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LED Matrix Cylinder

This document describes how to build an LED matrix cylinder using WS2812B LED strips, a Raspberry Pi, and a cardboard frame. Key steps include laser cutting the cardboard parts, wiring the LED strips together in a zig-zag pattern, gluing the strips to carrier segments, assembling the cylinder halves, adding a wooden veneer, connecting to a Raspberry Pi via GPIO pins, and programming animations using Python. The end result is a programmable LED cylinder that can display scrolling text, animations, and effects controlled by a Raspberry Pi.

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131 views7 pages

LED Matrix Cylinder

This document describes how to build an LED matrix cylinder using WS2812B LED strips, a Raspberry Pi, and a cardboard frame. Key steps include laser cutting the cardboard parts, wiring the LED strips together in a zig-zag pattern, gluing the strips to carrier segments, assembling the cylinder halves, adding a wooden veneer, connecting to a Raspberry Pi via GPIO pins, and programming animations using Python. The end result is a programmable LED cylinder that can display scrolling text, animations, and effects controlled by a Raspberry Pi.

Uploaded by

bcenergies
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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instructables

LED Matrix Cylinder

by maketvee

This LED matrix uses standard WS2812b LED stripes to build a matrix with a cylindric shape and a nice wooden
veneer finish.

Partlist:

1. 790x384 cardboard 1.5 mm (other sizes are also possible, but CAD data has to be changed)
2. 100 WS2812b LED from LED-stripes (30 LED/meter)
3. Raspberry Pi or Arduino
4. Microwood veneer or any type of flexible diffusion material
5. Wires

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VNS9aFNEW0

LED Matrix Cylinder: Page 1


Step 1: Design and Laser Cutting File

Main design parameter is the thickness of the used area of your machine, in this case 790x384 mm.
material. In this build, a 1.5 mm cardboard was used Inkscape is a simple and powerful tool to handle this
because it is easy to cut and quite cheap. 3D design job. Attached SVG file contains all parts for the
(e.g. Fusion360) helps to avoid problems in the cylindric display with 1.5 mm material.
assembling process. For laser cutting, parts have to
be arranged in a way that they fit to the laser cutting

Download
https://www.instructables.com/ORIG/FID/WA43/JSUP2IW2/FIDWA43JSUP2IW2.svg
…

Step 2: Laser-cutting and Preassemble

After laser cutting, you will get the following parts:

- 12 C-shape horizontal segments

- 18 comb like vertical segments

- 2 vertical connection segments

- 20 led carrier segments

8 C-Shapes, 9 combs and 1 connection are combined to a display half. In this step, parts are only plugged
together to check if all fits well. Don't use glue yet.

LED Matrix Cylinder: Page 2


Step 3: Wiring of LEDs

LED stripes are cut in 5 LED segments and glued to Before the LEDs are installed into the matrix, the
the carrier segments with the backside adhesive tape. segments of the matrix have to be glued together for
First the DI (data in) and DO (data out) pins of the each half of the cylinder.
stripes are wired together in a zig-zag manner,
connecting DO of the first stripe with DI of the next Finally the 10 stripes are placed in each half of the
stripe and so on. This is done for each half of the matrix and fixated with hot glue. DO from one half is
cylinder including 10 stripes. 5V and GND are connected to DI of the second half. DI of the first half
connected only at one side from strip to strip. Length will be the input for the Raspberry Pi or Arduino.
of the wires should be matching the strip distance of
the array.

LED Matrix Cylinder: Page 3


Step 4: First Test

To ensure that everything works, a first test of the LEDs should be made. Using an Arduino and the Neopixel
library should be the easiest way to do this.

Step 5: Wooden Veneer Diffusor

After measuring the diameter and hight of the matrix, the wooden veneer could be cut out and rolled around the
matrix. For fixation, a transparent glue strip is sufficient.

LED Matrix Cylinder: Page 4


Step 6: Raspberry Pi and Power Supply

For easy coding in Python of nice matrix effects, a Power Supply


Raspberry Pi could be used. In this case, a
Raspberry Pi Zero was used, which is connected to Maximum power for 100 WS2812b LEDs is
the matrix via GPIO pin 18 via a 74HCT245 level 100x60mA = 6A. Of course, by reducing brightness,
shifter to adapt the 3.3V from the Pi to the 5V of the the power consumption could be reduces drastically.
WS2812. Also a large capacitor (2200 uF) and a Please ensure, that your 5V power supply is able to
series resistor (120 Ohm) are used like suggested drive the current for your desired brightness.
when using larger Neopixel/WS2812 LED counts.

LED Matrix Cylinder: Page 5


Step 7: Simulation

Python source-code is available at Github platform which is able to run python. Please install
first all libraries which are used by the program (like
pygame, numpy, etc.). In simulation mode, the
There are two modes for coding. If PI=False defined cylinder is displayed as a 5x20 pixel matrix.
at the beginning of the cylinder.py, code is in the
simulation mode. You can test all animations on any

Step 8: Programming

The second software mode is PI=True (defined in cylinder.py) and started on the Pi. This drives the GPIO pin 18 of
the Raspberry Pi. You are free to add additional effects and play around with the parameters.

Text is displayed with a 3x5 font, so not all letters are perfect due to the limited display height.

Enjoy!

LED Matrix Cylinder: Page 6


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