Hi! I think, that I can help you. Let's talk about components...First of all about LED indicators. I suggest to use Kingbright 7-segment LED indicators - Big 7-seg LED indicator 604-SC23-11SRWA (part number in mouser catalog ) for place show , and FOUR DIGIT NUMERIC DISPLAY 604-CA56-11GWA for time show . It will looks fine - 604-CA56-11GWA display has 1.98 inch size, and 604-SC23-11SRWA has 1.89 inch size. I see two way for creating this timer system -
ALL_IN_ONE: in this case all components for 4 channel timer will be placed on single PCB. This timer will be based on one MCU with enough I/O pins (like AtMega640 from Atmel 556-ATMEGA640-16AU), four 604-SC23-11SRWA and four 604-CA56-11GWA indicators. PCB will has around 200x90 mm size
SINGLE_CHANNEL: in this case Timer will has only one channel, but this PCB will has possibility to send/receive data from another Timers for Place show. You will can connect together many Timers PCB in chain. Also in this case we can use a cheaper MCU (like ATMega88 556-ATMEGA88PA-AU). PCB will has around 50x90 mm size.
Time schedule: 2 days for SCH/PCB creating, 6 days for software
I am using Altium Designer system, and I can to generate the gerber and drill files for PCB manufacturing. Of course I'll write all software for this project .
Pls, see my portfolio.
Best regards, Marsel.