Precision Tower Timekeeper - Digital-Mechanical Clock System

My Automatic Clock Tower project bridges traditional horology with modern electronics, creating a fully functional clock system with mechanical hands and a bell-striking mechanism. We developed this system to demonstrate how historical tower clock mechanisms can be modernized while maintaining their classic appearance.

The system consists of two main components: a control unit with touchscreen interface and a mechanical actor unit that drives the clock hands and bell mechanism. Using DCF77 time synchronization, the clock maintains atomic precision while the mechanical components provide the visual and auditory experience of a traditional tower clock.

The mechanical hands are driven by a precision gear system with a 1:60 ratio for minutes to hours, controlled by a stepper motor with hall sensor referencing for positional accuracy. The bell-striking mechanism uses a DC motor with reed switch feedback to ensure proper operation. I'm a final-year mechatronics student in Austria near Salzburg with a passion for combining traditional mechanical systems with modern electronics. My background includes experience in precision mechanics, embedded programming, and electronics design. I enjoy creating systems that blend technological functionality with aesthetic appeal.

Your support would enable us to create professional-quality PCBs that form the backbone of our clock system. We're excited about the possibility of featuring PCBWay-manufactured boards in our project that will be displayed at our school for years to come!