What is it?

The QuadClock Orbix is a stylish clock with a minimalistic design, featuring four upright circular TFT displays mounted on a slim 7mm high base. It’s the first model in the upcoming QuadClock series, where each display shows a single digit.

With 14 carefully chosen fonts, you can adjust the style to match your preference. The design focuses on clean, minimal aesthetics. There’s no cloud, no app, and WiFi is turned off by default (no need to worry about wireless signals near your bed), just a straightforward, reliable clock. Firmware updates are done through the website, by connecting a USB-C cable.

Key Features

Display

• Four 36mm circular displays (1.28", 240×240 pixels)
• Flicker-free viewing at any angle
• Night mode: dims & shifts to red at night time

Timekeeping

• Accurate timekeeping using a temperature-compensated crystal
• Auto daylight savings adjustment
• Backup battery maintains time during outages
• 12h or 24h format display

Alarms & Sounds

• Individual alarms for each day of the week
• Wake up to a rooster, cowbells, ptarmigan call, or The Moldau symphony
• Optional hourly chimes
• Optional soft 'flip' sound on the minute change (remember the split-flap clocks?)

Customization

• 14 fonts, carefully selected for clarity and style - from modern to retro
• Color/brightness controls
• 4 physical buttons for adjustments

Power & Size

• USB-C powered (cable/adapter not included)
• Web-based software updates via USB-C cable
• 15.0cm wide × 4.0cm deep × 4.6cm tall
• Slim 7mm base

I have tested six different case colors so far. The basic black and iridium versions have smooth surfaces, while the wood and granite versions (Red Granite, Rosewood, Clay Brown, Yellow Ochre) are intentionally designed with a rougher texture for a more natural look. They all look great!

Why did you make it?

I wanted to create a product that I could design from the ground up. I first built a TFT clock a few years ago, and recently, I spent three months designing the QuadClock. It was an exciting process, creating the schematic, designing the universal PCB (the QuadClock PCB), developing the software, modeling the case, and putting together the documentation.

The software is fully open source, so you’re free to modify or enhance it as you see fit. If you have a contribution, feel free to submit a pull request on GitHub, and if approriate, I’ll merge your additions into the main branch.

Important to know

While the bare displays give the clock a clean look, they aren't designed for rough handling. Be mindful around children and pets.

Due to the minimal case design, the speaker is quite small. While it’s not hi-fi or particularly loud, it likely produces enough sound to wake you up if you use it as an alarm clock.

3D Print Disclaimer: This item is 3D printed at home, and as such, minor variations in finish, fit, and material quality are to be expected.

While I strive to make the clock as polished and well-made as possible, it’s still a project handcrafted by a hobbyist, not a mass-produced product. Every detail has been carefully considered, and I’ve put a lot of passion into the design. I hope you’ll enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed creating it!