There is a huge array of timepieces out in the Tindieverse and this 7-segment LED Clock kit is the latest one to catch our eye.
At first glance, to our mind, this timepiece fits straight into the cyberpunk aesthetic with its neat display, the chunky LEDs dividing the digits and the stack of dual in-line TTL chips on board. Beyond looking great this clock kit is an excellent project to build some learning around. Firstly every component is through hole, which means it’s really suitable for those newer to soldering. It might be a good idea to do at least one smaller soldering project before this, but it isn’t a bad choice as a first solder project. Secondly, there is a heap to learn if you dive into looking at the different chips on board and how they operate. The CMOS 4000 series chips on board represent the foundations of digital logic. While it’s a long path, understanding the logic of this board is a great start in digital design and will still be useful when you are programming FPGA!
It’s supplied as a kit with the bare PCB and all necessary components. So you’ll need some soldering equipment and side cutters to assemble it. Once assembled it’s powered via a USB cable. On the product page, there is a brief mention that each digit has a set of headers and there is an optional jumbo display add-on in the pipeline — we look forward to seeing that!
