There are other Instructables about building LED cubes, this one is different for several reasons:
1. It's built with a low number of off-the-shelf components and hooks up directly to the Arduino.
2. A clear, easy to reproduce circuit diagram is provided with plenty of photos.
3. A unique approach is used for the software which makes programming the cube easier and more expressive.
Parts needed:
- 1 Perfboard
- 3 NPN Transistors (2N2222, 2N3904, BC547, etc.)
- 12 Resistors (~220 ohms and ~10k ohms)
- 13 Headers (male or female)
- 27 LEDs
- Wire
1. It's built with a low number of off-the-shelf components and hooks up directly to the Arduino.
2. A clear, easy to reproduce circuit diagram is provided with plenty of photos.
3. A unique approach is used for the software which makes programming the cube easier and more expressive.
Parts needed:
- 1 Perfboard
- 3 NPN Transistors (2N2222, 2N3904, BC547, etc.)
- 12 Resistors (~220 ohms and ~10k ohms)
- 13 Headers (male or female)
- 27 LEDs
- Wire
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Signing UpStep 1: Prepare the LEDs
This step largely follows the LED Cube 4x4x4 but we'll be building a 3x3x3 cube instead. A cube of this size is about as big as it gets without introducing additional circuitry and complexity. We'll need a total of 27 LEDs that will be grouped into three sets of nine.
Each set of nine LEDs will share a common connection amongst their cathodes (negative leads). I'll refer to each of these sets as a "level". Each of the nine LEDs on a level is connected to the corresponding LED on the other two levels through their anodes (positive leads). These will be referred to as "columns". If that didn't make sense it will become self explanatory as we build the cube.
To start we'll use a drill to create a jig out of a small piece of scrap wood. The jig will hold the LEDs in place while we solder them. I decided to space the holes around 5/8 of an inch apart (~15 mm) but the exact distance isn't critical. The hole should have a tight fit around the LED since we don't want them to move around while soldering.
Once the jig is done we're going to bend the cathode of each LED in a 90 degree angle. The cathode is identifiable in three ways: 1) It's the shorter leg, 2) It's on the flat side of a round LED, 3) it's connected to the larger piece inside the LED. Make sure you bend the cathode in the same direction for all of the LEDs.
Now we're ready to begin soldering.
Each set of nine LEDs will share a common connection amongst their cathodes (negative leads). I'll refer to each of these sets as a "level". Each of the nine LEDs on a level is connected to the corresponding LED on the other two levels through their anodes (positive leads). These will be referred to as "columns". If that didn't make sense it will become self explanatory as we build the cube.
To start we'll use a drill to create a jig out of a small piece of scrap wood. The jig will hold the LEDs in place while we solder them. I decided to space the holes around 5/8 of an inch apart (~15 mm) but the exact distance isn't critical. The hole should have a tight fit around the LED since we don't want them to move around while soldering.
Once the jig is done we're going to bend the cathode of each LED in a 90 degree angle. The cathode is identifiable in three ways: 1) It's the shorter leg, 2) It's on the flat side of a round LED, 3) it's connected to the larger piece inside the LED. Make sure you bend the cathode in the same direction for all of the LEDs.
Now we're ready to begin soldering.
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is it possible to transform your 3x3x3 led cube to 7x7x7 one. I try this and the result is not like I would! My output are not in order, how can I write them : first line (left to right) second line (left to right or right to left) etc...
and when a led sould be on it's be of and inversely, is it normal?
thanks
can you please help me in connecting the wires from the led to the the ports on an adruino?
i have very little knowledge on which port to connect thee pins from the led to the adruino
First I wanted to write my own library, but am not so fit yet... So I try to understand Yours and am playing around with Your code.
In the function LedCube::lightDrop I found an error since the column on Pin 10 never lights up. The parameter where You call lightPulse has to be (r-1, col, wait)
and not lightPulse(r-1, col-1, wait);
and I also wrote a function called lightRise so You can do a random column rise:
void LedCube::lightRise(byte col, unsigned int wait)
{
for(byte r=0; r<=levels; r++)
{
lightPulse(r-1, col, wait);
}
}
Please try the latest on Github:
https://github.com/gzip/arduino-ledcube
And feel free to submit a pull request for the new method (or the bug if it's still present).
code is inefficient as the arrays are defined each time the loop runs, this is just to move them through the "planes" with a bit of work, this can be rectified.
some coding knowledge may be required.
Arduino LED Cube code
hi,, thank u for your efforts,, i did every thing right but when i download the library an error occurred :
1-
at LedCube cube(SIZE, levelPins, colPins); i get this error :
'LedCube' doesn't name a type
Thank you in advance :)
and then get these jump wires
http://unmannedtechshop.co.uk/Cables-Connectors/Jumpers?product_id=115
Cant wait to get going on this!!
Cheers