Updates: Modified Design
After presenting, I decided to change some of the structural design and the LEDs used. Firstly, the structure will consist of a core ABS plastic box, a surrounding cage of wire mesh (separated into 2 halves with hinges and latches) covered in thermoplastic for some level of rigidity.
For the LEDs, I will instead use a 30 LED/m NeoPixel strip as this will work better for cotton ball spacing and will cost significantly less.
“Maquette”: Component Demonstration
In the place of a model, I tested some key components of my project as I have received some parts already.
GitHub Repository for Code: https://github.com/MikaylaFischler/light-art-sound-cloud
Loose Schedule and Information going Forward
All items on the shopping list have actually already been ordered. Some have arrived and allowed for some small initial testing. I will be experimenting with the thermoplastic in the next few days on the metal skeleton I’ve built. Hopefully a shell can be formed in the next few days as well, allowing for the attaching of the LEDs and eventually cotton balls.
I did some short research a few days back just to confirm that the LEDs would not generate enough heat to make any part of this project to auto-ignite[1][2]. Additionally, dimensions have been considered with mathematical approximations leading me to build within a margin around a oval/cube with width 38cm, almost 20cm depth, and almost 16cm in height. Actual dimensions will likely differ as a cloud isn’t exactly a simple geometric shape. Said cloud will likely consist of a flat base and two main curved portions, one higher than the other.
[1]”Cotton”, TIS-GDV.de. [Online]. Available: http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/fasern/baumwoll/baumwoll.htm#selbsterhitzung. [Accessed: 01- Apr- 2019].
[2]”Is an LED light strip safe to use under a bed?”, Home Improvement Stack Exchange. [Online]. Available: https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/14722/is-an-led-light-strip-safe-to-use-under-a-bed. [Accessed: 01- Apr- 2019].
Shopping List
Amazon
0.25”x0.125” Hole Wire Mesh (12”x24” per sheet)
ABS Plastic Project Box
Hinges
Latches
SparkFun
Silicone Bumpers
Power Rocker Switch
3.5mm Audio Breakout
Mountable Slide Switch
Mode Button (arcade style button)
DC Barrel Jack Adapter
Single 100k Ohm Log Rotary Potentiometer
Adafruit
White Potentiometer Knob
Blue Potentiometer Knob
10k Linear Potentiometer
Audio Adapter Board for Teensy 3.x
Break-away Male Header Pins
3-pin JST SM Cables
Thermoplastic
5V 10A Power Supply
Stereo 3.7W Class D Audio Amplifier
Stereo Enclosed 3W Speakers
3” Diameter 3W Speakers (alternative)
5m of 30 LED/m NeoPixel Strips (white PCB)
Diffused RGB LEDs (common anode; for status indicator)
Half-Size Breadboard
Teensy 3.6
5mm LED Holder
Mini Solderless Breadboard – 4×4 Points
Mini Solderless Breadboard – 2×4 Points
Adafruit Perma-Proto Quarter-sized Breadboard PCB
IC Socket – for 16-pin 0.3″ Chips
Panel Mount 10K Dual Log Potentiometer
5mm LED Holder
Mini Solderless Breadboard – 4×4 Points
Mini Solderless Breadboard – 2×4 Points
Adafruit Perma-Proto Quarter-sized Breadboard PCB
IC Socket – for 16-pin 0.3″ Chips
Panel Mount 10K Dual Log Potentiometer
Products Already Possessed
- Wire cutters, wire strippers, soldering equipment, necessary tools
- Plenty of stranded wire
- Quad logic level shifters (3.3v to 5v)
- A lot of resistors and capacitors of a wide range of values
- Screws, nuts, and stand-offs for boards