This Desktop Domino Clock Lets You Know When It's Whatever O'Clock on the Dot
Inspired by the work of Carbon Design Group, Kothe's DIY project uses LED dots on three dominoes' faces to tell time.
Domino tiles can each represent numbers from 0-12 when each side is added together, which just so happens to correspond to the way we tell time. This clever clock by creator “Kothe” employs three light-up dominoes in a row to show the time, using the first tile to indicate the hour, and the second and third for the minutes tens and ones values respectively.
The device is a simplified version of Carbon Design Group's wall clock, made small enough to put on a tabletop or shelf. Instead of using motors to reveal the white dots, though, this iteration has addressable WS2812B LEDs for the display. While it’s a bit different effect, using LEDs here makes such a display much easier to construct, and allows for a variety of colors to choose from.
Each domino is housed inside a 3D-printed frame, with the faces cut out of MDF. Two circles of translucent acrylic, along with a final white circle form the diffused dots. The rest is painted matte black. An Arduino Nano controls the unique timepiece, with an RTC module added to keep the proper time. Code for the project is available in Kothe's write-up, including the DXFs for the cut parts and STLs for the printed frame designs.