Once upon a time, time was relative, and a clock, let alone a 3D printed clock, was unheard of. There was dawn when the sun peeked over the ridge, high noon when the sun was right above you, and dusk when it ducked back under the horizon. Everything in between was “morning”, “afternoon”, or “night”.
Today, time rules everything. It tells you when to get up, go to work, eat dinner, meet friends, and so on. You’re always aware of the time, at least to some extent.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 3D printing community is fascinated with time-telling devices. That’s why we’ve compiled the best of these unique DIY 3D clock designs that can be 3D printed, just for you.
Remember, if you see something you like but don’t have the means to print yourself, head over to Craftcloud by All3DP. Expert-level print quality and precision will ensure your clock assembles and operates properly.
Mechanical
The models in this category are mostly modern interpretations of older designs. You won’t need any batteries to get these clocks running, but be prepared to spend lots of energy in printing and assembling.
Classic Mechanical
This 3D printed clock is a beaut. It has a typical analog face but runs via an anchor escapement like a pendulum grandfather clock. As a bonus, it has a skeleton design that allows you to see the gears moving. This skeleton pendulum clock will keep you mesmerized for hours.
You’ll quickly notice that assembling this clock is no child’s play. You’ll need to procure a few fasteners, a cord, and a suitable mass. Before attempting the print, you may want to ensure that your printer is properly set to deliver tight tolerances.
- Who designed it? TheGoofy
- How printable/popular is it? The almost 80 makes and 27 remixes, as well as over 190,000 downloads, speak of this clock’s popularity. With a well-calibrated printer and different colors of PLA, you can join the list.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Pendulum
A fairly traditional pendulum design, this model can be fully 3D printed, and it works accurately for about eight days after winding. You can see it reliably telling time in this video.
With about 90 hours of printing time in PLA, this isn’t the easiest model on the list. The designer, however, wrote 31 pages of build notes to guide you through each step.
- Who designed it? StevePeterson
- How printable/popular is it? 32 users managed to print this model successfully, and there are an additional 5 posted remixes. Closely following the designer’s guidelines seems to offer the best results.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Triaxial Tourbillon
Developed as a remix of an original design by Thingiverse user A26, this refined model is a stunner. This is a complex mechanical clock inspired by the Astronomia mechanism of the Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co. You can see its triaxial movement in this video.
With over 60 printable parts, it’s not an easy project, but it benefits from the detailed build notes. PLA and a standard 0.2-mm layer height seem to be the settings of choice. You’ll also need to purchase fasteners, bearings, and metal shafts.
- Who designed it? mcmaven
- How printable/popular is it? Despite the challenges this design presents, the files have over 235,000 downloads, and 10 makes and 3 remixes have been posted.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Mechanical Bird
Besides the sand that you use to fill the pendulum weight and the line you use to hang it, this next design is a 100% printable, functional, and beautiful mechanical clock.
The assembly process is quite involved, given the 110 files you’ll need to print, but the designer does a great job outlining project details, tips, and tricks. They’ve even included tolerance tests to make sure your printer can handle the rigorous task and determine whether you’ll need to use post-processing and glue-secured parts.
- Who designed it? Harald Andersson
- How printable/popular is it? As long as you follow the designer’s assembly step instructions, you can join 70 other makers who’ve shared their stunning prints.
- Where to find it? Printables
Cuckoo
MakerBot went all out decorating this one. It’s a gorgeous cuckoo clock, framed nicely with sprigs of autumn leaves. The leaves don’t come with this print, but the 3D clock is rather fancy on its own.
The print will require a carefully-calibrated printer. Each piece needs its own specific infill percentage and number of shells. With a maximum infill of 10%, the full clock will be much lighter than it looks.
- Who designed it? MakerBot
- How printable/popular is it? MakerBot claims that this project is for experts only. That said, at least 13 makers were able to print it, with PLA being their material of choice.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Christian Huygens
Another pendulum design, this model has some serious heritage, as it’s based on studies from the 17th century. You can check out a brief yet detailed video of this clock from the designer.
You’ll notice a few features in common with the other mechanical models. One of these is the presence of a mass connected by a cord; another is the huge number of parts. The designer chose PLA printed at a layer height of 0.2 mm, and they offer a video with assembly tips.
- Who designed it? jacprint
- How printable/popular is it? This model has scored over 3,200 downloads combined from both sites, and the comments are largely positive.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory, Cults
Electronic
This selection looks at models that may be light on the 3D printing side and heavier on the electronics and programming skills side. If your projects usually involve Arduino or Raspberry Pi boards, you’re in the right place.
Chain
This chain clock is the perfect option if you want a low-key mechanical time-telling device. This clock works with a simple rotating mechanism connected to a 3D printed gear that moves a closed-loop chain. The chain has numbers for each hour, and you can tell what the time is by looking at the top of the clock assembly.
While the clock isn’t good for telling the exact minute of the day, it is a unique and modern home decoration that will give you an approximate idea of the time of day. Plus, building this clock shouldn’t be too difficult. All you need are a handful of 3D printed parts, some M3 screws, heated inserts, a bearing, and a purchasable clock mechanism. The designer even posted instructions for how to assemble all the parts to make the functioning clock.
- Who designed it? David Kingsman
- How printable/popular is it? This chain clock has close to 6,000 views as well as 380 downloads. There are even six successful community prints!
- Where to find it? Printables
Hollow
This clock is like a backward analog clock. Instead of the hands coming out from the middle, they point in from the outer circle, leaving the circle face itself hollow. You can see it in action in a video from Holo Mectok.
It seems to be a straightforward print, with challenges mostly related to the choice and setting of the electronic parts. ABS and PLA should both work well, along with a properly calibrated printer to ensure sharp gear teeth.
On a side note, the same maker has designed another dazzling clock, which is worth checking out.
- Who designed it? ekaggrat
- How printable/popular is it? While the files have been downloaded around 100,000 times, only five users have shared their makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Plotter
Whatever you’re doing right now, stop and watch this clock in action. It will write out the time, erase it, and a minute later, do it all over again. You’ll never be more fascinated (or waste more time) than with this clock.
The mechanical parts of this model are designed to be either 3D printed or laser cut. Therefore, they’re simple flat shapes with limited printing challenges.
And if you like the concept but want to add even more fun, check out the glow-in-the-dark remix.
- Who designed it? joo
- How printable/popular is it? This is a really popular design, with no less than 50 posting their makes and 36 sharing their remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Words
This is a great-looking 3D printed clock that makes for an interesting weekend project. You’ll print the “light wells” and front plate, add some diffusers and LEDs, connect some electronics, implement the software, and voilà! You’ll have a very unique 3D clock.
The printed parts are flat and look relatively easy, so most of the efforts will be on the electronics.
- Who designed it? drhatch
- How printable/popular is it? Over 570 people have shown their love for this design.
- Where to find it? Instructables
Servo-Driven
It’s digital and electronic, yet very mechanical. This unique design shows us hours and minutes in the segmented form we know from LCDs, but the segments are solid. You can see it in operation in this video, a wonderful example of out-of-the-box thinking.
PLA seems to work best for this model, and the print itself appears easy. While not strictly necessary, a dual extruder printer helps to have the numbered faces in a contrasting color. The alternative is to paint them during post-processing. Assembly information is available through this set of instructions.
- Who designed it? otvinta3d
- How printable/popular is it? Between makes and remixes, 10 users have successfully printed this model.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Numechron
A 3D printed version of the Pennwood Numechron clock, this design tells time thanks to four rotating drums. It has a simple and distinctive look, and it moves continuously thanks to its drum with five seconds intervals. The designer provides a video demonstrating its operation.
The STL files of this clock appear to be relatively simple, and they require no rafts or supports. PLA with a 0.2-mm layer height is a good choice.
- Who designed it? Victorrr161
- How printable/popular is it? At least 15 makers have printed this model.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
DeLorean Style
Whether you have a DeLorean in your garage or you’re just a fan of Doc and Marty’s adventures, this is a must-have. Just note that some skill with electronics is required.
Printing this model should be quite easy as the parts have simple shapes requiring no supports. PLA at 0.2-mm layer height is one suggested setting. The designer also offers some direct links to purchase the electronic components.
- Who designed it? jeje95
- How printable/popular is it? Over 30 makers printed this design, mostly with silver color PLA to match the films. Minor changes to the design may be required depending on the electronic components you manage to find.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Giant Hidden Shelf
This clock requires a bit more effort than others on the list, but the result is 100% worth it. The smart-looking shelf will require a boatload of prints, an Arduino Nano, a quick Amazon shopping cart of materials, and a few hours of assembly and wiring. The YouTube video will help a lot with construction! No special print settings are required and you can go crazy with color choices!
This project is a great way to flex your wiring and Arduino muscles, and it gives you a great shelf to display your most prized prints.
- Who designed it? DIY_Machines
- How printable/popular is it? With 35 makes, 8 remixes, and around 17,000 downloads, this project is definitely popular!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Simple
The clocks in this group are probably the least-demanding projects of the bunch. The parts to be printed are few, and the mechanism can be borrowed from inexpensive commercial wall clocks.
Cat
Chances are that you either love cats or know someone who does. In this case, this is the purrfect design to print; it just needs a simple battery-powered clock mechanism.
It should be an easy print, as long as you can ensure good bed adhesion. PLA and PETG may be good choices in this regard.
Space Age
This next clock was designed in Fusion 360 and features a futuristic space-age vibe. Unlike a regular, circular clock, this futuristic clock has a funky, stacked boomerang-shaped frame, with star-like features and dots. However, the clock still uses a basic clock mechanism, so reading it shouldn’t be more challenging than reading a normal clock; just without the numbers.
The instructions go into detail about the design, assembly, and painting process for the clock. If you want to build one yourself, all you need is some 3D printable components, a basic clock mechanism with a shaft, hot glue, and various paints. While the designer didn’t list any print settings, you shouldn’t need anything special as all of the parts on this clock can be printed as a flat board.
- Who designed it? kura_kura
- How printable/popular is it? This futuristic clock project has over 6,300 views and 60 likes.
- Where to find it? Instructables
Table
Looking for something alternative? This design’s got a second layer that you can see shining through the design. It’s an ideal choice for exploring interesting color variations.
If you want to print this clock, PLA should offer the best results for sharp details. The designer suggests a 0.2-mm layer height with 10% infill. No supports are required, therefore post-processing should be minimal.
- Who designed it? M Badia
- How printable/popular is it? With 360 downloads, this model is quite popular.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Lord of the Rings
“One clock to rule them all, one maker to print them!” – Anonymous. If you love The Lord of the Rings and are looking for your next 3D printing project, this may be it! Simply print the face and hands and connect them to a generic clock movement mechanism.
Consider printing the hands with 100% infill to prevent snapping. Black and gold complete the look!
Modern
Need a visually-appealing clock for your desk? This modern clock project is just for you! The clock has a very modern and simplistic design. The entire project can be made with a single 3D printed part and a basic, three-hand clock mechanism.
There aren’t many other details about this design, and the project creator didn’t suggest any print settings. However, one recorded maker posted a successful print of the clock frame and listed that they used a 20% infill with no supports and no raft. Easy!
- Who designed it? speedpjg
- How printable/popular is it? This modern clock design has 9 recorded makes and over 6,200 downloads!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Star Wars
This is a simple design that’ll ensure the Force is with you throughout the day, minute by minute. The choice of lightsaber-colored clock hands is an addition worth considering.
PLA and a flat, clean bed should be sufficient to get all the details printed properly. The size perfectly fits beds measuring 300 x 300 mm. Smaller printers will require scaling down in the slicer settings.
- Who designed it? Reanimatednerd
- How printable/popular is it? 34 users printed this model, with most adding simple customizations.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
A lovely 3D printed clock resembling the Twitter logo. Simple and effective.
To achieve a nice see-through effect, it’s best to 3D print this clock without supports and 10% infill with blue transparent filament. Given the flat nature of the print, the designer suggests a 0.3-mm layer height. He also includes a YouTube video (in Spanish), where he shows how the different parts are assembled.
- Who designed it? GonzaloRodrguezNolasco
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 700 downloads from both sites.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory, Thingiverse
Miscellaneous
The models here don’t fit into a category of their own. They just happen to be clocks or clock-related prints, and they’re cool.
For Divers' Desks
This “watch” was made for your desk. It’s a giant model of a diver’s watch with a fully flexible band and clasp, which means you can set it to be supported and tilt it up towards you.
As you might expect, this is a challenging project. PLA, a small layer height, and a perfectly calibrated printer are a must to get the 131 individual parts to print well.
- Who designed it? francfalco
- How printable/popular is it? So far, nearly 40 prints – makes and remixes – have been shared.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Rocket
This next clock design is a great option for all of you space lovers out there! The design uses a wireframe-style rocket as the frame, and two rotating dials at the center of the rocket to display the time. Plus, the boosters of the rocket design allow this clock to stand up on its own, making it a great choice to put on your desk or table.
Constructing this rocket clock can be a bit difficult. You’ll need ten 3D printed parts, some screws, and a very specific clock mechanism. Luckily, the assembly shouldn’t be too difficult, as the designer provides in-depth instructions on how to put all the parts together. It’s also worth noting that you should check the project description for some printing advice, such as printing the time dials upside down with supports activated.
- Who designed it? clockspot
- How printable/popular is it? This rocket clock has one successful community print as well as over 90 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
Teaching
In a digital world, the ability to read an analog clock is becoming rarer. This great 3D print exposes the gears for easy time teaching. It also uses a mechanism for maintaining a 12:1 ratio between the hour and minute hands using what’s called Ferguson’s Paradox.
No supports, no fancy settings, just easy printing. You may need to fiddle with the shaft to get the fit right, though.
- Who designed it? brlaw
- How printable/popular is it? With 16 makes and 8 remixes, rest assured that this teaching tool is 100% printable!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Flintstones Sundial
This is a Flintstones-inspired sundial wristwatch for when you need to tell time on-the-go. It’s guaranteed to never run out of battery!
Disclaimer: Though not necessarily accurate, it’s still a stellar fashion statement.
This model should be simple to make, with only three parts to be printed. PLA is the most common choice, but at least one maker opted for a more comfortable fit with TPU.
- Who designed it? eddster
- How printable/popular is it? Over 3,000 people have downloaded the design, and 6 makers have posted their successful prints.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Lunar Phase
Yet another awesome space-themed clock is this lunar phase clock. Unlike the other projects on this list, this device isn’t meant for displaying the exact time of day, but rather the lunar phase, which changes over multiple days.
The clock displays the current lunar phase by projecting light behind certain segments of the 3D printed moon face. Additionally, the clock has a small LCD right under the moon face to show you the exact time in digital format.
As you might expect, this lunar phase clock is a bit difficult to build as many 3D printed parts and a handful of different electronic components are involved. Luckily, the project page is helpful, and the designer has provided a full list of the parts you need to make this clock. You can also find some resources, including a YouTube tutorial video and GitHub repositories, which should assist you with the build process.
- Who designed it? galile0
- How printable/popular is it? This electronic lunar phase clock has 5 recorded makes, 3 remixes, and close to 10,000 downloads!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Instructables
Weekday
Sometimes, it’s hard to even remember what day it is, especially if you’re working or studying from home the whole week. This model uses a generic clock movement and gears down the hour ring to display what day it is instead of the time. You’ll need to buy two components and print eight. Assembly is a breeze, so you should be able to keep your days straight with no trouble.
You can print all the parts with your normal (medium resolution, ~20% infill) settings. Just make sure to read the designer’s assembly steps so that everything goes like, well, clockwork!
- Who designed it? DavidKingsman
- How printable/popular is it? 12 users have shared their prints of the weekday clock, and the designs look stellar. You can also check out the 6 remixes for more ideas.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Steampunk Nixie Tube
If you love the look of Nixie tube clocks and steampunk imagery, this is the design for you. You’ll need to purchase a Nixie clock kit separately and then enclose it in this highly detailed design.
There are just three STL files, the main one requiring supports and possibly a raft. PLA is the material of choice, and the detailed guidelines provided by the designer are useful during the assembly.
- Who designed it? fastkite
- How printable/popular is it? Seven makers have shared their successful prints and assemblies of the design.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
24-Hour Analog
This clock won’t actually tell you the time, but it will be of great help in teaching your little ones to do so. It also offers a variety of options, including the opportunity to switch between 12- and 24-hour time.
The designer rates this print as difficult and mentions the need for supports. A small layer height and a perfectly calibrated printer are a must.
- Who designed it? OskarMohar
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded almost 500 times, although no prints have been shared – yet.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Pin Art
Heads-up: This isn’t really a clock. It’s just a piece of art meant to look like a clock, perhaps telling you it’s time to leave the office.
This not-a-clock is considered an easy print, requiring no supports. PLA likely offers the best results, and optimal retraction settings are a must to get a clean look from the pins.
- Who designed it? MyMiniFactory
- How printable/popular is it? This model had over 240 downloads at the time of writing.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
License: The text of "3D Printed Clock: 30 Great Projects to Tell Time" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.