Rachel Legerski - Fab Academy 2015

Output Devices

Week Assignment

The assignment for this week is to add an output device to a microcontroller board you've designed and program it to do something.

I chose Neil's charlieplexing board. I modified it by using 10 LEDs instead of 20.I plan to use this board on my final project. It will help me create the twinkling stars in the sky of my artwork. I started by dropping all the same components that were on Neil's board. I labelled and connected the components.

Struggles

  1. This week, the challenge is soldering 10 LEDs. I have to get them right because they are polarity sensitive.
  2. I want to make the board bigger than Neil's design so that the lights will fill the sky.
  3. Trying to decide if I should make it on a fiberglass board or use vinyl.
  4. If I make the "hard" version of the board, how will I place it within the frame to make the stars twinkle?

    5. Persistence and Success

    1. Designing the board was not difficult. Once I placed the 10 LEDs, I just clicked and dragged them farther apart so that they wouldn't look like rigid arrays.
    2. Soldering was easier than I thought it would be. The LEDs have a dark line on them that helps you place them correctly.
    3. The programming was still a challenge but that is getting easier, too.

      4. My light board:

      Programming screen:

      My finished product:

      Going Forward:

      1. I am very happy with my board and the way the LEDs light. If I have time, I plan to create the same board in vinyl. There never seems to be enough time, though!
      2. I plan on using this board and connecting it to a light sensor or push button to activate the twinkiling lights in the final project.
      3. Thinking ahead to next year and my students, I may try this project with small groups. It seems too overwhelming to do with 25 students at a time!

        4. Project Files: