Animated digital clock

Description:

This was part of an experiment in creating a functional digital clock for my room scene (not included in the blend). I decided to share it primarily for the animation setup, this is something I didn't know how to do prior to making it, figured others will find my setup useful. No text object or shape keys required, and this can be used to create any digital counters like a stop sign for instance.

A single bone is used to control the time by default, position 0 represents hour 0:00 and position 1 is 24:00, it can be animated freely to sync with the sun in the world material. The dial is defined as one object and instanced multiple times for each number, every instance uses an integer property to define the number being displayed, drivers control the value of each one: Each material emits light based on which digit the combination represents, a node group is used to customize the 7 lines for the right combinations.

In the included model the digits are 2D meshes used on a curved display: You can easily remodel it to suit your needs... for instance to make the hour a 3D hologram, or have the material change color instead of controlling the intensity. For realism lines that are off still emit a tiny amount of light. Designed to work in both Eevee and Cycles, the display will realistically cast light with both engines so this should look nice in dark rooms.