vax425

I’m designing a digital orrery display to join the rest of my collection of clocks that don’t tell time.

No pics of it yet but you can see the others here: Https://digitalhorology.com

For example, the project I’m working on today…

People have made orreries (rotating solar system models) for centuries.

I’m designing a digital version with over 600 LEDs. It’s a massive challenge and I’m pretty sure I’ll be the first.

I’ve been making things like it for years:

Https://digitalhorology.com

Why would he block cup holder access with a big steel bar?

I know!

It took most of this summer to get my tide clock to predict accurately, using NOAA harmonic constituents data crammed into an Arduino, a GPS module, and published formulas.

Take a look:

https://digitalhorology.etsy.com/listing/4345582508

How about adding a column with a count of comments so we can sort and get a rough idea of the most popular posts?

Thanks! I'm really glad you like the LunaKron. I make a couple other versions that have less wood aesthetic and more futuristic black acrylic with a photorealistic, silvery moon.

I connect a tiny GPS module to the Arduino via 3 wires: power, ground, and serial input, and use Mikal Hart's "TinyGPSPlus" module to parse the NMEA data streams.

Putting the marker inside the tide curve would give it a cleaner look.

I considered it, and figured it was more legible to have the hour marker directly under the numbers. People looking at the NautiKron from across the room or who have low vision might like it better this way.

Good idea to revisit -- I'm always tweaking the designs and responding to owner feedback.

Thanks for the comment!

Thanks! I posted the story here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DigitalHorology?#about

I'm launching a new product for my clock-making business: https://DigitalHorology.com

None of my clocks tell the time.

They're all fully automatic GPS-enabled timepieces. For a couple of years I've been developing, hand-making, and selling these clocks that track the moon phase, the sun's position, etc.

My new idea is the tide clock "NautiKron." It's getting a lot of interest from US coastal buyers.

I'm building an automatic tide prediction clock that doesn't need an internet connection.

I made this one to brighten up any office:

https://digitalhorology.etsy.com/listing/1644589175

It’s always nice to find another true lunatic.

I made a series of clocks that only track moon phase.

https://digitalhorology.com

In Soviet Russia, monitor monitors YOU.

Bwah hah hah!

Howtoware looks like a rabbit hole for me. Thanks for the tip!

I sell my hardware projects on Etsy, mostly LunaKrons, the GPS-enabled moon phase clocks, and also a few “Game of Life” displays.

Https://digitalhorology.Etsy.com

I’m boxing up LunaKrons to get ahead of this year’s gifting rush, and I’m really pleased with how the packaging is turning out.

Thanks! It’s a side hustle.

Haven’t looked into scaling up.

I design and build GPS-synched moon phase clocks (“LunaKron”) & other electronic novelties, and sell them on Etsy.

I’ve consulted with ChatGPT when I need help choosing materials and with some techniques.

Great article! I'm especially interested because I make weird clocks & digital displays too.

Https://digitalhorology.com

I love it! I’m also pretty excited about Game Of Life. I made this: https://digitalhorology.etsy.com/listing/1644589175

Hey Andrew! Try this: If you make the grid pixels square and drop a sheet of translucent acrylic on top of that, the effect is pretty cool.

Here's a "Game of Life" display I made using this technique: https://digitalhorology.etsy.com/listing/1644589175

This is where I get the black LED acrylic:

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/cut_to_size_pla...

Https://headlamptest.com

It’s a Chrome extension that shows me what web page elements I’ve missed in testing.

Here’s another upvote for rural life:

I live on an island in WA state, USA. I’ve got a spectacular view of Admiralty Inlet & the Olympic Mountains, and a workshop big enough for my CNC machine and other equipment. I’m using the workshop on weekends to make weird Arduino-powered clocks and LED art, which I sell on Etsy for beer money.

Https://HeadlampTest.com

Made it to scratch my own itch.

I am early 50’s, retired software engineer, and having a blast designing and building weird GPS clocks and digital toys. (https://digitalhorology.com)

The transition was easy. As a consultant, I gradually took on less paid work for other people and more things for myself. My house & yard take up a lot of time, and I mentor my college-age kids and a neighborhood teenager.

Thanks for sharing, mainly because I’ve felt like an idiot for utterly failing at marketing my tool (https://HeadlampTest.com) online to developers & testers. I get great results talking 1:1 in person, but nothing else moves the needle.

You’ve articulated the struggle better than anyone, and that’s very comforting for me. I mean, how hard could it be? Answer: super hard!

I haven’t tried hiring an offshore agency, but now you’ve got me thinking about it.

Wow, thanks!!!

I too was interested in fractals back then. I attended a fascinating lecture by Dr. Mandelbrot around 1988.

Regarding pricing: yes, I will raise prices after I make a few more sales and establish myself as a reputable Etsy seller. I also agree that I need to improve the listings with more details and better product photos. Thanks for the feedback!

It looks like I've sold out of some items, so they've been de-listed on Etsy.

If anyone else is interested in seeing what I'm building...

Web: https://digitalhorology.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalhorology Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhorology

I'll build more inventory and do a full post on Show HN sometime soon.

Thanks again!

Thanks!

Yep, I do that.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DigitalHorology

Nobody is buying, but I love making weird clocks.

Sounds like someone's been reading too much Ayn Rand and plans to build a real-life "Galt's Gulch."

So cool! Got any photos of your build?

I did something similar...

I made a musical automatic Hanukkah Menorah using an Arduino (Seeeduino XIAO SAMD21), MDF, birch veneer, melamine edge banding, a GPS module, tiny speaker, LED strip, and a CNC machine.

Check it out: http://HanuKron.com

My other clocks: https://DigitalHorology.com