DMX Clock
Theatre UNI
Theatre UNI
For a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Theatre UNI in the spring of 2022 I was asked to create a remote-controlled analog clock that could be used to show the passage of time as one step to help make the show more inclusive to individuals with exceptionalities. The clock was later used again for a production of Little Shop of Horrors in the fall of 2022.
This clock was driven by two stepper motors controlled by a Teensy 3.2 microcontroller. Using two motors allowed the hands to be controlled separately providing the ability to quickly move the hands to a specific time. These moves would not be possible with the traditional twelve to one gearing typically found in an analog clock.
The entire design was completed by myself in house. All the physical components were either laser cut or 3D printed with a resin printer, including a timing gear with a hollow threaded rod used for the hour hand. This unique part was necessary for the minute hand shaft hand to pass through the center of the hour hand shaft. The custom PCBs were designed using Eagle. The PCB fabrication was the only step that was outsourced.
The clock is controlled from the lighting console using Art-Net. The hands can be set to a specific time then run forward or backwards at various speeds including real time. When setting a time, the hands can be set to move like a real clock requiring the minute hand to complete a complete rotation to move the hour hand one hour or alternatively both hands can be set to move separately and move to the correctly position quickly.
