PiTime — a Mathematical LED Clock

Details

In a world where everything is designed for speed, even time is something we read without thinking. A quick glance, and we move on. But what if a clock could slow you down—just enough to make you think?

That’s the idea behind this PiTime — a Mathematical LED Clock. Instead of traditional numbers, each hour is replaced with a mathematical expression. You don’t just read the time—you solve it. What looks complex at first quickly becomes fun, turning every glance into a small, satisfying challenge.

Built around the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, this clock combines math, design, and embedded electronics into a single compact system. A PCF8563 RTC module keeps the time accurate even when power is lost, while 12 RGB LEDs replace traditional hands—using color to represent hours, minutes, and their overlap in a clean and minimal way.

The entire design is housed in a custom 3D-printed circular enclosure, carefully divided into 12 sections, each engraved with a unique equation. Powered by a rechargeable 18650 battery, it stays completely wire-free, focusing only on what matters. Even seconds are intentionally left out—to keep the experience calm, simple, and distraction-free.

This isn’t just a clock—it’s a small shift in how we experience time. It blends logic with creativity, turning something ordinary into something interactive, thoughtful, and just a little more fun. It’s where math meets making, creating a clock you don’t just read—you solve.

Files

Top.stl

3D Printing File

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 1.78 MB - 05/05/2026 at 17:52

Download

Bottom.stl

3D Printing File

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 1.06 MB - 05/05/2026 at 17:51

Download

PiTime 16.png

Connection

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 781.97 kB - 05/05/2026 at 15:04

Preview

Components

1 × Raspberry Pi Pico 2

1 × PCF8563 RTC module

1 × RGB LEDs Strip

1 × 18650 battery

1 × Battery Charging Module

Build Instructions

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1
CAD & 3D Printing
To begin this project, I designed the PiTime using Fusion 360. The goal was to keep the design simple, compact, and easy to assemble, while still giving it a clean and modern look.

The enclosure is fully 3D-printable, with a circular layout divided into 12 sections, each representing a mathematical expression. Everything is designed to fit neatly—from the LEDs to the controller and battery—making the build straightforward and beginner-friendly.

If you’d like to explore or modify the design, you can open it directly in your browser using the Fusion 360 Web Viewer. You can download the required files below:
1. Top.stl
2. Bottom.stl
You Can
1. Download the STL files and print them directly
2. Download the Fusion 360 (STEP) files to modify the design as per your needs
⚠️ Note: This design is shared for educational and personal use only, not for commercial purposes.
2

Led Strip Assembly

Start by cutting the LED strip into individual pieces. Each segment should contain one RGB LED, making a total of 12 LEDs—one for each hour position.

Once all pieces are ready, place them inside the 3D-printed body along the circular path. Make sure they are evenly spaced so each LED aligns with its corresponding math expression on the front.

While placing them, pay attention to the data direction (DIN → DOUT) marked on each LED. All LEDs should follow the same direction in a chain, otherwise they won’t work properly.
3

Charging Module Assembly

In this step, we add the charging module, I’m using a compact battery charging board that I designed myself. It’s small, efficient, and fits perfectly inside the enclosure. If you’d like to build or modify it, you can find all the source files (PCB, schematic, BOM) linked here.

Place the charging module into the side slot of the 3D-printed body. Make sure the USB Type-C port is aligned properly with the cutout so it’s easily accessible from outside. Once aligned, fix it in place using a small amount of glue to keep it secure.