Introduction: 3x3x3 Red LED Cube

About: I'm engineer, I like to design programming things with Arduino hardware and pure electronics too.

This cube only requires 27 LEDs and 3 resistors.   For this project, I'm including a program where you can modify; that is, adding or eliminating steps once you identify the place of each LED and so doing the changes that you want.  The project is excellent if you want to learn about Arduino's code.  However, if you wish utilize the code exactly how it comes, you can do it by uploading simply the program in your Arduino hardware.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKMC5jTFz4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQP8-VR3U7o

Step 1: List of Materials

27     Red LEDs of 3mm
3       Resistors of 200 ohm
1       SHIELD,ARDUINO PROTO PCB,REV3 (Jameco Part: 2152438)
1       40-pin male headers pins 

Step 2: Project's Diagram

Follow the diagram of your project so that you can finish it correctly and without problem.  Remember that the pins 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, A4, A5, and A0 will be connected to the base of 9 LEDs of your cube while A1 to bottom layer, A2 to middle layer, and A3 to top layer of this project.

Step 3: What You Need to Construct the Cube's Layers

For constructing the cube's layers, I utilized a small box by drawing on it a square of 1.25" x 1.25" and then can divide that square in four parts and so  obtaining the nine places for the nine LEDs that I would want to put and solder them.

Step 4: Testing the LEDs

Before using the LEDs in your project, test them. 

Step 5: Constructing the Cube's Layers

Once you tested the LEDs, assemble the first layer of the cube by taking in account what you are going to do.  That is, you have to connect the cathodes of all the nine LEDs only for forming the first layer by leaving free the anodes of each LED.   When finishing the first layer, you can continue with the following until you complete a total of three layers.  

Step 6: Constructing the Cube

Once you have finished the three layers of the cube, assemble them by joining anode with anode only and leave free the anode of each LED for next step.

Step 7: Insert the Ends of the Cube in the PCB

Insert the terminals of your cube in the PCB for soldering them, but remember the amount of ends: nine.

Step 8: Prepare the Pins

Take the 40-pin male headers pins and cut two parts of 1x6 and reserve for later.

Step 9: Insert the Pins Reserved to Your Arduino Platform

Insert the pins reserved to your arduino hardware; the first 1x6 pins to the outputs 2 to 7 while the other 1x6 pins tp A0 - A5. 

Step 10: Mount the PCB With the Cube on Your Arduino

Mount the PCB with your cube on the arduino platform so that you can match the PCB with the pins previously inserted and so you can solder that pins. Besides, you need to identify each of the ends of your cube so that you can connect them correctly to pins that you are soldering. 

Step 11: Dismount the PCB

Dismount the PCB so that you can continue with the rest of the connections to your project and remember that you should connect from A1 - A3 to your bottom, middle, and top layer of the cube respectively.

Step 12: Complete Your Project