upper body and lower body. First convert it to bitmap image. Follow the previous steps to convert it to bitmap.
2. Then, use rectangle tool from right hand side, and draw rectangle from half to bottom. Now select rectangle and bitmap image and goto path-->difference and selct difference. Now you have the upper body. Now save this upper body as a dxf file.
3. Do the same step for lower body. save it as a dxf.
4. To 3d print it, lets use fusion360. Open fusion360 and create new project. Now create new sketch and use insert dxf feature and add dxf files of upper body and lower body. Scale it according to clock dimensions. Now add circles of 5mm so that we can fix these parts on clock.
5. Once the sketch is ready, extrude it by 1.4mm. Save the 3d objects as stl files and print it.
6. After printing, attach the upper body as a hour hand and lower body as a minute hand. Our running man reverse clock is ready!!

Keep moving forward. Happy tinkering!!