In today's world, even something as simple as checking the time often leads to unnecessary distractions. We unlock our phones for a quick glance, only to be interrupted by notifications, messages, or social media. Nexus was built to solve exactly that problem, with a simple philosophy: display only the information that matters, so you can stay focused on what you're doing.
Powered by the Waveshare ESP32-C3, Nexus connects to Wi-Fi and synchronizes with Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers to keep accurate, real-time date and time — with no traditional RTC module and no manual adjustments required. Time is shown in 12-hour (HH:MM AM/PM) format, and the date in DD/MM/YYYY format, on a crisp 0.96" OLED display.
The enclosure was designed from scratch in Autodesk Fusion 360, giving Nexus a clean, product-like appearance that blends naturally into any desk setup. This repository contains everything needed to build your own: complete firmware source, CAD files, STL models, and wiring diagrams.
▶ Click to watch the full build and demo on YouTube
Components used to build Nexus
Nexus keeps its parts list intentionally short — a Waveshare ESP32-C3 handles Wi-Fi and processing, paired with a 0.96" OLED display for output. The full wiring and circuit diagram is available in the Circuit Diagram folder of this repository.
Once powered on, Nexus connects to the configured Wi-Fi network and synchronizes the current date and time with a public Network Time Protocol (NTP) server. This removes the need for a traditional Real-Time Clock (RTC) module, so the displayed time stays accurate without manual adjustments or a backup battery.
The Waveshare ESP32-C3 processes the received time data and continuously updates the 0.96" OLED display, showing the current date in DD/MM/YYYY format and the current time in 12-hour (HH:MM) format with an AM/PM indicator. The display refreshes automatically, keeping the information accurate and easy to read at a glance.
By combining Wi-Fi connectivity, NTP synchronization, and a clean, distraction-free interface, Nexus offers a simple, reliable way to keep track of time while helping you stay focused on your work.
Want to build your own Nexus? Complete step-by-step instructions, wiring details, assembly photos, and testing procedures are available in the full written tutorials below.
Whether you're a beginner exploring IoT and embedded displays or an experienced maker looking to customize the design, these guides walk through the entire build process from start to finish.
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Instructables https://www.instructables.com/Next-Time-a-Tiny-Desk-Clock/
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Hackster.io https://www.hackster.io/NEXTBUILDER/nexus-a-tiny-iot-desk-clock-2d65fd
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Hackaday.io https://hackaday.io/project/206091-nexus-a-tiny-iot-desk-clock
All project resources, including firmware, CAD models, library configuration files, and circuit diagrams, are available in this GitHub repository.
Open for personal and educational use only. Commercial use, resale, or redistribution in any product requires explicit written permission from the author.
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