Enclosurefor Elektor 6-Digit Nixie Clock

User Manual

April 2016

Enclosure for Elektor 6-Digit Nixie Clock

Bill of Materials

Also included:

Six 5 mm blue LEDs.

Three 470Ω resistors.

2 User Manual

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17

14

18

2

19

11

16

13

5

4

15

3

8

9 10

6

7

12

Enclosure for Elektor 6-Digit Nixie Clock

# Description # Description

1 M4 84 mm threaded rod 11 M3 12 mm screw

2 Brass tube Ø 5 mm 12 M3 nut

3 M4 nylon washer 13 Acrylic stand

4 M4 brass cap nut 14 Acrylic back panel

5 M2 6 mm screw 15 Acrylic tubes panel

6 M2 nut 16 Acrylic side panel

7 M3 6 mm screw 17 Acrylic side panel

8 M3 8 mm female-female spacer 18 Acrylic top panel

9 M3 3 mm spacer 19 Acrylic bottom panel

10 M2.5 8 mm screw

Assembly Instructions1. Remove the protective films from the various acrylic panels, either now or when

you're about to mount each panel. For the acrylic panels that feature engraved artwork, it's advised to peel off the small pieces inside the gears first and then work your way to the larger areas. In doing so, you prevent leaving finger-prints on the acrylic panels. If you're planning to install the LEDs, you should postpone the removal of the protective film from the tubes panel (15) until later.

2. Acrylic panels must be installed positioned with their engraved artwork facing towards the inside of the enclosure.

3. Drive two 8 mm screws (10) from the bottom side upwards through the front-left hole and the front-right hole of the bottom panel. Do not exert to much force when tightening the screws!

4. Place a 3 mm spacer (9) over each protruding screw (10).

5. Take the 6-Digit Nixie Clock and remove the tubes PCB from the base PCB.

6. Place the base PCB on the bottom panel (19) with the front holes of the base PCB resting on the spacers (9) so that the screws (10) are sticking through the holes.

7. Insert a 3 mm spacer (9) between the four remaining holes of the base PCB and the bottom panel (19), and driver a screw (10) from above though each hole. Do not exert to much force when tightening the screws!

8. Put the acrylic stand (13) in the right position underneath the bottom panel. Insert the M3 nut (12) in the dedicated cutout in the middle of the acrylic stand. Drive the corresponding 12 mm screw (11) from above through the bottom panel into the nut (12). Do not exert to much force when tightening the screw!

9. If you want to install the LEDs, follow the instructions in the next chapter now.

10. Connect the tubes PCB to the base PCB.

11. Fix the tubes panel (15) to the backside of the tubes PCB using the 8 mm female-female spacers (8) and 6 mm screws (7). For each spacer (8), drive a screw (7) through the tubes PCB and another screw (7) through the tubes panel into the

User Manual 3

Enclosure for Elektor 6-Digit Nixie Clock

spacer (8). In case you've installed the LEDs, make sure they're pointing towards the tubes PCB. Adjust them so they don't touch the glass stems of the Nixie tubes protruding through the tubes PCB.

12. Mount the DC jack onto the outside of the back panel (14) using the 6 mm screws (5) and M2 nuts (6).

13. Mount the toggle switch on the back panel (14). To prevent scratches on the acrylic, the use of pliers is discouraged; you're advised to use a socket wrench to tighten the nut. Don't use a ratchet but just hand tighten using only the socket.

14. Place the back panel (14) on the bottom panel (19).

15. Take the side panels (16, 17) and top panel (18). Slide the top panel over the side panels, the gears of the side panels protruding through the cutouts of the top panel. Make sure the engraved artwork are facing inwards.

16. Put the side panels and top panel on the work in progress. All acrylic panels are now in place.

17. Connect the top panel (18) and bottom panel (19): mount a threaded rod (1), brass tube (2), four nylon washers (3) and two brass cap nuts (4) in each corner. Place a brass tube along with two nylon washers between the top panel and bottom panel. Slide a threaded rod through the panels and brass tube. Slide a nylon washer over each side of the protruding end of the threaded rod. Drive a brass cap nut over each protruding end of the threaded rod. Use a socket wrench again to prevent scratches or any damage to the cap nuts.

Installing the LEDsTo install the LEDs, you need to build a simple circuit as shown in the picture to the right. The LEDs must be aligned equally so you can easily push them through the clips in the tubes board. You can connect the circuit directly to the power supply's terminal block (K2) on the base PCB.

Be gentle when you push the LEDs through the clips in the tubes panel. If you push too hard, you may break the acrylic construction.

If you're going to solder near the tubes panel, you're advised to leave the protective film in place until you've finished soldering, if not you may end up with stains of solder flux on the acrylic.

The LEDs and resistors are included with the enclosure. You can use your own 5mm LEDs if you prefer a different back-lighting color.

Installing the LEDs is optional.

4 User Manual

470Ω

GND

9V

470Ω

470Ω

Enclosure for Elektor 6-Digit Nixie Clock

PicturesFront Back

Left Right

Contact Information

Official website: https://www.elektor.com/ Official website: https://www.axiris.eu/

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