Anamatronics circuit builders?

[Gigatrix]

OOhh, I like that, an autographic. the scale wont be buggered by the perspective. I must say I cheated a bit and had a copy of the original files sent to me by the designer. I just have to scale them correctly and so far that's been a paperclip I stole from work.

 

[Gigatrix]

Ok wow, sorry. yeh that is a lot to take in but I see what you are saying. I don't want to get the strips because they don't sit well in the hole but the dots on the neo site look good. ok so you know I'm famous for my sugestions but for the servos, https://www.adafruit.com/products/1411, this can also control LED's so I can use 6 channels for servos and have 10 channels for led's but I will only need 4.

 

[xl97]

whether the neopixel (LEDS) are in a strip or broken out to a PCB in a certain arrangement.. makes NO DIFFERENCE... they will still need the same requirements.


* powered from the power supply/battery pack (they need a REGULATED +5v.. but you can power it from an Arduino because it can not provide enough current to drive it properly
* requires a certain type of approach from a coding perspective, as they require special timing to control properly. (these leaves not a lot of room in the Arduino to do other things)


The shield looks nice.. but I have never used it myself... so I cant comment on how it works really.
Especially when it comes to driving LEDS (just not clear on my end is all on how it would all work)

if you are NOT using something like Neopixels or Dot Stars..etc.. then keep in mind each RGB led you have needs 3 pins.

If this board lets the main controller be 'free' to do whatever else it needs... then you may be able to get away with using NeoPixels even easier.

 

[Gigatrix]

so I would be looking at the neopixles as they come in more than just strip form. I am thinking this:https://www.adafruit.com/products/2226 what are your thoughts? as I understand it the servo shield only uses the command input of 2 pins and leaves the rest for led and other things. I am tempted to buy the neopixle link above and the servo shield if there is nothing wrong and will work, but I will need to figure out how to run the leds from the Arduino or the shield, i.e. how it all is going to be wired up.

 

[xl97]

so I would be looking at the neopixles as they come in more than just strip form. I am thinking this:https://www.adafruit.com/products/2226 what are your thoughts? as I understand it the servo shield only uses the command input of 2 pins and leaves the rest for led and other things. I am tempted to buy the neopixle link above and the servo shield if there is nothing wrong and will work, but I will need to figure out how to run the leds from the Arduino or the shield, i.e. how it all is going to be wired up.

The link you posted ARE Neopixels.. doesnt matter they dont come in a strip... they can be daisey chained together. No different than the ones you linked to form Adafruit.. (except 7 vs 3 leds in the 'cluster')

The servo shield 'claims' to do all the heavy lifting for the Servos over I2C lines (dedicated 2-pins on the Arduino).. if this is the case.. then using Neopixels might be easier for you.

The 'wow factor' for Neopixels is that each led can be individually controlled (changed color/brightness..etc)... as well as it only takes 1 pin to control them.. same.

But you dont seem to have a need for that? so maybe just a regular RGB strip will work?

 

[Gigatrix]

I think this will work, if I get the go ahead from you ill get them all

 

[xl97]

I dont want to be responsible for say 'go ahead'...

I usually buy things and TEST...

not to mention I have never used that servo board..

maybe post over on the Adafruit forums about the servo board.. to get some background on it?

 

[Gigatrix]

So I have got them, a pack of 4 rgb boards and the board so ill play with my servos when they get here, sadly the led fiasco isn't over as I don't know how to wire them in and still need 7 white and 8 red 3mm standard LED'S for the forth channel.