Kids Light Up Clock 2.0
Introduction: Kids Light Up Clock 2.0
The first version of my Light Up Clock for Kids I published a few years ago. At the time my wife and I were going crazy with our young kids (between 2 and 4 years old) who could not understand how to "wait for the 7" on the clock before coming in and waking us up early in the morning! Now the youngest (the 4th and hopefully the last) is 3 years old and this clock has been life-saving the last few years! Enhanced over time, it has provided a HUGE solution to our "child-waking-us-up-at-insane-hours-of-the-morning" problem!!!
The Light up Clock is simple and inexpensive. An Arduino Nano with a real time clock and RGB LED allows you to set multiple light up alarms of any color at whatever times necessary. I added buttons for setting clock and alarm times as well as brightness and color settings, and programmed it to save settings long-term so unplugging from power doesn't require any resetting. It now has a 3D printed case and customizable globe tops. Let me introduce to you version 2.0!
Note: The electronics in this project may be fairly complex, so I have some Electronics Only Kits (pre-soldered, programmed, and ready to assemble) provided on my Etsy Listing. There are also some completed clocks you can get there if in need!
Supplies
* Arduino Nano (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* Nano Expansion Board (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* DS1307 RTC (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* CR2032 Battery for RTC (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* TM1637 4-Digit Display (Aliexpress)
* 10mm RGB Common Cathode Diffused LED (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* 2 x Prototype PCB Board 4x6cm (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* Square Self-locking Switch 8x8mm (Aliexpress)
* Color Tactile Push Buttons (Aliexpress)
* 3 x 270-330 Ohm Resistor (Aliexpress)
* M2 x 4mm Screw (Aliexpress)
* M2 x 8mm Screw (Aliexpress)
* 10cm Jumper Wires female end (Amazon/Aliexpress)
* USB Wall Plug (Amazon)
* USB 2.0 Cable 5-Pin Mini-B 6ft (Amazon)
* 3D Print filament (white for globe, any color for box case)
Tools:
* Soldering Iron and Solder (if building components from scratch)
* Small Screwdriver
* 3D printer
Step 1: Design and Print
Version 2.0 uses 3D printing for a box case of any color and also a globe top in white filament allowing the LED to diffuse evenly to make a nice glow.
Globe Top
Two options: customize an existing design or design your own. I first started by using some designs I found and liked on Thingiverse. 769
I took the downloaded STL from Thingiverse and imported into TinkerCad, then modified to add a sufficient base, screw holes, resize, and even add wording as needed. As I became more confident in TinkerCad, I designed some of my own globe tops. The main consideration for designing or picking a design is that the outside structure must support the entire globe! To allow the whole globe top to shine, we make it hollow by printing with zero infill and only outside perimeters, and no bottom layers.
* TinkerCad Files:Star, Unicorn, <PERSON>, <PERSON>, Teddy Bear, Cloud, Mystery Machine, Basketball, Temple, BB8
* Thingiverse Files:Light Up Clock
* Globe Top Slicer Settings:
+ Layer height: 0.16mm
+ No Supports unless needed
+ Infill: 0%
+ Seam position: Rear
+ Perimeters: 4-6
+ Bottom Solid Layers: 0
Note: The Unicorn, Teddy Bear, Cloud, and Temple ones I designed from scratch. Please see the TinkerCad description or Thingiverse details for links to original designs and credit for the Star, <PERSON>, <PERSON>, Mystery Machine, Basketball, and BB8.
Box Case
The box case I designed myself for fitting all the electronic components. The box includes a separate bottom and top section that are screwed together. The clock display, buttons, and power connections are accessible on the outside of the box. There is also a small screw tab to 3D print for holding the switch inside the box. Then on top of the box sits whatever globe top you choose. 646