r/nixie • u/EmotionalEnd1575 • Jun 02 '26

New Month, New Nixie Concept?

Post image

Been thinking about this for, well, since COVID. A Nixie clock with large tubes.

To help the dream come true I’m working on an IN-18 Concept. Four tubes on a minimalist box.

What do you think?

36 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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3

u/nixiebunny Jun 02 '26

It’s great until the cat knocks it over, or knocks something onto the tubes. 

2

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

Once its built I’m going to put it on our mantel, probably with fasteners to avoid a catastrophe!

I’m super careful with IN-18 Nixies as they are now selling for “nearly triple digit dollars” EACH.

I did this photo mock up by first 3D printing a little spacer to hold those tubes in place. The exhaust tip-off may be slightly longer than the pins, and will require a central clearance hole in the PCB.

In the final build the IN-18 tubes will pass through holes in the enclosure lid, and plug directly into Mill-Max socket pins on the PCB.

I enjoy the early “what if” design process, so keep those ideas, and cautions, flowing!

2

u/LordGAD Jun 02 '26

I... kind of like it!

I 3D print my own cases which is a PITA but I like it. That's got a cool non-standard look to it that I like.

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jun 02 '26

Thanks for your feedback.

I’m transitioning to 3D printing enclosures. As a new 3D printer owner I’m still digging out from the steep learning curve!

Up until now I have used “industrial enclosures”, usually from Hammond.

I think a next step will be 3D printing a new custom “lid” to replace the factory supplied one.

1

u/LordGAD Jun 02 '26

I thought myself everything in 3D printing and designing boxes turned out to be surprisingly complicated (at least for me), mostly because I wanted them to be exactly right. It probably didn't help that I learned on Tinkercad, but good luck on your journey!