RobG 1,892 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 MSP430 based Nixie tube clock. I was looking for some nice Nixie tube digit images so I could add them to my EduKit library, but I couldn't find any usable ones. I decided to just buy few of them and photograph myself. Then I thought that it would be a horrible waste if they just sit in a drawer. So here it is, my first Nixie project since... 1987. This clock will be available as kit, but since this is v1, I will most likely make some adjustments. Any suggestions are welcome. username, tripwire, timotet and 8 others 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cubeberg 540 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 OMG - take my money!!! spirilis 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ILAMtitan 86 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 That looks awesome. I would love to hang one in my cube here at work. (I already have a nixie clock at home) Something that you might consider is adding some blue led back lights to the tubes. I built one for my brother that had them and they look really slick. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yes, v2 board will have 4 LEDs in the back. I am also adding 2 more mounting holes, changing switches to 6mm ones and moving them to the side (easier to press.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cubeberg 540 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Mounting holes all around would be nice. Would love to put it on a plaque or hang it up in a cubicle. Power jack options as well - usb or barrel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bluehash 1,581 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Have my money too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cubeberg 540 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Ok @@RobG - now I'm going to need a BOM Huge thanks BTW! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 @@cubeberg, the board you have is v1, which is pretty much a test board. It works perfectly, but there are two tiny problems. Small ghosting, which is common when multiplexing Nixies. It's hardly noticeable, but I will try to fix it with few extra parts. One Nixie pad is shifted, this will be fixed on v2 board. When using socket pins, everything is fine. When inserting tube w/o socket pins, tube's pin will get bent, so be careful. BOM: 4x IN-12A tubes 48x Nixie socket pins 1x MSP430G2553IN20 1x CD4017* 1x MC34063 1x 20 DIP socket* 1x 16 DIP socket* 1x 8 DIP socket* 1x 1N914* 1x BAV21* 1x LM1117T-3.3V* 14x MPSA42* 4x MPSA92* 1x IRF740* or IRF830* 1x 2N3906* 1x 32,768 crystal* 2x 12mm x 12mm tact switch* 1x 2.1mm DC power jack, barrel type, PCB mount* 1x 220uH inductor, 8x10, >600mA 1x 10uF/250V* 3x 220uF/25V* 2x 0.1uF mono* 2x 2200pF mono* 1x 0.01uF mono* 5x 47k*(**) 5x 560ohm*(**) 1x 1k* 1x 470k* 1x 3.3k* 2x 1ohm* * - Tayda electronics ** - those values will most likely change, but they are OK for now. bluehash 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cubeberg 540 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Thanks @@RobG! Meant to ask - did you switch to a new PCB program? 10x10 is over free eagle capabilities. I've been meaning to switch to something else for that reason. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 FYI, I will have few kits available in about 2 weeks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simpleavr 399 Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 FYI, I will have few kits available in about 2 weeks. mspnix.jpg Thats more than a few. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
username 198 Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 n-neat! Thanks for sharing and might just pick one up! Any idea when they will be available? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zeke 693 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 @@RobG. Nice work! It's now ont ti die wish list. Let us know when it's available so we can buy it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
username 198 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 *spends sleepless nights staring at the tindie store page* dubnet 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 Ha, ha, ha, you will get kit #1 @@username. I am expect to have them in stock around Oct. 27th. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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