Notifications
Clear all

I'm building a CharlieCube

26 Posts
4 Users
2 Likes
1,850 Views
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

@Sid The wire, after stretching, became much thinner. The 18 gauge wire will probably stretch quite a bit. Testing is the only way to be sure. I think you will be surprised at how thin and rigid it will be after stretching. 

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

I designed a driver board for a single spire. It is one inch wide, two and half inches long (about the size of a Nano board).

charlie spire board

 

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

I just placed an order of three boards with Aisler (aisler.net). I should get them in a couple of weeks. I am getting a little side tracked. I need to refine my technique for making the spires. 

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

I just received an email from Aisler. My boards are already in manufacturing. I should get them next week. Instead of stretching wires last night, I designed another CharlieSpire driver board. This one is 1.7 x 2.5 inches. I was concerned that the first board is narrow and would tip over too easily. I think this one will be more stable as a desktop widgit.

charlie spire 2

 

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

I bought the copper wire from ParaWire. This is the link to the produce page:

parawire.com/craft-store/bare-copper-wire

You may be able to find similar products on Amazon. I am setting up a new jig to help make the spires easier to assemble and more symmetrical. I will post pics when I get this worked out ~;-) 

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
Sid
 Sid
(@sid)
Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 111
 
Posted by: @zoolandermicro

I designed a driver board for a single spire. It is one inch wide, two and half inches long (about the size of a Nano board).

charlie spire board

 

This is cool stuff. I liked the fact that you designed the PCB. That ATtiny is way much smaller than I originally thought.

Custom PCBs (wherein you send the gerbers and they develop the PCB for you are still a dream here in India - owing to the fact that imports from China are banned and at the moment even others in USA or elsewhere do not ship to India. Even if they did, it would get more expensive). So the only route for many in India is to develop, etch at home. I am trying to get that ATMEGA one still. I have been attempting, but the drilling is a mess - I am still not able to master drilling at the right spots.

And as I searched for the ATtiny - they are unavailable here - most of those clones were imported.

Life is exploring and learning


   
ReplyQuote
Sid
 Sid
(@sid)
Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 111
 
Posted by: @zoolandermicro

I just received an email from Aisler. My boards are already in manufacturing. I should get them next week. Instead of stretching wires last night, I designed another CharlieSpire driver board. This one is 1.7 x 2.5 inches. I was concerned that the first board is narrow and would tip over too easily. I think this one will be more stable as a desktop widgit.

charlie spire 2

 

Though I do not think the earlier (smaller version) would tip-off on the desktop, this looks more stable and will add to some glitter on the workdesk as well 🙂

Btw, what software do you use for designing such cool looking boards? Or you do the masking? I have been attempting using the Iron to transfer the design, then etch using the Ferric Chloride. I did find two small sized Coopper clad plates that were white. But now all I have is the normal brown ones. Dont look any fancy.

 

Life is exploring and learning


   
ReplyQuote
Sid
 Sid
(@sid)
Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 111
 
Posted by: @zoolandermicro

I bought the copper wire from ParaWire. This is the link to the produce page:

parawire.com/craft-store/bare-copper-wire

You may be able to find similar products on Amazon. I am setting up a new jig to help make the spires easier to assemble and more symmetrical. I will post pics when I get this worked out ~;-) 

I am all up and will remain hooked on to this as well as your YT channel - already subscribed to that one using a different email though (it starts with gudd...me at gmail dot com).

 

Life is exploring and learning


   
ReplyQuote
Sid
 Sid
(@sid)
Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 111
 
Posted by: @zoolandermicro

I bought the copper wire from ParaWire. This is the link to the produce page:

parawire.com/craft-store/bare-copper-wire

Thanks for this one. Pure unenamelled copper wire. I found one 20 meters at Amazon and ordered it right a moment ago.

The one I have is not unenamelled copper wire. And also, mine is 4mm thicker which might not only be tougher to straighten but also might add more resistance (unsure of this one at the moment).

Another thing that I noted that this wire you ordered is dead soft. Strangely, a seller at Amazon had mentioned that dead soft wire is difficult to handle - as it will always become loopy and that is the reason I opted for a thicker wire.

Note to self: Never trust the knowledge of the sellers at Amazon or elsewhere. Ask a friend.

Life is exploring and learning


   
ReplyQuote
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

@Sid

Futurlec (futurlec.com) is based in Thailand. They offer a large variety of AVR micorcontrollers. Perhaps you can order through them. The prototype PCBs are manufactured by Aisler (aisler.net). Aisler is associated with Fritzing Fab. They are based in Germany, but my boards are produced domestically (Texas). Aisler makes it easy for hobbyists because you only need to upload a board file and they perform the CAM job. I use AutoCAD Eagle as the design software. I have AutoCAD free under an educational license. That is, I authenticate using my college email address. My second driver board is now in production. I chose an upgraded finish for these at a slightly higher price. The minimum order is three. The boards cost around six to seven dollars each. The TwinkelingLights_12 board cost about eight dollars. The cost goes up per hole on the board. Still, pretty cheap as a hobby. I don't have my laptop with me today, but I can post the board files next time. I did put an OpenSource symbol on the second board, so I should make it open source. I should also put it in my GitHub repository ZoolanderMicro (ZoolanderMicro) (github.com)

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
ZoolanderMicro
(@zoolandermicro)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 144
Topic starter  

Hi All,

    I am still working on this project, but my future posts will be under a new thread in the Show and Tell section. I have made progress constructing the LED spires, and I will post pictures and information as I proceed. Soon I will receive the first order of my CharlieSpire driver boards, followed soon after with the revised version. So, my new topic thread will be CharlieSpire Construction. I hope this will be helpful for anyone attempting to make a CharlieCube. Thanks ;-0  

ZoolanderMicro, where small ideas are a big deal


   
ReplyQuote
Page 2 / 2