Final Project
//MAS 863.09 How to Build (almost) Anything
//Boris Kizelshteyn


//Success!!!


I created a board with a microphone, a button and 3 pins going out to mosfets to control an array of LEDs. I created an LED array (we used GM5WA06270A), which could be chained together. Because I could not get the wireless networking to work in time for the project, I added the button so that different states could be invoked on the boxes. Along with the the composite boxes which diffuse light really well this worked great! This video shows it all.







I had a hard time using eagle to plan out my board and felt like I wasted alot of time by using eagle. It was useful to create the pad footprint for custome parts, but I found photoshop to be much more productive in terms of making an actual board come together. Here are my engineering files: Microphone and Mosfet board in PSD
LED Board in PSD
BK.mic.RGB.FINAL.asm


//How To Make Composite Boxes
1. Laser cut a pressfit cardbox, I made mine 8x8x8.
1a. You can make easily using flatcad. Convert to dxf for use in coral draw with SwiftView, or just use the hpgl file directly if you connect a linux machine to the laser cutter.
2. Wrap the box in seran wrap (clear plastic) and use mold release
3. Create socks using linen and a sewing machine so that they wrap around the box. I made three. Make them such that they can be wrapped around alternating sides of the box and that the edges overlap.

4. Soak the socks in smoothon 310 (make sure to wear gloves!) and wrap the boxes. Put the seams on the inside and try align them with edges of the box, this will make for a smoother box.
5. Set the boxes down on something removable as they stick, I used an old power supply and used up spool of industrial aluminum foil.
6. Let them stand 2 hours.
7. Use a hack saw to remove the bottom of the box, empty out th cardboard and seran wrap and you're all set. You can use the sander to smooth out edges.
8. You can re-use the bottom of the box to stuff into the box to make a base. You could also do something clever in the original design so that the base is built to be removable.


//Progress

Progress Images






GOAL

My is to create 3 light boxes which respond to music by cycling through an RGB PWM pattern. They will also be responsive to each other such that when there is only 1 box engaged it will cycle through the entire colorcycle alone, when two of the boxes are engaged they will cycle between 1 distinct color and a mix of of that color with the 3rd color i.e. r ->gb and g->rb. When a 3rd box is added they wil each cycle between full luminosity on each color.

DESIGN

The goal is to make 8"x8" boxes out of smoothon 310 slow set plastic. Inside each box will be a microphone receiving audio connected to RGB LEDs. In addition each cube will have a radio transmitter and receiver. The transmitter will indicate that the box is on and the receiver will be able to tell how many boxes are on. It will the set a bit on the controller hooked up to the RGB LEDs to instruct them on which PWM to run in response to the sound.

COMPONENTS

  • SMOOTH ON 310
  • CARDBOARD
  • CHIP PARTS TBD

PROCESSES

I need to resolve the following:

  1. Will I need more than 1 set of RGB LEDs to light up the box if I am using 8K millicandela LEDs?
  2. If I need more that 1 set should I try to create an array using a MOSFET to amplify the signal coming out of a single chip or should I create separate boards and link them together via serial or simply pins. How do I power these?
  3. I need alot of help with the wireless radio, I can't make heads or tails of it yet :)

    4. SCHEDULE

    12/2 - Parts identified and ordered.

    12/7 - Working Prototype or exact issues identified.

    For my final project I would like to build a set of LED light boxes that will brightly cycle through colors to provide decorative lighting, especially for daytime events.

    A PWM algorithm will control the color cycle on the boxes to be responsive to the music in the environment. Also wireless networking between boxes will make it possible to bring them into proximity with eachother and thereby divide up the job of cycling through a different color set.