The OddClock The Second (often referred to as OddClock Two) addresses the primary structural flaws of the original DIY Nixie clock project, specifically moving away from fragile Nixie tubes toward a highly durable OLED simulation. The original OddClock was created as a 3D-printed clock sculpture by hobbyist musokestrain that utilized physical, vertical-moving nixie tubes. When the minute reached 59, the entire assembly would shift vertically to advance the hour.
The main upgrades and differences between the two versions center on reliability, display changes, and mechanics:
Display Technology: The original used real, vintage Nixie tubes. While visually stunning, they had a major issue: the tubes would typically fail or burn out within 3 to 5 months of continuous use. The “Second” replaces these fragile tubes with custom watch-face OLED screens programmed to simulate the glowing orange Nixie style, practically eliminating the burn-out issue.
Mechanical Wear & Tear: Because the original used physical Nixie tubes, the entire caddy and cabling had to physically drive up and down every hour. This put heavy mechanical strain on the belts, leadscrews, or leadscrew nuts, which could wear out or require constant lubrication. The Second uses a much lighter, static screen assembly or a streamlined mechanism that minimizes daily physical strain on the components.
Homing & Initialization: The mechanism requires a calibration routine upon startup, and the way the stepper motors “find home” and index to the correct time was optimized in the newer version to be both quieter and faster.
Availability: The original was an extremely limited run of about 5 handmade units, making it virtually impossible to acquire. The Second is more of a publicized DIY project optimized for the 3D-printing and maker community (shared on platforms like Reddit r/3Dprinting), allowing builders to source their own stepper motors, microcontrollers, and modern OLED displays.