How To Make a Color Light based on Bluno Beetle ( The smallest Arduino bluetooth 4.0 (BLE) )

I. Materials and Video Demonstration

Materials

- Bluno Beetle ( The smallest Arduino bluetooth 4.0 (BLE) )

- Wireless charging battery

- LSM303 Breakout Board - Tilt Compensated Compass

- Digital RGB LED Strip 60 LED - (3m)(weatherproof)

- Light Disc with 7 SMD RGB LED

II. Overview

3D printer generally prints out static models. These static models may be dull sometimes. This document aims to discuss how to make these static models “alive”.

3D printing technology is combined with technology of electronics. By use of breakpoint continuous printing function of 3D printer, the designed and assembled general electronic circuit system is placed into the model. After the model printing is completed, the whole circuit system is “embedded” into the model. The functions of circuit system are extended through wireless programming and wireless remote control, etc. The color light is taken as an application example to describe the overall idea.

III. Application Background

A unit of high-performance 3D printer prints out very beautiful models. However, such models are static. Prototype making is the main function of 3D printer at present.

This application aims to explore how to change a static model into a dynamic one and then become a toy accessible to everyone, and to extend the application scope of printer. A series of operations are required in order to incorporate technology of electronics into the original 3D printing technology. First of all, the precondition is a piece of battery with wireless charging function to ensure the embedded circuit system operates durably without affecting the model appearance.

In this exploration, the Bluetooth technology is combined with the wireless charging model to drive LED to carry out the most fundamental test and application. If proved feasible, more sensors and actuators may be driven, e.g., a series of sensors or actuators such as touch sensor and motor. 

This test will design a toy Iron Man Power Supply which can be worn on the chest as accessory or on the hand, to simulate the flickering of launching weapon by use of 6-axis sensor.
 

Meanwhile, our current whendo is utilized for programming to get more effects.

IV. Introduction on Making of Color Light

Mechanical Part:

According to the design drawing, we draw all part drawings of the whole color light. The overall part drawing is as shown below:

Each part is introduced below:

Part I: upper shield (Such part is used to decorate the lamp column, allowing the light emitted by the lamp to come out from the clearance between parts. You will see the dazzling effect on the video. PS: DF in the middle is clearly an ad. Don’t forget to report the post host. Thank you!)

Part II: Lamp column (Such part is the container of lamp. Note that such part implements the function of “embedding” into the electronic circuit by use of breakpoint continuous printing function during printing!)

Part III: Lamp holder (The installation between the lamp holder and lamp column is contact type. The lamp column can be directly inserted into the lamp holder, which is easy to take out the lamp column)

Part IV: Internal support (used to fix the RGB lamp panel and support the printing materials on the surface of lamp column. In this case, the printing materials will not fall due to interior suspension when the surface of lamp column is printed.)

Circuit part:

According to the parts introduced above, we will build the interior circuit of color light as shown below:

Three ports of RGB lamp panel are connected to the port No. 5 on the bluno beetle, and the lamp band interface is connected with the port No. 3 on the beetle. (6-axis electric compass LSM303DLH is not used. It may be connected to the serial port on the back of beetle. This module is not involved in the making, so LSM303DLH is not illustrated herein).

There are limited interfaces on the control panel of bluno beetle and the making also requires connecting PWM output pin, so three interfaces of RGB have to be welded together. In this case, ports are saved and the lamp can be controlled by PWN. However, the function of colorful display has to be given away. Nevertheless, those who are interested at it may select other control panel, because the principle is the same. Meanwhile, you may also connect other sensors. Those who are interested may have a try. The overall circuit welded is as shown below:

V. Notes

1. When the lamp column is printed, the function of breakpoint continuous printing is used (You may set the distance from the breakpoint to the bottom in the software. The distance parameter of the breakpoint of this part is 42 mm). As shown below, when reaching the continuous printing surface, you only need to embed the electronic hardware made
and then print continuously.


2. In the making, the idea of “embedding” is applied to combine 3D printer and electronic device, so you shall note the design of switch (no switch is considered in this making... Awkward!) 

3. In battery, we will contact the manufacturer and require it to manufacture the battery as soon as possible. In the later period, the battery will be launched in the shopping mall, so we suggest using other battery in replacement during this period. Of course, the model also needs to be changed;
 

At last, some color photos are attached to check the effect: