NEW VIDEO! Making a "LIVING ART" LED Desk LAMP

In this video I show how to make a Modustrial-designed DIY “Living Art” LED lamp from plywood and an LED matrix.  

The LEDs in the lamp are controlled by an Arduino Nano that creates colorful moving patterns, aka, “living art.”  However, it is also very practical for use as a desk lamp, table lamp, or bedside lamp, since an LED push button allows you to switch from the living-art mode to normal white-light modes, and a red-nightlight mode.   

I made three versions of this lamp – two out of bamboo plywood, and one out of walnut plywood.  You could use any type of plywood you like to build the lamp.

The electronics were designed to be very simple.  It can be built with NO SOLDERING.

To see the finished walnut version of the lamp, FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/modustrialmaker/  || @modustrialmaker

PARTS FOR THE BUILD:

• 16x16 LED Matrix: http://amzn.to/2BgIcsj
• Arduino Nano: (pre-soldered) http://amzn.to/2H0h6bS
• Arduino Nano Screw Terminal Shield: http://amzn.to/2FZwy6y (pre-soldered)
• 5V Momentary LED push button: http://amzn.to/2CLbu2E OR https://goo.gl/Cn1iDy
• JST Connectors: http://amzn.to/2ALve4j
• Semi-transparent white acrylic sheet: https://goo.gl/YV4X81
• Female Power Jack: http://amzn.to/2H3oN0P (no solder) || http://amzn.to/2ziyuEB (solder)
• Lever-nut Wire Connectors: http://amzn.to/2BhMtvM
• 5V power supply: http://amzn.to/2zgiGSJ


ARDUINO NANO CODE FOR THE LAMP: https://github.com/modustrialmaker/Living_Art_LED_Matrix_Lamp

ELECTRONICS TOOLS

• My favorite solder: http://amzn.to/2CNgjIF
• Quality Soldering Iron: http://amzn.to/2CKHoMC
• Blue Soldering Mat: http://amzn.to/2DboPCd

OTHER TOOLS I USE:

• Tap Drill Bit (for threaded holes): http://amzn.to/2Fm7V4A
• RZ dust mask: http://amzn.to/2wM8F1t
• Bosch 18V cordless circular saw: http://amzn.to/2wcDgnN
• Bosch 18V cordless Drill & Impact Driver Kit: http://amzn.to/2BCI753
• Dewalt Table Saw w/ 32” Rip Capacity: http://amzn.to/2yQd2Fy
• Japanese Flush Cut Hand Saw: http://amzn.to/2yRa1Fd
• Dewalt 12” Miter Saw: http://amzn.to/2yQRgS6
• Forstner Bits: http://amzn.to/2Bgv863

"Marble" Concrete Table wins Grand Prize in Instructables / Woodcraft Furniture Contest

I'm excited to announce that my concrete "marble" table with shou sugi ban base won the grand prize in the Instructables Furniture Contest sponsored by Woodcraft.  Thanks to everyone who voted for me!

Here is a link to the details and a gallery with all of the prize winners: 

https://www.woodcraft.com/blog_entries/chicago-maker-wins-furniture-contest

And of course, if you haven't checked out the video, now is the time!

 

Making a Waterfall Countertop with LED River Inlay || DIY Concrete (GFRC) || Mancave Makeover Ep. 1

New build video is up on my YouTube channel.  This video explains how to make a one-piece DIY concrete waterfall countertop with an inlaid river of flowing LEDs that cascades over the waterfall edge (using neopixel LED strips).   

This is the first of two videos for a mancave makeover at a friend's house.  Part 2 will be uploaded within the next week, and will show how to make and install a reclaimed wood feature wall with floating LED TV panel, and the installation of the cabinets.

The countertop is made from a glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) concrete mix, which is pre-cast in a melamine form.  I made the mix from scratch (recipe links are below).  I mixed 280 lbs of the dry materials (including powdered pigment) all at once, so the color would be consistent.  I used 40 lbs for the face coat, and the remaining in batches for the back coat with glass fibers.

I used an off-the-shelf LED controller that has MUSIC REACTIVE modes, chasing modes, and solid color modes, with an RF remote, to control the WS2812 LED strips.  The LEDs are covered by a smoke grey transparent acrylic sheet, which is inlaid so it sits flush with the concrete countertop.

MM-Inspired Build - Chris Gagnon's DIY Pendant Double-Ring Light

Chris Gagnon shared a video documenting the build process for a double ring light, which he indicates was inspired by Rings of Saturn light.  I think it came out pretty cool - well done Chris!

Here is what Chris said about the project: 

“I wanted to put my own twist on it by using segmentation. I have always been interested in wood segmentation and the projects that you can make with it. This project is inexpensive and requires very little tools. All your friends will be so impressed when you start making things using this new skill you are gonna learn here. One thing I want you to take away from this video is that you don’t need to spend hours building a fancy jig for your table saw to do perfect segmentation projects and I am going to show you how right now. so lets get started.”

And, in case you haven't seen it, check out the original video for my Rings of Saturn light.

Bluetooth Speaker Build Featured on Adafruit, Arduino.cc, and Maker Update

The Bluetooth LED speaker build was a passion project for me, so I'm excited to see it getting some positive press.

Check out a great overview of the project on Maker Update's weekly maker news show, where it was the project of the week:

 

The speaker was also feature on Adafruit's blog and Arduino.cc

Adafruit link

Arduino.cc link 

 

I also uploaded a full written Instructable which has more details on the project that weren't in the video.

Instructable link

 

Lastly, if you haven't watched the video itself yet, what are you waiting for?  It is my favorite project yet, so I hope you like it!

 

NEW BUILD VIDEO -- DIY Bluetooth Speaker w/ Reactive LED Matrix

My new build video is up -- check it out!

In this video, I show how I designed and built a Bluetooth Speaker with an integrated LED matrix. The LED matrix includes a number of different visualization modes, including a fireplace mode, an abstract “moving art” mode, and several that react to the music via a microphone inside of the speaker box. I haven’t seen any other product designed for the home, which marries sight and sound in this way.

The idea for this project came about in a somewhat unorthodox way. I wanted to build something for several friends expecting newborns. I wanted a gift that would help their children develop neurologically, and a gift that they wouldn’t outgrow. Having done a number of LED projects, and having some woodworking experience, I came up with the idea to integrate an audio-reactive LED matrix in a Bluetooth speaker.

The speaker box involved a fair amount of woodworking. The outside of the box is made from rough curly maple lumber, which I milled to 3/4". The front and back panels are made from MDF. The finish of the curly maple was inspired by electric guitar finishes, like those seen on some of my favorite Paul Reed Smith guitars.

Internally, I am using a 2x15w Dayton Audio bluetooth amplifier board for the audio, and an Arduino Mega to control 16x16 LED matrix (WS2812 LEDs). A small electret microphone inside of the speaker box detects the music that is playing, and provides a signal the Arduino can use to create reactive display on the LEDs.

The design also allows for mechanical adjustment to entirely change the look of the LED matrix; from pixelated to abstract. I am particularly proud of this feature, as I haven’t seen it anywhere else before, and the effect is very cool (it is shown towards the end of the video). The LED matrix is mounted to a baffle behind the white semi-transparent acrylic diffuser, and by twisting a thumb screw on the back of the speaker, you can move the LED baffle towards or away from the diffuser. The thumb screw thus allows you to go from a pixelated display (where individual LEDs are visible), to an abstract display, where the LEDs blur together to form moving art, with an almost 3D-like effect.