It’s superb how a lot technological progress humanity has achieved over the previous few centuries. However whereas {our capability} with electronics has shot forward, plainly we’ve nearly regressed in the case of mechanical and electromechanical design. Watches and clocks are nice examples of this, as pre-digital craftsmen had been able to astonishing feats which might be nonetheless spectacular at this time. However some persons are maintaining these traditions alive, as evidenced by this mechanical seven-segment show clock pushed by a single stepper motor.

This clock is actually a murals. It reveals the time throughout six digits, every of which is a seven-segment show. However these aren’t segments lit by LEDs, they’re bodily items of plastic. A fancy collection of gears flips them out and in within the applicable sequence to show the numeric characters. That could be very spectacular when you think about that the segments don’t actuate in an order that correlates with the numerical worth — the quantity 4 isn’t merely turning “on” another phase than the quantity 3. Besides, the clock progresses via the numbers so as.

That’s solely attainable due to the genius mechanical design of the clock. Additional growing the surprise is the truth that the clock and all of its components had been 3D-printed — no precision machining vital. An Arduino Nano board controls the stepper motor that drives the entire collection of gears. That ensures that the motor turns at a relentless price, which is required to maintain correct time.