Flip Timer Transforms from Flip Clock Functionality
Reworked Article:
Who says you need a smartphone to focus on a single task? Dina Amin thought otherwise and whipped up a nifty, distraction-free 24-minute timer from an old fashioned flip clock.
Setting out on a quest with fellow tinkerer Simone Giertz, Amin raided a flea market for flip clocks, aiming to transform the 24-hour mechanism into something more personal. Inspired by the amount of time she already dedicates to various pursuits, she opted for a 24-minute timer. Flaunting her expertise in animation, she planned to bring the timer's minute section to life with an animation made from a set of CT scans.
Being creative isn't always smooth sailing. A big chunk of the clock components were damaged, and time was tight, so there was no room for a thorough clockmaking apprenticeship. Undeterred, Amin dabbled with different drive mechanisms to kickstart her build. The drum from an air fryer timer, powered by an electric motor, turned out to be the perfect fit—albeit with a slight deviation from the standard 60-minute mark. As a result, the timer displays a yellow circle that gradually fills up as it approaches its charming dinging finale.
Keen to witness Simone's Moon flip clock project, too? We've got you covered!
Enrichment Data
Overall:
Dina Amin reconstructed an old flip clock into a functional 24-minute timer with a creative twist. Here's the inside scoop on her process:
- Disassembly and Strategy: Amin partnered with Simone Giertz to disassemble vintage flip clocks obtained from a flea market. She aimed to repurpose the 24-hour mechanism into a 24-minute timer, aligned with her current focus on various tasks. Initially planning to animate the minute section with CT scans, she later opted for a simpler visual indicator due to practical constraints [1][2].
- Mechanical Struggles: A significant portion of the clock's original components was damaged, and time limitations prevented Amin from learning clockmaking from scratch. As a result, she explored alternative drive mechanisms for the build. Eventually, she settled on the drum from an air fryer timer, powered by an electric motor, as it conformed to the desired dimensions [2].
- Computerized Animation: Intending to use CT scans for the animation, Amin ultimately decided to keep things simple with a yellow circle that fills up as the timer nears completion, complemented by a pleasant ding Sound at the end [2].
- End Result: In the spirit of functional simplicity, the timer no longer displays digits but relies on a yellow circle that represents time's flow, culminating in the satisfying sounds that signal its end [2].
Dina Amin and Simone Giertz utilized technology to transform a vintage flip clock into a personal 24-minute timer, showcasing their creativity in the process. Despite encountering issues with damaged components and time constraints, Amin ingeniously used the drum from an air fryer timer, powered by an electric motor, to achieve her desired dimensions for the 24-minute timer, resulting in a unique gadget with a yellow circle display and a pleasant ding sound.
