# A Clock with a Levitating Hand **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139 "2026-08-01T14:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/1 "2026-08-01T14:02:39Z")
Mod edit See also [The 3D Magnetic Levitation System: This is a completed, fully working hardware project](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/the-3d-magnetic-levitation-system-this-is-a-completed-fully-working-hardware-project/1454172) ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/d/4/c/d4c9f156ba3b274a567bfda0346d98e1f5263a49.jpeg) I’m not so sure if this might end up being my next project. Does anyone actually think this would be cool? A clock with a levitating hand. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/2 "2026-08-01T14:05:27Z")
Do you actually need an Arduino to do that ? ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/3 "2026-08-01T14:07:37Z")
![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/3/6/4/364159c660ab29195ae5d4e058482aedadef31ab.jpeg) I already have a setup using an ESP32. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/4 "2026-08-01T14:10:33Z")
OK, but do you actually need a processor of any kind to do that ? ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/5 "2026-08-01T14:12:41Z")
Yes, a digital control system. ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/6 "2026-08-01T14:14:48Z")
You don't need digital control to build a levitation system—analog control would certainly work too, but to achieve true position control based on time, you need digital control. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/7 "2026-08-01T14:25:27Z")
> [@nicoa123](#): > > you need digital control I have an analogue clock in my house. As long as I wind it up regularly it keeps good time and its hands show me the time perfectly well I am not saying that a digital solution is not a good idea for a number of resons, just that it is not the only solution ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/8 "2026-08-01T14:27:40Z")
Oh, I don't know if I expressed myself clearly—the time display isn't the key feature of the watch; rather, it's the fact that the hand floats and has no mechanical connection to the watch itself. ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/9 "2026-08-01T14:31:44Z")
its more a design thing ---
**Author:** ![EmilyJane](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/emilyjane/32/821537_2.png) [@EmilyJane](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/EmilyJane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/10 "2026-08-01T14:36:44Z")
I, for one, think it would be very cool. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/11 "2026-08-01T14:40:44Z")
Does your solution allow for the clock face to be vertical as in a normal clock ? ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/12 "2026-08-01T14:42:24Z")
Yes, it does work vertically, but it's significantly less stable vertically and would require considerably more development effort. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/13 "2026-08-01T14:44:51Z")
I am not surprised, but that would severely limit its use as a practical clock ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/14 "2026-08-01T14:46:41Z")
Sure, it only makes sense if it works vertically too, that would basically be the next project, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it for me or if it would turn out to be something cool. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyJane](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/emilyjane/32/821537_2.png) [@EmilyJane](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/EmilyJane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/15 "2026-08-01T15:10:52Z")
Are you using an optical sensor to control levitation height as well as the common Hall effect sensors for X-Y positioning? How does one rotate the spherical magnet to simulate a clock hand? ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/16 "2026-08-01T15:40:46Z")
![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/b/b/e/bbe69a28fe8e3d15f3b4ec653c03700761ab10a3.jpeg) I am currently using a single Hall sensor. To control the hand's angle, I tilt the levitating magnet, breaking field symmetry to create torque. However, the hand oscillates strongly around the target angle, and I cannot dampen this oscillation with the current setup. To solve this, I'm considering adding external coils (like on the picture) to actively counteract the oscillation, although the project is still in the conceptual phase and I haven't officially started building it yet. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyJane](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/emilyjane/32/821537_2.png) [@EmilyJane](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/EmilyJane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/17 "2026-08-01T15:53:09Z")
Can I correctly assume that it cannot be oriented like the image in your original post? Do the visible magnets on top of the sphere create the tilt necessary to get torque? ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/18 "2026-08-01T15:57:40Z")
The goal remains as shown in the original image, but how to apply the torque is still open—that’s precisely what this project aims to figure out. There are two main approaches. One option is to alter the position of the levitating magnet in the 2D plane. Shifting its position causes it to tilt slightly and align differently based on its coordinates, allowing us to set a target angle. The issue, however, is that the hand oscillates around this target angle. To suppress these vibrations, I'll likely need additional electromagnets arranged around the levitation system. ---
**Author:** ![nicoa123](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/nicoa123/32/1103478_2.png) [@nicoa123](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/nicoa123)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/19 "2026-08-01T16:00:55Z")
To be honest, I’m still not sure if I’ll take on this project at all. It requires a lot of effort, and the interaction between the rotational movement and the vertical position is far from clear. I’m simply not sure yet if the project is worth the challenge—which is actually what I was hoping to figure out with this blog post. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyJane](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/emilyjane/32/821537_2.png) [@EmilyJane](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/EmilyJane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139/20 "2026-08-01T16:02:37Z")
> [@nicoa123](#): > > The goal remains as shown in the original image I don't see how it is possible to overcome gravity without a separate levitation system not shown. [Next page](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/a-clock-with-a-levitating-hand/1454139.md?page=2)