18. Project development

Completed Tasks

Several milestones have been achieved in the project:

  • Design of the entire guitar has been finalized.
  • The guitar has been machined using CNC cutting technology.
  • Minor components such as the lid, nut, and pickup supports have been designed and 3D printed.
  • All materials, including purchased and self-made components, have been assembled to construct the guitar.
  • The base guitar functionality has been tested, confirming good sound quality with adjustable volume and tone through the respective potentiometers.
  • The PCB design has been completed and produced.
  • The SP32c2 microcontroller and pins have been soldered onto the PCB.
  • The microphone and LEDs have been individually programmed, tested, and integrated to ensure proper functionality both separately and in conjunction with each other.
  • The PCB has been fully assembled, integrating it with the guitar's electronics and positioning the LEDs around the instrument.
  • Final testing of the completed guitar has confirmed that the microphone effectively detects guitar sounds, triggering the LEDs to illuminate accordingly.
These achievements mark significant progress towards completing the project objectives, demonstrating successful integration of design, fabrication, electronics, and functionality testing.

Tasks to Complete

There are several tasks remaining to finalize the project. I need to thoroughly document the processes involved in crafting the guitar and developing the PCB. Additionally, addressing the issue of fret buzz in certain areas of the guitar is a priority. This involves fine-tuning the assembly and potentially adjusting the fretboard alignment or string height. Furthermore, I plan to review and optimize the code for the PCB to enhance its performance and ensure smooth operation of the integrated components.

What Did I Get Right?

I successfully executed the machining and 3D printing processes for the guitar parts, ensuring they functioned as intended. The assembled and soldered base electronics enabled seamless guitar playability without issues. The microphone and NeoPixels system effectively responded to sound from the guitar, illuminating it accordingly. This successful integration not only showcased the functionality of the components but also enhanced the overall performance and visual appeal of the instrument.

Areas for Improvement

In hindsight, I realized several aspects that could have been better addressed during the project. After machining, I encountered challenges due to inaccuracies in the 3D assembly process. This oversight led to difficulties in assembling the guitar body with the arm, and the fretboard was not properly aligned, resulting in noticeable fret buzz during play. Additionally, the microphone amplified a significant amount of ambient noise and exhibited a noticeable delay in transmitting signals to the LEDs, affecting the synchronization of visual effects with the guitar's performance.

What Will Happen During Operation?

As the guitar is played, the vibrations and sounds produced will be picked up by the sound sensor. When the noise level reaches a predefined threshold, the sound sensor will signal the XIAO-SP32c2 microcontroller. In response, the microcontroller will command the NeoPixel strip to illuminate, creating a captivating visual display that synchronizes with the guitar's rhythm and intensity.

What I Learned

Designing both a guitar and a custom PCB to integrate a sound sensor with a NeoPixel strip via a XIAO-SP32c2 presented substantial technical challenges that bolstered my skills in both mechanical craftsmanship and electronics. Crafting the guitar demanded precision in material selection and structural integrity, while the PCB design required meticulous planning for sensor integration and LED control. The coordination between the sound sensor and NeoPixels posed challenges in signal processing and synchronization, yet ultimately provided a dynamic visual representation of sound that enhanced the guitar's performance.