The Z-axis controls the brightness of the electron beam. Its primary role is : turning the beam off while it moves between drawing positions, preventing unwanted lines on the screen. The Z-axis circuit is often a high-speed amplifier that takes a logic-level signal from the microcontroller and uses it to drive the CRT's control grid. For the smoothest vector drawings, many builders include this feature.
[ Power Supply Block ] ---> (Low Voltage & High Voltage DC) | v [ Microcontroller/DAC ] ---> [ X/Y Deflection Amplifiers ] ---> [ CRT Yoke/Plates ] | v [ Z-Axis Blanking Circuit ] ---> [ CRT Grid 1 (G1) ]
yeah I think we're think we're down some voltage there or something pretty blurry definitely better so we'll stick with this. too. YouTube·CREEKVIEW ACRES How to make Simplest ever Oscilloscope Clock Crt Clock Schematic
Deflected by external copper coils (yokes). Requires a high-current, low-voltage H-bridge amplifier (e.g., TDA4865J or LM3886 audio amps) to drive current through the coils. Electrostatic Deflection Schematic Topology
Implement "screensaver" logic in the schematic code to subtly shift the position of the clock face every few minutes. Setting the Time The Z-axis controls the brightness of the electron beam
Designing and Building a CRT Clock: Schematic and Theory A is the ultimate retro-futuristic timepiece, combining the haunting, warm glow of analog vacuum technology with modern digital accuracy . Unlike nixie tubes, a CRT clock uses a small cathode ray tube to draw clock hands (or digital numbers) directly onto a phosphorescent screen using electron beams, similar to how an old analog oscilloscope works.
An accurate timekeeping chip, such as the DS3231, backed by a coin-cell battery to preserve time during power outages. Digital-to-Analog Conversion (DAC) For the smoothest vector drawings, many builders include
Adjustable negative voltages (-50V to -150V) used to focus the beam into a sharp pinprick dot and handle Z-axis blanking.
When she grew too weary to wind the brass cam herself, she trained a neighbor to take over. And when at last her hands could no longer hold the small, careful tools, the schematic went with the chest of other things—letters, photographs, the journal where she had copied every nightly pattern. The schematic was folded once more and tucked into a book that would later be found by someone else in another thrift shop, the ink softened, the margins warm with notes. It was an invitation, still.
Typically an ESP32, STM32, or ATmega328P. It calculates the geometric coordinates needed to draw the clock face.