LED Cube 8x8x8

Step 30 Build the controller: layout

We took out the biggest type of PCB we had available (9x15cm) and started experimenting with different board layouts. It soon became clear that cramming all the components onto one board wasn't a good solution. Instead we decided to separate the latch array and power supply part of the circuit and place it on a separate board. A ribbon cable transfers data lines between the two boards.

Choosing two separate boards was a good decision. The latch array took up almost all the space of the circuit board. There wouldn't have been much space for the micro controller and other parts.

You may not have the exact same circuit boards as we do, or may want to arrange your components in a different way. Try to place all the components on your circuit board to see which layout best fits your circuit board.

Comments

[r.mulder]

My PCB's have just arrived. Since I have some PCB's spare, drop me a note if you are interested. Photo's are attached, some compontents are still missing on the photo.
It are two printed circuits, 10 x 8cm, stackable, real neat.

[r.mulder]

The boards keep refining whilst they remain functional the same. After the green and blue I now have a bunch of orange/red ones. The latest one have the orientation of transistors in both TO18/72 and TO92 housing.

[bdmsoft]

Hi I wold like to have PCB how to get it ..

[r.mulder]

Hi, either send me a DM via this website, or write me an email to roel.mulder at gmail.com and I'll send you the info.

[r.mulder]

As Bruce pointed out, the transistors on the right photo are orientated incorrect, see picture by Bruce below.

[dabamrak]

Ah from you I bought the spare :-). Tnx for the refund on the shippingcosts! Today I received my order from Futurlec and I'm very sattisfied. So now the work starts!

[martin31c]

So, any news on the PCB boards?

[rclay701]

Sent PM re PCBs

Rick

[martin31c]

yes im interested please let me know i can get my hands on them
[e-mail]

[sortega2]

hey i'm really interested in the PCB's how much are you selling them for and is it possible for me to buy em from you with all the components already soldered to them ?

[r.mulder]

An earlier reply seems to have disappeared. Please drop me an email to roel.mulder at gmail.com for the boards. I'm not going to solder you the LED matrix though.

[qwertyboy]

Just wondering, but where did you order your boards from?

[r.mulder]

Well, I took the trouble to develop them myself, based on the design here. A PCB is kinda neat in comparison to an experimentation board.

[lazardj]

for how much are you selling them? and where are you from? :)

[wicked_cash]

heyy I need led cube codes, who is that ?

[martindeakin]

Hi i am very intrested in doing this most awsome project.
However i also can not download or open the files please could you send me them
[e-mail]

[saintamen]

hi, i' am also trying to download this project and i simply can't , i belive it is a matter of pro account. please someone send it to me ! i am beggin'

[e-mail]

[jwestenberg]

What files are you trying to open?
Most files you download get a .tmp extension, you should change this to the correct extension which is displayed on the website where you download the file.
Hope this helps!

[martindeakin]

Hi its the .sch files. I tried using eagle software to no avail please help

[jwestenberg]

first go to step 30

next right click the link to the first .sch file

click 'download as'

you can now select the location where you would like to save the file

the filename will be something like FAUI50KGICYB6CJ.tmp as default

change this to the filename that the file should be. for the first file this is multiplexer_board.sch and for the second avr_board.sch

be sure the filename ends with .sch and not .tmp !!!

now open the eagle program

click file->open->schematic and choose one of the files you downloaded.


Hope this helps, I do not know how to explain this any clearer.

Good luck!!!

[hockeyscott22]

I need the schematics printed so I can read them... I cant view these??? Can someone tell me how to view/print them???

[triumphtotty]

Hi there. What are you trying to view them in? Getting them is as simple as (a) download the two files. (b) rename them to have .sch extensions and meaningful filenames. (c) download EAGLE (freeware) and open them up. I hope this helps you out.

[tarPancake]

The avr picture schematic does not show vcc and ground on the max232 chip. I am assuming these pins are 16, and 15, respectivly. Is that correct?

[louige99]

yes pretty much, the same applies for the two missing pins on all the latches. just check the datasheet for all your parts before you use them to make sure you know what pin is vcc or gnd. its good practise to do check anyway so you dont make a silly error with pin positions

[martin31c]

I have tried but still not able to open the multiplexer and the avr . Even after changing to sch file after download , can some one help

[alahamm]

Hi Martin Did You open the files? Do you have EAGLE installed?
Please, let INSTRUCtABLES know if and when you solve any problem.

[triumphtotty]

Do you have EAGLE installed?  It's availabe from Cadsoft (cadsoftusa.com I think)  Open EAGLE, the select "Open Schematic" and find the .sch files on your computer.

[Bardaky]

im not quite sure, but the resistors next to the 8 ic's are the ones for the led's (in my case 140 ohms, because i have 5 V and led's with 2.2V and 20 mA) and the 1k resistors are for the transistor array?

[ristdaro]

I used a value of 220 ohms for the transistor base resistors which remember are wired in parallel equates to 110 ohms. I also used 4k7 for the pull up resistors on the cathode layers

[Bardaky]

and for the resistors next to the 8 ic's?

[Bardaky]

ok, i just found that the resistors next to the transistors are 1k ones, but i still need the ones next to the ic's

[ristdaro]

The resistors next to transistors are not 1k that is an error they should be 220 ohm

as for the 64 resistors next to the 8 IC's their value is dependent on the type of led you choose in your construction

use the formula source voltage (5v) - forward voltage (3v) / forward current (0.02A) = (100 ohms)

the values in brackets are from my leds just substitute them with the values from your led's when you purchase them

[Bardaky]

yeah, as i said before, my leds need 140 ohms
thanks for the information with the resistors next to the transistors

[shredape]

This bold line that is drawn on the shift register schematic, does it represent one bus that is connected to half of each register's pins? In this case it wouldn't matter which pins are connected, thus having all D pins connected to each other
-or-
is it a sort of 'abbreviation' that has each pin from the ribbon header correspond to the representative pin on the register? In this case pin 14 would correspond to 1D and pin 6 to OC.

Thanks

[louige99]

the latter, it means all the 1 pins are connected in a line and so forth for pins 2-9. if you look at a later step you will see a picture of the underside with lots of blue wires which is what the thick line represents. took a while myself to figure out what it meant but you pretty much had it

[POMAHbl4]

Hi, i can't download this files. Who can send it to my e-mail: [e-mail] .Thanks

[TechNotes]

I will. The files are coming to you. :)

[matiRLC]

Hi, can you send me the files too? [e-mail] .
Thanks!

[TechNotes]

Sure thing!

[Alejandro91aris]

Hi, can you send me the files too? [e-mail]
Thanks! ^^