Seed Pixel Matrix using Bunnings Sheet

After trying something else that didn't work too my liking this evening, my next approach will be printing a heap of the supports and putting a magnet on each.

PXL_20240919_115208841.jpg
 
Kent - You know when you send me photos like this im gunna want a copy
 
Nojoy said:
Because I was putting it up against the garage door it caused a lot of light blooming as the pixels were at times more facing the door then than the street, and I wasnt happy with the effect. I could still make out the image, but it wasnt as uniform as I would have been happy with
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Side matrix is 4 wire drop seeds with return wire, not zip tied. You can see the dimming when the strings turn. The garage door and roof are zip tied every 10th pixel or so. Some work to do to clean up the lines, but happier with that luminescence
 
Indigogyre said:
Now I am wondering if you could 3d print a small clip to slide into the channel to keep the seed facing the right way, maybe put a clip in every so many pixels to just sort of keep them pointed correct.
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Did you ever experiment with this idea?
I'm about to slide pixels into 1/2 a sheet but they want to face down.
 
Kent said:
After trying something else that didn't work too my liking this evening, my next approach will be printing a heap of the supports and putting a magnet on each.

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Hi Kent,

I am new to AusChristmas but been lurking around here for a few years and running a show since about 2018. I have been thinking about adding some matrices to my show next year consisting of a couple vertical column matrices on each side of the garage door and a matrix on the door. I came across your work here and it occurs to me that some ideas I had for experimenting with seeds using a PCB as a header are very similar. The use of the 4p4c connectors is quite interesting and something that had not occurred to me. I purchased some 4 wire seeds from Ray Wu to evaluate for this purpose and would like to ask how difficult it is to get the wire into the connectors? I have some 8p8c (ethernet connectors) and noticed with pitch of the wire is not quite the same. Do you have a public repo for the pcb designs I could have a look at?

Have you any further information regarding how this worked out for you this year?
 
I'm really happy with how it turned out. Here are two videos I took of it tonight:
photos.app.goo.gl

2 new items by Kent Williams

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl

Hopefully I can get a proper writeup together some time in the next few weeks.

Ultimately I'm looking to release the controllers one way or another so that people who have enough knowledge to make their own custom carrier boards can do so without having to worry about the "fancy" / more difficult stuff like surface mount components and Ethernet.
 
Hi Kent, thanks for the video and you did a great job. I also would be interested in getting some more details about your setup and the bits and pieces that you used.
 
Nice job with the matrix, Kent. Are those "firefly" esp32 pixel controllers available out in the wild?
 
Keny just had a closer look at your videos and a few more questions -

  1. Are those plastic alignment strips bought from someone or did you 3d print them.?
  2. The green board with the Chebnnel1, Chennel 2 markings etc - where did you get them from? I notice they have a marking of KR Lights garage matrix, but google doesn't find them.
 
after each strand is in the right way feed a thin bit of plastic behind (imagine a straw to push the pixels forward)

edit, thinking about it if I were to go full crazy I'd 3d print some grids that have the channel and a second matching grid that fits over the top of the first to hold everything in place (and allow easy separation for repairs) then for bonus points make the grids interlock so you can make it as big as you want

so build the thing face down, lay the seeds in.. when it's spot on screw the backing down to clamp in place and off you go
 
The Firefly controllers are only available via the five finger discount method from this garage door at this stage (which I can't condone ;)) I think he has plans to make them more readily available in 2025.

Edit: he 3d printed all the plastic parts, no doubt he'll share those designs when the time comes
 
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