LED Lighted Christmas ornament with text 'YOU PUT THE XXX in XMAS'
Instruction
An ornament inspired by Thanksgiving in Las Vegas; glittery, neon, sensual.
The ornament holds 24 addressable RGB LEDs, driven by an ESP32 board running open source application WLED. Both the led strip and ESP32 board are very cheap, only trivial understanding of engineering is required.
These ESP32 have become one of my quick favorite single board computers. They are low power, have WiFi.
To duplicate:
Order an ESP-32 development board :
https://www.amazon.com/Teyleten-Robot-ESP-WROOM-32-Development-Microcontroller/dp/B09J95SMG7/
LED Strip :
https://www.amazon.com/SEZO-Individually-Addressable-Programmable-Non-Waterproof/dp/B097BXQF8J
Load WLED onto the development board
https://kno.wled.ge/
WLED is an open source LED controller with hundreds of effects. Loading onto the development board is super easy, install from browser.
Canvas 1 contains most of the cut wood pieces; just cut as defined in XCS. The only module used is the laser module.
Please note the spacer on canvas one is between the top design, and the LED spacers - its ment to block direct sight to the LEDS - its not required.
An LED strip is approx 8 mm wide; in order to glue the led strip to the inner circumference, you need to cut 2 spacers from canvas 2 - on 6 mm material. Or stack three ‘spacers’ from 3mm.
Optionally, one could glue the LEDs to the back of the design - but the only ‘good’ way is behind the ‘XXX’. This method does provide a glow, but its subpar to the 24 LEDs. If building this version - you will sill want one spacer to provide enough room between the top design and back plate.
I like to stick a reflective surface to the back plate - the image shows self-adhesive gold vinyl. Use a sharp knife to remove the ‘snow flake’.
LEDs don't get too hot, so the ‘snow flake’ design is really only visual - but it does serve a means to snake wires through - and I do like how the ornimate looks like from the back as well.
Glue the spacers together with your choice of fixative ( i still use wood glue ). One dry, you are ready to glue the LED stip in.
I have found clear Gorilla Glue will adhear to the led stip backing and the wood strips. I paint the LED backing with glue, lie in the spacer, and use painters tape to hold in place while the glue dries.
The above photo shows the LED assembly.
5: Follow the instructions of how to install WLED from https://install.wled.me/ Its pretty simple, have ESP32 connected to computer via USB, and install from browser.
6: Follow instructions on how to connect LED strip to ESP32 from https://kno.wled.ge/basics/getting-started/
WLED provides a web GUI to control the LEDs. There are hundreds of patterns ; and if you become advanced, you can make the LED dance to noise etc
like to to test the ESP32 board and leds before glue up, because then there is still time to resolve issues. Once its glued up - its finished.
its easier to paint pieces when they are not glued together - but more importantly, its easier to clean!!
The sample cover image - the XXX is painted with acrylic Crimson, and the other words are painted with acrylic Phthalo Green. but your choices are endless.
it stacks like pancakes.