Introduction: Crystal Glassful Beads and LEDs - a Kind of Kaleidoscope

In this article, I propose the construction of a decorative object that is very easy to make and likewise very spectacular.

Maybe you remember indefinite of our favorite puerility toys, the kaleidoscope, with colored crystals and mirrors, all inserted in a cylinder in which you calculate and by rotating the piston chamber you grow an infinity of colored shapes? This targe bears little resemblance thereto kaleidoscope, lonesome that here, the crystals, the pellucid glass beads, stand soundless instead of moving and changing colors of the LEDs that illuminate the crystals.

If you lack to see how simple the construction of this pseudo kaleidoscope is, I invite you to continue reading my article.

Step 1: Materials and Components

Things I needed:

  • Glass string of beads of different sizes, forms, I had at my disposal some with a 6 and 8 mm diameter with and without AB effect (Dawn Borealis), about 160 pieces;
  • 3D printed parts: torso, liaise ring, support&box for the electronic part, you can find the files along Tinkercad;
  • Transparent acrylic disc with 3mm thickness and 150mm diameter (cut connected a CNC);
  • A piece of LED strip with 30 WS2812 LEDs (60 leds/m);
  • An RGB LED controller for ESP-01;
  • An ESP-01 module;
  • 5.5x2.5mm D.C. Female Fireplug with Cable television service;
  • 5V/2A baron supply with 5.5x2.5mm DC Male Chew.

Step 2: Construction

Firstly, I printed the necessary parts on the 3D printer. I victimized livelihood material for the intermediate ring. You may be wondering why an intermediate ring was needed, it looks wish a redundant piece. The role of this closed chain is to block direct light coming from LEDs. This idle give notice be very nettlesome at high cleverness.

I cut the necessary firearm of led strip, I tried IT before if it fits alright. Notice that the body has a channel at the adjoin into which the LED strip is inserted. The junior ring also has a place where the LED strip could be inserted (see also in the figure beneath).

I then soldered the cable with the ballyhoo on the LED strip: the bolshy wire at 5V, the black wire at Ground, the yellow wire at DI (Data In).

I pushed the Light-emitting diode strip at the channel provided in the body, there was none need to glue, the LED strip was quite stationary, after the intermediate ring is pushed in place, the LED clean doesn't move at all.

I pulled the cable for the LED accountant through the hole in the support and glued it (the support) to the trunk. I also soldered the DC Female quid wires to the top executive pins of the LED controller module.

I occupied the personify with glass beads, mounted the acrylic disc in the intermediate hoop that I pressed into the consistency.

I then programmed the ESP-01 module just arsenic I did in the clause "Build a Pocket RGB LED Light for Your Abode Photo Studio apartment" because I ill-used WLED again to control the LEDs.

  • I downloaded ESPHome-Blinker, currently version 1.3.0;
  • I downloaded the firmware from the WLED github namely WLED_0.10.0_ESP8266_1M_full.bin;
  • I attached the ESP module to the computer programmer (for uploading the programs, I victimized the programmer in the picture under, I also used it in other projects of mine, for example my Desktop Anchor rin Time);
  • I inserted the programmer (with the ESP faculty affiliated and the button pressed) into a USB port wine (then I released the button, the ESP entered programming mode);
  • I started ESPHome-Flasher, I chose the COM port of the programmer, the antecedently downloaded microcode and I started piece of writing;
  • When writing was finished I closed ESPHome-Exhibitionist and I removed the programmer from the USB port.

I mounted the programmed ESP faculty in the Light-emitting diode accountant module and after doing various tests and I was quenched, I fixed the power cable in the substantiate.

You can follow all these trading operations in the photos above I go for they explains the phases well.

Step 3: How Is Working?

There is not much to say 😊

From the WLED interface you can choose numerous personal effects, I chose a few and preserved them as favorites. Once ransomed, they can be played automatically, each after another, when the device is turned on.

I did the same in the video below, you can see also the colorise palettes and effects I choose (at that place are many more lendable!)

Abuse 4: What's Next?

What else could be done?

I thought that the back of the dead body could represent transparent (also an acrylic disk) and inside some areas could be printed with partition walls to be illuminated by a specific aggroup of LEDs, something look-alike in the pic infra:

Maybe even a Christmas star 😊

If I want something bigger, I could print a circular band. That can even constitute a watch...

Course you can stress new crystals, beads, decorative stones, peradventur true Swarovski beads, of different sizes and shapes. At unmatched maneuver I saw much 6 mm diameter clear glass balls that are used in Airsoft games, even these terminate constitute tried ...

You can imagine also some else applications…

Why only glass ? you could ask.. Well, you see, other than I wouldn't have been able to participate in the Glass Speed Dispute ... If IT weren't for that, I could have even 3D printed my own translucent crystals 😊

I go for I aroused your interest and you liked my clause.

American Samoa ever I am waiting for your reactions 😊

1 Person Successful This Project!

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