Neopixel Strip Matrix Crystal Lamp by AlbertGBarber

Last crawled date: 3 years, 1 month ago

Description
(Scroll down for video)
This is a lamp that uses Neopixel strips in a matrix layout. It uses the same base parts as my other Neopixel lamp. The strips are arranged into a 19 x 10 matrix that wraps around the lamp. Overall, it is a little more advanced than my other lamp; I would recommend building it only if you are comfortable with soldering and Neopixels. You can change the cover that goes over the matrix. Right now I have two covers, a crystalline one, and a simple tube. I may add more in the future, you are also welcome to create your own.
Printing / Assembly
Print the shaft cover parts in clear PLA / ABS. White might also work, but I've not tested it. If you're printing the crystal cover, pick either V1 or V2 of the crystal base to print (see pics)
Like my other lamp, mechanical assembly should be straight-forward, everything pretty much stacks together. Follow the drawing pdf. The drawing shows both covers, but you only need to print one type. Note that the cover sections need to be glued together. You do not need to glue the led strip shaft sections together, but I recommend it. Do not glue the cover to the strip shaft, it should be a press-fit.
Electronics
(see my other lamp for info about the base electronics)
The Neopixel strip I used for the lamp are available here : https://tinyurl.com/yazsvwk8 , although any ws2812b strip will work as long as it's about 10mm wide. The lamp uses a little over 3.1m of strip.
To mount the strips you, cut the main strip into sections, and then stick them on each side of the lamp shaft. You will have to choose how to arrange the strips, either zig-zag (the strip sections data lines alternate direction for each side) or straight (the sections all face the same way, the DIN pads are all on the same end of the shaft). I choose to mount mine in a straight config, running data wires inside the shaft between each section. The strips should have adhesive backing, but mine weren't very sticky so I had to tack them down with hot glue.
If you don't know about wiring Neopixels, read this to get started: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/the-magic-of-neopixels
The shafts include wire holes for 22Ga stranded wire. This allows you to provide each strip section with live, ground, and data. I choose to inject power at every section and combine the wires onto a central power board (see pics). To cut down on clutter, you could inject every other section.
Code
As with my other lamp, my code is still a WIP, but I will post it when it is more finished. For now, you may have to write code yourself, but you can find some things by googling. I recommend checking out the Adafruit guide above, or the fast_LED library for driving the pixels. Another resource is https://www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/arduino/adruino-led-strip-effects/.