A ravishing customized calculator constructed with IV-12 VFD tubes
— June fifth, 2024
Nixie tubes have been the go-to choice for makers on the lookout for retro show aesthetics for a few years, as a result of their distinct orange glow carries quite a lot of classic enchantment. However VFD (vacuum fluorescent show) tubes have been gaining in recognition not too long ago and have totally different — although related — enchantment. Oskar took benefit of IV-12 VFD tubes to construct this stunning customized calculator.
VFDs work like a cross between Nixie tubes and CRTs (cathode-ray tube). These IV-12 VFD tubes have seven segments that glow in a teal/cyan blue shade (due to phosphor) and work at decrease (and safer) voltages than Nixie tubes. They’re shiny and readable, which is why VFD know-how was in style for automotive dashboards for many years. On this case, Oskar used 5 of those IV-12 VFD tubes for a customized calculator.
Other than these very distinct VFD tubes, this calculator additionally has a stunning wooden enclosure and a nice-looking set of key caps for the mechanical Cherry MX Brown key switches. The enclosure is laser-cut plywood with a walnut veneer. Oskar mounted the switches on a 3D-printed base plate.
An Arduino Nano board reads the keypad enter, performs the calculations, and shows the outcomes on the VFD tubes. A customized PCB simplifies the wiring, together with for multiplexing to the VFD tubes, energy connections from a lithium battery charger module, and altering voltage by increase and buck converters.
This appears incredible, however there’s a caveat: it will probably’t show a decimal level. Some VFD tubes embrace a section for that function, however the IV-12 mannequin doesn’t. Even so, the calculator is usable for individuals who can deduce the place the decimal level ought to go.