DABs Clocks is a collection of hand made, one of a kind devices that each display time in unconventional and interesting ways. These time pieces are both functionally and aesthetically pleasing. I design and build some of my clocks without any assistance. For others I turn to Guy Marsden for the engineering and fabrication phase. In these situations I bring a concept to Guy and through an iterative and collaborative process I'll eventually create a 3D representation of the clock that Guy will build.
Flames
Flames is based on the same components found in Light Guide Clock (LGC). 12 LEDs in the base of the clock align with 12 acrylic rods of increasing height. The acrylic rods act much like individual large diameter fiber optic filaments by conducting light until it exits and illuminates the frosted tip of the rod. Time is represented in a clockwise manner where the shortest rod represents the 1 position on a clock face and the longest rod represents 12 position. Hours are displayed in blue and 5 minute intervals are displayed in red. Once every hour, when the 5 minute position and hour position share the same rod, a single rod is illuminated with the color purple. An interesting feature of the clock is that between midnight and 1:00 am the clock only displays the minutes and not the hour. Flames, and it's companion clock LGC, represent a modular design concept whereby the same clock "mechanism" can be reconfigured into a different and unique clock design without altering the electronics. Of course if I want the lights to do something different it is, as Guy says, just a matter of more coding.
A time-lase video showing how the red "hand" indicates the 5-minute position and blue "hand" follows along by advancing once every hour. This is an analog face clock where the 12 position is indicated by the tallest rod.
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When viewed from the side the lit acrylic rods appear mostly clear. The tip of the rod, because it is "frosted" and beveled, glows the same color as the hidden LED located at the base of the rod inside the walnut case.
