Customizable Sundial

thingiverse

Update 3/19/16: For enhanced functionality, the Customizer feature has been removed. All necessary files for creating the sundial can now be found in the archive. I hope this aids everyone in building their own unique and useful sundial. To create your custom Horizontal Sundial, download the OpenSCAD file, HorizDial.scad. Additionally, download Write.scad and Letters.dxf, placing all three files in the same directory. (Alternatively, you may obtain the Write package from Thingiverse, but the provided version is known to work with HorizDial.scad and removes unnecessary coding.) Customize your sundial by editing the OpenSCAD file, focusing on modifying values within myHome, latitudeRange, latitude, longitude, and timeZone fields. Be mindful of the 21-character limit for myHome. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, simply enter your latitude as a positive number, emulating the Northern Hemisphere. However, adapting it specifically for the Southern Hemisphere remains to be determined. Please share your results regardless. This Horizontal Sundial is tailored to the Northern Hemisphere. To determine your location's latitude and longitude in decimal degrees, use this helpful tool: http://universimmedia.pagesperso-orange.fr/geo/loc.htm. Longitude may be positive or negative, while latitude will always be positive. Remember to indicate both your exact latitude and the range of your latitude in degrees due to an OpenSCAD limitation. The OpenSCAD code comments provide guidance on determining the range value. Next, find your time zone correction at this site: http://www.timeanddate.com/library/abbreviations/timezones/. Utilize your browser's 'Find' function to locate the correction for your specific time zone. Finally, use Customizer to input your data and create a personalized and eye-catching sundial!