IVL2 VFD WiFi desk clock

thingiverse

After publishing a classic IV18 VFD tube clock last month on Thingiverse, here's another lesser-known option: the IVL2-7/5 Vacuum Fluorescent Display. It's a unique find, and I'm glad to share it with you! This display boasts 4 digits and two dots, all packed into a flat tube with lateral pins. Conveniently, all the necessary pins - segments, digits, and filament - are located at the bottom of the tube, while duplicate digit and filament pins are found on the opposite side. At one end, a small, delicate quenching zone is visible, where vacuum is applied during manufacturing. This area requires special care to protect it from damage. To showcase this display's transparency and inner workings, I aimed for an ultra-lightweight housing design that wouldn't obstruct the tube's view. After some experimentation, I settled on a simple two-part print job that hides all electronics within. In line with my previous clock project, this one also features self-synchronization via NTP over WiFi using an ESP8266 module to handle all tasks. There's no dedicated PCB required; everything can be sourced from eBay for approximately $20. Additionally, an automatic presence detection system turns off the filament when nobody is watching the clock. Check out a video of it in action on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o4gyktB0RMc