Mechanical HDD -> Clock

FabienO · 29 Oct 2010 at 08:44

Firstly, apologies if this isn't the correct place to put this thread, I just know that the general theme suits this category better. If it's an issue please move or delete it.

I'd like to turn my old Mechanical hard drive into a clock. Something like this..

I am looking for advice on how to do so, obviously i'll never match the beauty of that thing. For one, i've already ripped the faceplate of my HDD off and that orange (don't knwo the name) came with it and the writing dial fell out -_-... it's also a lot thicker than the one in the picture.

Anyhoo... I was thinking about gutting it, putting a click mechanism in there, then putting a faceplate with a window on top of the drive (or around it). Making it look like...

but with a clock and not TRON. Also the faceplate would preferably be the Welsh flag with an inscription (name of person it's a present for).

Any suggest/help on how I can get this done would be greatly appreciated. I might even try and reach out to a few of you modders if you can help assist me (for a fee) as I don't really have any tools (except screwdrivers).

Thank you!

Tealc · 29 Oct 2010 at 11:15

There was an article on this a few months ago in PC Format, it was for the simpler of the two and didn't come with the splash of water, foliage, bird, snail and butterfly.

Here's an article from some page that follows a similar process, indeed it may have been where they got the idea from.

http://www.techradar.com/news/compu...rn-an-old-hard-drive-into-a-cool-clock-692403

SMN · 29 Oct 2010 at 19:27

Thats cool - utterly pointless, but cool

whitecrook · 29 Oct 2010 at 19:30

The ones with the slit and an array of
LEDs whichcreaye the illusion of moving hands are awesome. Make one of them.

Makhaira · 29 Oct 2010 at 20:32

I think finding the parrot may pose an issue.

As a serious suggestion though, that I think would set it aside from other clock creations, would be to leave the arm in place, and use it to indicate a date, with a set of dates from 1-31 in an arc just at the tip of the arm. It'd just require an additional clock mechanism in there, and would be rather slick.