Unique, custom designs rendered by laser and CNC router.
The wood base for this clock was designed in VCarve Desktop and CNC routed from cherry wood. I made this one as a farewell gift for a dear co-worker who was a Star Trek enthusiast. I also made another one from pine for a departing CAF member. The cherry came from a tree cut down in the 1980s or so in Pakenham, Ontario. I’ve used the same wood in several other projects like other clocks, a jewelry box, etc. Still have some slabs left waiting for the right project…
An example of a simple hard-drive clock (hands are not installed yet). This one was produced as an employee farewell gift so there is a small area at the bottom for an engraved plate.
Another version of a mantel style hard-drive clock. This one is made with an old 5.25in hard-drive. The surrounding wood is cherry.
Mantel style clock made from a 3.5in computer hard-drive. The base is made from purpleheart and the top and sides from beech. The clock mechanism is a 1/4 shaft mini quartz movement from Lee Valley.
The hardest part about making these clocks is removing the hardened steel spindle from the hard-drive. I’ve found it impossible to drill through the spindle with the tools that I have so I have to find a way to punch out the spindle and then drill out the hole big enough for the clock shaft. Each drive is a bit different so it’s always a fun challenge to see what’s inside. With the 3.5in drives, the disk platters seem to be made of a glass substrate so they can easily break.