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If like me you are a fan of Nixie tubes and Nixie tube clock’s you are sure to be interested in a new Kickstarter campaign launched this week. To raise pledges for the new modern take on the retro Nixie tube the Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tube and stunning ZIN18 Nixie tube clock, redesigned by the development team at Millclock to provide a modern Nixie tube alternative to the retro originals. The ZIN18 Nixie tube fitted with low energy consuming filament with a minimum supply voltage of 170V, minimum cathode current of 5mA, and maximum cathode current of 8mA.
The developers at Millclock responsible for designing and creating the new range of modern Nixie tubes are making it possible to purchase individual mixing tubes, enabling backers to use them in their own projects and put them to use in a wide variety of different applications. Check out the demonstration video below to learn more about the Millclock Reborn ZIN18 Nixie lamps and clocks.
The Millclock Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tubes are now available to back via Kickstarter with early bird pledges available from just $99. The Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tubes are available with three varieties of bases polished aluminum, black anodized, and sandblasted aluminum depending on your style and preference. If all goes well the Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tube range will start shipping out to backers during March 2019. As the company’s production line is ready and waiting for orders and the controlling software and smartphone companion application is in the final stages of development.
To complement the different varieties available the ZIN18 Reborn Nixie clock bases are available in three different hues to match the three types of the Nixie tubes styles available taking the form of fair, dark, and grey. Millclock also offers a massive 15-year warranty on the range or Reborn ZIN18 Nixie lamps and one year on the components in their Nixie tube clock which uses six of the ZIN18 Nixie tubes. Millclock explains that each design of Nixie tube has its own charm glamorous, deep, and underground, yet prices remaining the same across all three designs. The Reborn Millclock ZIN18 Nixie tubes are available to purchase as single tubes priced at $99, or in a pack of 4 tubes priced at $396 or 6 tubes priced at $594 depending on your needs.
For example, just one Nixie tube can be programmed to show time consecutively creating a small form factor DIY Nixie tube clock, first displaying hours, then minutes. While 4 Nixie tubes can be used to indicate time digits with simultaneous hours and minutes displayed on a larger clock. Finally using six tubes you can simultaneously display hours, minutes, and seconds and create a stunning visual timepiece, similar to the stunning Nixie tube clock created by Millclock to showcase their new modern Nixie tubes.
The development team at Millclock responsible for the development and design of the awesome Nixie tube clock’s are based in the Ukraine and specialise in electronics and information technology. The name “ZIN” is a blend of the Z class and IN class Nixie lamps. During the design process, the team first created a beautiful, modern-inspired base which holds the elongated IN18 Nixie tube, providing users with digits measuring 44 mm in height. The Nixie tube is then strengthened to create the modern adaptation of the Reborn ZIN18 super-compact Nixie lamp. Offering a modern Nixie tube which can be used in a wide variety of different projects, providing a modern more widely available alternative to the older original Nixie tube filaments which are becoming harder and harder to find.
Each ZIN18 Nixie tube base has been upgraded with “smart” technology thanks to an integrated programmable circuit board, that provides easy control of the lamp and its filament. The smaller design of the Nixie tubes provides more extra space in your project for additional hardware and technology if required. Also, the ZIN18 cathode digits can easily be programmed to display any data of your choosing and have a wide variety of visual effects that can slowly or quickly transform from one digit to another. Millclock explains a little more.
“Happy owners of Nixie lamps are often delighted to observe the mere natural process when electric current crawls in gas over the cathode numbers while showing data. And managing electric movement in the setting mode, while watching the clock in life, seems to be even more breath-taking for the owners. To create a moody effect throughout your premises, you can switch on the under lighting. The software can allow for a vast range of colours and visual effects of under lighting that would create any mood in your premises – parting, romantic, or relaxing.”
If you would prefer to purchase a complete Nixie tube clock ready built, the modern, smart and super-compact ZIN18 Nixie tubes can be bought in the desktop ZIN18 Reborn Nixie clock. Which is sure to look fantastic in any location and comes complete with an additional glass outer casing that not only protects the delicate electronics but also allows the clock to be admired from any angle.
Not only has Millclock created a modern Nixie tube and desktop cock but also developed software and a companion smartphone application that is available for both iOS and Android — allowing users to control the Nixie tubes or clock directly from their smartphone. The companion application will enable you to tweak the behaviour of the clock, and alter visual effects of the Nixie tubes and lighting.
As you can see from the photographs above the Nixie tube clock is also fitted with a touchpad on the lower right side, allowing you to easily adjust the ambient lighting of the Nixie tube and the orange glow present from the discharged gas. Millclock explains that “changing the clock’s behaviour is possible by supplying little punches of electricity to one of the digits via a small thread that in its turn is connected to the circuit”.
The Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tubes are also supplied with software that allows easy manipulation of the Nixie tubes when building your own clock as well as providing a wide variety of other features enabling you to create a wide range of projects using the new Nixie tube.
Features of the modern Nixie tube clock include time synchronisation via the Internet, alarm, hourly chimes, summertime auto-switch, as well as the ability to tweak the clocks appearance and setting modes. Although take care when altering any settings in the time synchronisation section say its creators. The Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tube software is provided free of charge and comes with recommendations from the development team on best practices when tweaking and changing settings.
For more details and full specifications on the new Reborn ZIN18 Nixie tubes and clock jump over to the official Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign page by following the link below. Where a full range of all available pledge options is available from $99 with worldwide shipping expected to commence next month during March 2019.
Source Kickstarter
Disclosure: “This is a sponsored post. Geeky Gadgets has been compensated for this post. All opinions are that of the editor and were in no way influenced by the company.”
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