instructables

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!

by Hyper_Ion

NeoPixel rings, and NeoPixels in general, are among but if one were to simply make the boards themselves
the most popular electronic components for makers of one could make custom shapes of any size or design
all types. For good reason too, with a single pin from for around 15% of the cost of Adafruit's models (for a
any popular microcontroller Adafruit makes adding 24 LED ring)($3). More importantly, they cant be any
gorgeous LEDs and animations to any project size you need! Despite that, it doesn't seem like
extremely easy. anyone has created a guide exactly for doing this.

Unfortunately they are rather expensive, and Adafruit So, when I needed a custom compound ring for my
only sells four sizes. What many makers don't realize working Samus Arm Cannon project (coming soon) I
is NeoPixel is simply Adafruit's branding of a few figured why not document the process.
identical LED chips named WS2812, WS2811 and
SK6812 respectively. All Adafruit does it take the chip In this tutorial I'll show you exactly how I made this
and put it on a circuit board, charging a hefty premium custom ring, and how you can make your own.
alongside. There is nothing wrong with Adafruit doing
this as it makes NeoPixels accessible to everyone,

https://youtu.be/AW7-XBbuZgQ

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 1

Step 1: What You'll Need:

Always Necessary Regardless of Method:

ws2128b LEDs (NeoPixels)

1uf Caps (1 for every two LEDs) (technically optional)
Solder Paste
Flux (recommended but optional)
Hot Air Gun

If you choose to get your board professionally manufactured that is all you need. If, however, you instead choose
to manufacture your board using the toner transfer method you will also need the following components. I
personally did not use the toner transfer method, however my method is outside the scope of this tutorial. I plan to
post a tutorial for how exactly I make PCBs, so watch out for that!

Homemade Board(Toner Transfer Method):

Copper Clad Board

Ferric Chloride
PCB Paper
Laser Printer
Solder Mask Film (Optional for Solder Mask)
UV Source(Optional for Solder Mask)
Transparency (Optional for Solder Stencil)
Dremel Workstation

.Here are all of my files, diptrace libraries, and models.

For those wondering how the price compares ill compare it to an Adafruit 24 LED ring which costs $17+shipping.
Cost per LED: Adafruit: 17/24= $0.70. HyperIon: 7/100= %0.07

Additional Costs:Adafruit: ($4) Shipping, Hyperion: $1 (copper board) + $ 0.50 (Ferric Chloride)(free shipping)

Total: Adafruit: $21, HyperIon: $3.18

As you can see it is far cheaper, 15% the cost. Even if you ignore shipping the HyperIon version comes out to only
$3.18, a massive cost savings compared to $17.

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 2

Step 2: PCB Design Part One! LED Placement

The first step in creating any NeoPixel shape is the For this project I chose to use two rings of radius 34
placement of the LEDs. I created a useful little excel and 24 millimeters. The outer radius had 20 pixels
document which you can use for any design you want and the inner radius had 6.
to follow a radius.
*Bonus* If the CAD program you're using (like
Simply input the number of LEDs, percentage of the DipTrace) doesn't allow for the placement of a circle
ring you want covered, and the radius and it by its center point draw two lines across the diameter
automatically generates the position and angle of your outer radius and your inner radius. Align the
coordinates you should place your LEDs at. You can intersections with each other and redefined that as
then go into most popular DipTrace, ExpressPCB, or your origin. Now you have a perfectly concentric
EaglePCB and insert the coordinates in your board!
components properties. I personally used DipTrace
and you can find all my components and libraries in
the components section.

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 3

Step 3: PCB Design Part Two! Routing and Capacitors

The next step in making your printed circuit board is together whichever way is most convenient. Finally, a
making your connections between your LEDs. copper pour is added. This essentially just causes all
NeoPixels each have one data-input pad and one extra space to be filled by "ground", which has
data-output pad. First create a long chain starting with multiple advantages including being easier to
the pixel closest to where you plan on placing your manufacture at home.
interface pins, going from one pixel's data-out pin to
the next pixel's data-in pin. You will also want to install one roughly .1uf capacitor
between power and ground between each set of two
After that you'll need to route power and ground. The LEDs. The manufacture recommends one per LED
easiest method I have come up with to do this is to however its likely one per two will do and they are
use a combination of circles and semi-circles, four in time consuming to solder. These are not necessary
total, alternating between power and ground as you for the functionality of the device, they simply improve
move outward from the origin. This makes it easy to the lifespan of the LEDs, so they can be ignored if
create a small "jumper" connection as apposed to needed.
manually wiring every since LED together, twice. The
two pairs of circles/semi-circles can then be tied

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 4

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 5
Step 4: Printed Circuit Board Etching!

In order to complete this step you have two options:

Professional Manufacturing:

If you have never made a PCB and have no interest in gaining the skill to do so, this is what I would recommend.
By getting your board professionally manufactured the difficulty of this project goes from high intermediate down to
beginner. Your board will be guaranteed to be high quality, come with a solder mask, and may even come with a
solder stencil.

Homemade PCB:

This is the option for those who really want to improve their skills and enhance their personal capabilities. It is also
the option for those into high pace prototyping and who are really cutting the costs low. The ability to make my own
PCBs has been one of my biggest advantages over the years and I strongly recommend it to anyone who is
interested. I have developed my own method for making PCBs (see my channel for how to do that) which is a little
outside the scope of this tutorial and requires equipment most beginners can't afford. Therefore, instead I
recommend the toner transfer method using a product named PressN'Peel. It is fairly easy and the only equipment
you'll need that not necessarily everyone will have is a cheap laser printer. Check out clacktronics-uk's tutorial
for more details!

The basic process is as follows:

1. Clean your copper cad board.

2. Print your design onto the Peel n' Stick using a laser printer.
3. Iron the design from the Peel n' stick onto your copper board
4. Place the board in ferric chloride until etched.
5. Clean off the toner

Solder Mask (Optional):

A solder mask is a covering that protects your board in all places but where solder needs to go. This makes it
slightly easier to solder but more importantly dramatically improves the ascetics of the board. If you did not get
your board manufactured you may want to add one, but its not strictly necessary. Personally I find this process
incredibly easy and highly recommend it. Again, I'm only going to go over the basic process so you know what
you're getting into. Check out cpeniche's tutorial for more details!

The process is as follows:

1. Print your boards pad design onto a piece of transparency.

2. Peel and stick the solder mask film onto your etched board.
3. Iron/laminate the film until it sticks well.
4. Align the transparency with the board and tape down.
5. Expose the film to a UV source (nail polish dryers work)
6. Clean off the unexposed pads
7. Expose till cured.

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 6

Step 5: Solder Paste Stencil! (OPTIONAL)

If you have access to a laser cutter consider In my opinion they are actually far superior as they
manufacturing yourself a solder paste stencil. They are flexible and transparent, making them far easier
allow you to avoid the tedious effort of slowly putting to use than the stainless steel versions.
a dab of solder paste on each individual pin. Simply
load the pad design into your laser cutter software I was not the one to come up with this method but I
and cut it out of a piece of printer transparency. I have have yet to see anyone document it online, which i
also found that a laminator sheet works just as well. find surprising.
This works incredibly well and produces a layer
almost exactly as thick as the professional versions.

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 7

Step 6: Board Shaping

To bring the board into its final shape you should fiberglass around the edge of the board, Right before
begin by cutting off as much as you can safely with a you grind to that point the last remaining bit of copper
dremel cutoff wheel. I used a dremel workstation will release. When the last bit of copper releases
setup horizontally with the blade above a cardboard don't grind anymore. By relying on that sign it allows
box as a makeshift tabble saw. you to make a very consistent and circular piece
(assuming you didn't mess up the etching like i did
You can then begin drilling out the central hole. Use and put the pattern too close to a wall). Finish the
the largest drill big you have for your dremel and outside diameter this same way.
slowly "Swiss cheese" your way around until you've
cut out a big enough section to fit in a grinding bit. You should also drill out the holes for the data in, 5v,
You can then use that grinding bit to bring the board and ground connections. A small dremel bit (.7mm)
to its final shape. works great for this.

The way the board etches there is a thin ring of just

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 8

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 9
Step 7: Soldering!

In my opinion this is a great project for a person who molten it actually pulls the component into place
wants to learn how to get into surface mount almost every time.
soldering. All of the important components are large,
heat resistant, and the pads are spaced far apart from If you're too insecure about your soldering skills you
each other. Its actually very difficult to mess up and is can either change the 0603 capacitors to a larger
a great way to build confidence in surface mount format or skip them altogether. They increase the
soldering without having to mess around with teeny lifespan of the NeoPixel but unless you're using this
tiny components. as a light source its unlikely you will ever see one
burn out. That being said I strongly recommend that
In order to solder your NeoPixels onto your board you you install them, simply because the skill is valuable
first need to deposit a teeny, tiny amount of solder to have.
paste to each pad using either a syringe or a stencil.
If you have a stencil simply spread a blob of solder In terms of actually soldering, it couldn't be easier.
paste around the stencil like a thin layer of butter on Simply spend about two minutes preheating your
toast until all the pads are covered. You don't need as board with a hot air gun then focus more heavily area
much as you'd think, just keep spreading. by area until everything reflows. You can tell when it
has reflown because the solder turns shinny and
Next you'll want to place your components on your typically the component does a little "wiggle" into
board. As long as each pad is touching its relevant place .
blob of solder then you are close enough. Solder
paste has this magical property where when it turns

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 10

Step 8: Interface and Done!

You are able to interface with this board exactly like check out this tutorial: The Magic of NeoPixels.
you'd interface with a normal NeoPixel product. Start
by plugging the power/ground pins of your NeoPixel I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial. If you liked this
ring into the 5v/Gnd pins of your chosen project you might also like my upcoming DIY Flexible
microcontroller. Connect the last pin (data) to any NeoPixel Strip project. Subscribe so you don't miss
digital pin. Then simply download the NeoPixel it!
library, set your number of LEDs (26 in this case),
your chosen digital pin, and start programming your Please vote for me in the Colors of the Rainbow
animations! contest!!

The strandtest example code is a great place to get Stay Awesome

started. It includes many great examples and
effectively demonstrates what NeoPixels are capable -HyperIon
of. If you need more details on how to use NeoPixels

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 11

 https://youtu.be/AW7-XBbuZgQ

Thank you. Nice project.. :)

Thanks! :)

Custom NeoPixel Rings From Scratch!: Page 12