"Digital Sundial" is a sundial that digitally displays the time without using any electricity. The secret of its realization was the use of 3D printers.


When an object is exposed to the sun's rays, a shadow created by that object is created below it. However, if a hole is made in an object at the same angle as the light that shines in, the light will pass through the hole, creating a spot of light in the shadow.



"Digital Sundial" is a sundial that applies this. There is a slit that expresses "10:00" at the same angle as the sun shines at 10 am, which digitally displays the time. The slits are opened in 20-minute increments of "10:20", "10:40", and "11:00", and the display changes according to the movement of the sun. The time can be displayed from 10:00 to 16:00.



To use it, first turn the center of the "Digital Sundial" body to the north. Then adjust the angle of the main body according to the latitude of your current location. Further rotate the main body to fine-tune the time. Once these are done, the correct time can be displayed for at least the day.




According to the developers, the existence of 3D printers is largely responsible for enabling 19 digital displays according to the angle of the sun. If manufactured using conventional technology, the manufacturing cost will increase incomparably.



However, the displayed time is in 20 minute increments. It is a sundial that is not suitable for places where accurate time is required. However, it may be a little nice to install it as an interior on the windowsill and watch the transition slowly.


I don't know the time on days when there is no sunlight. On such a day, I may have to take a break from work and relax.

You can buy it at the Mojoptix shop on Etsy. The price is $ 80.18. A separate shipping fee of $ 28.93 to Japan is required. In addition, it seems that it takes 35 hours to manufacture one "Digital Sundial". For this reason, it will take a few days from ordering to sending.