Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with this idea of making my own digital pocket watch. It sounds kinda old-timey, but I think it’s a cool project. First, I had to figure out what the heck I even wanted this thing to look like. I mean, you see those fancy pocket watches in old movies, right? Like the ones Sherlock Holmes or those Peaky Blinders guys used. Those are pretty sweet, but I am not going to make something mechanical, it’s too hard for me.
I started by sketching out some designs on paper. Just rough ideas, nothing too detailed. I played around with different shapes, sizes, and button placements. Then, I searched around online for some inspiration. I found out that real watch nerds still love these things. Some companies are even making new ones that look old but are actually digital inside! Fancy, huh?
After I had a general idea, I started gathering the parts. I grabbed a small, round display, the kind you might find in a smartwatch. I also needed a microcontroller to run the whole show. I chose a tiny one that’s powerful enough for what I needed but wouldn’t take up much space. And of course, I needed a battery to keep it powered. I just picked one from my other projects’ leftover parts.
Building the Thing
Next came the fun part – putting it all together! I started by 3D printing a case for the watch. I found some free designs online and tweaked them a bit to fit my parts. Once the case was printed, I carefully installed the display, microcontroller, and battery inside. It was a tight fit, but I managed to get everything in there. I had to do a lot of soldering, but I am used to it, I do it all the time.
Then came the software. This was where I spent most of my time. I had to write code to make the display show the time, obviously. But I also wanted to add some extra features, like a stopwatch and maybe even a little calendar. I am not a coding expert, so it took a lot of trial and error. I kept running into bugs and had to rewrite parts of the code several times. The good news is I also used some sample code from the internet, so it’s not too hard.
After days of tinkering and a lot of coffee, I finally got it working! It wasn’t perfect, but it was my own creation. The time display was a little wonky at first, but I eventually figured out the problem and fixed it. Now, when you press a button, it shows the time in big, clear numbers. Another button cycles through the other features. I even made it play a little chime every hour!
What I Learned
- Designing is tough: Coming up with a good design takes time and a lot of iterations.
- Parts matter: Choosing the right components is crucial for a successful project.
- Coding is a beast: Software development is a long and sometimes frustrating process.
- Persistence pays off: Even when things get tough, it’s important to keep trying.
I’m pretty stoked about how it turned out. It’s not something I’d wear every day, but it’s a cool little gadget that I made myself. And, I learned a ton in the process. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, just go for it! It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun.
