Misfit Maker's TRI-Belt Clock Is a Retro-Futuristic Foam-Framed Masterpiece
Built using hand-cut foam panels and upcycled thread spools, this Espressif ESP32-powered clock is a real eye-catcher.
The pseudonymous "Misfit Maker" has designed a retro-futuristic clock that displays the time by rotating three printed belts along triangular tracks — with a cut-out at the front to resolve the current time.
"The idea — and most of the build — came to life right at my workplace, mainly because I was miles away from my fully stocked tool bench at home," Misfit Maker explains of the project. "That limitation turned into a creative challenge: I designed the entire clock in [Autodesk] Fusion 360 so it could be cut from foam board, making my 'workshop' essentially a craft knife and determination. The gears were 3D-printed at a nearby shop, and the only tools I actually had on hand were a rotary tool and a soldering iron. My total shopping list? Supplies for the build and a cutting mat."
The "TRI-Belt Clock," as its creator has named it, works by moving three printed belts to display the hours, tens of minutes, and singular minutes, using a trio of 28BYJ-48 stepper motors connected to an ULN2003 driver. An infrared sensor detects a "home" position for each, allowing the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller controlling everything to accurately align the printed numerals with a cut-out on the front — with long-term accuracy provided by a periodic auto-homing operation.
The bulk of the body is built from hand-cut foam board, while the pulleys are upcycled sewing thread spools with air-dry clay added. A sliced-up water balloon provides additional friction to prevent slippage, while everything is powered by a pair of 18650 batteries.
"I've created two styles of numbers for the belt: a cryptic version and a standard version," Misfit Maker notes. "Why two? When I first showed the clock to friends, the cryptic digits were a bit puzzling — it took a moment to decode the pattern. To make the build more beginner-friendly, I included a normal-number version in the same template. The choice is yours: cryptic for a futuristic, mysterious aesthetic, or normal for easy readability. Personally, I prefer the cryptic style — it just has that sci-fi vibe."
The project is documented in full, including source code, templates, and a Fusion 3D file for those looking to print the rollers rather than sculpt them from clay, over on Instructables.