Yeah, I was wondering if there was any way to make it work purely with cutouts. I don't think so.
I wonder if be made with optical fiber light guides. I see that you can buy 10 millimeter fiber: http://www.anchoroptics.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=446 But at some point, if you use enough modern technology, a sundial really stops being a sundial. Jack Aubert -----Original Message----- From: sundial [mailto:sundial-boun...@uni-koeln.de] On Behalf Of Robert Kellogg Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 12:01 PM To: sundial@uni-koeln.de Subject: A "Digital" Sundial on Instructables Interesting digital dial. I must admit I looked at this design about 20 years ago. The author has one 3D moveable drawing of the completed dial. If you look closely on the underside of the gnomon, there are cut-outs of hour numbers that match the obverse side. Therefore, this sundial works correctly only two days a year (I'm inferring that the numbers were aligned for the equinox). Pity that such a beautiful digital dial is nearly useless. Exactly the same problem with Voshart's digital cube (see http://gizmodo.com/this-digital-sundial-tracks-the-sun-through-a-laser-cut-1 545753402). This may force me back to the drawing board since I hold US Patent 5,596,5533 Jan 21 1997 "Digital Sundial". (See also Scharstein's US Patent 5,590,093 Dec 31. 1996 "Digital Sundial". Dan's patent is earlier, but he had to reference my article in NASS' Compendium). Ahhhh the modern digital world. I understand that Apple's digital watches are being delivered to those few lucky souls today. --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial
