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Aug 14, 2023Lazy 7 / Mini Is an RGB Segment Clock That Requires Minimal Soldering
Clocks are a staple of the hacking world, allowing one to create something that’s both interesting and useful. Often this requires arranging RGB LEDs in place with a significant amount of solder to get the spacing correct. Daniel Cikic's Lazy 7 / Mini does things a bit differently than most such clocks, creatively arranging an addressable WS2812B LED strip to avoid soldering.
The clock uses a 3D-printed frame, with openings for where each LED shines through to a diffuser, along with tabs that hold the LED strip in place when inserted. To get the spacing correct, one actually bends the strip up to reduce the distance from one LED unit to another.
The strip is curled in order to move from one row to another sacrificing four LEDs in the process. There are also three as-of-yet-unused pixels surrounding and in-between the hour/minutes dots. These could be implemented as additional indicators in the future, and for that matter the “wasted” bend LEDs could perhaps be used as ambient body lighting with the correct modifications.
Cikic's Lazy 7 / Mini is shown in the video below, running via an Arduino Pro Mini with a DS3231 RTC. Other control devices could also be used with this mechanical clock setup, and the code (roughly 2,000 lines) running it is documented in this separate write-up.
Print files are provided, and it can be manufactured on a printer with a build volume of just under 150 x 150 x 50mm. Between this and it’s minimal-solder design, it looks like a great way to start your DIY clock journey!