Neopixel Xmas Tree

thingiverse

This NeoPixel tree is a 3D printed variant of a NeoPixel tree by Craig A. Lindley published in the November 2017 issue of Nuts & Volts Magazine (PDF of article included). The tree features a new base that holds an ESP-01 board, acting as a Web server and allowing control from a Web browser with over 50 patterns to choose from. The pictures show my first version, where the tree was screwed into the base containing the electronics. However, this design is fragile due to twisted wires inside the base when the top is screwed onto the base. The STL files provided now have the electronics fixed to the tree and the base free of any wiring. Video -------- https://youtu.be/a0wYZg97_Ik Printing the parts ------------------ The printing process for the parts is straightforward. You may need a raft when printing the trunks, while TreeV2 - Tree Bottom Trunk will require supports as well. Tree Assembly ------------- I used wire-wrap wire to connect each segment. Solder and insert wires on each segment before super gluing each segment, ring, and trunk. Start with TreeV2 - Tree Bottom Trunk, followed by TreeV1 - 1st Tier.stl, then TreeV1 - Trunk x 5.stl, and so on up to the star at the top. PCB ---- Eagle files are included for the PCB. I used a 470uF 6V tantalum SMD capacitor and soldered wires onto it to make it into a through-hole component due to limited space. Adjust the power supply to provide 3.3V to the ESP-01S, ensuring that the NeoPixel supply is above 3.5V while keeping the ESP-01 below 3.3V. Parts Used ---------- WS2812B 5050 RGB LED Ring Built-in Integrated Drivers Addressable Black Panel (1 + 8 + 12 + 16 + 24 + 32) https://www.ebay.com/itm/WS2812B-5050-RGB-LED-Ring-Built-in-Integrated-Drivers-Addressable-Black-Panel/273812932142?hash=item3fc085c62e:m:mz77PiNN5P11uZueywyiyQg ESP8266 ESP-01S Serial WIFI Wireless Transceiver Module https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESP8266-ESP-01S-Serial-WIFI-Wireless-Transceiver-Module-Send-Receive-AP-STA-Top/262718613221?hash=item3d2b3fe6e5:g:htYAAOSwIGxcCi~L&autorefresh=true DC-DC Buck Step Down Module 3.3V 1A Adjustable Power Supply Module https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Buck-Step-Down-Module-3-3V-1A-Adjustable-Power-Supply-Module/311751738289?hash=item4895da03b1:g:fxEAAOSwiDFYPjQm 1x 7343 SMD 470uF 6V Tantalum capacitor 1x 1N5817 Diode 1x 330 ohm 1/8W resistor Software --------- The only changes made to the original sketch are changing the IO pin and fixing a couple of references to temporary variables that the compiler complained about. My Sketch is included. From the Nuts & Volts article: "Before you can remotely control the NeoPixel LED tree, you must first provide Wi-Fi credentials so the tree can connect to your local network. If the ESP8266 has not been connected to the Wi-Fi network previously, it will create a wireless access point called NeoPixelTreeAP that you must connect to with your computer. Once that is done, with a browser go to 192.168.4.1 and you will be presented with a page for assigning credentials. When you click on the SSID of your network and then specify the password, the ESP8266 should take down the access point and attempt to establish a connection to your Wi-Fi network. You can monitor the status of this process if you have the Arduino IDE’s serial monitor open. Once you establish a connection to the Wi-Fi network, the ESP8266 will remember the credentials going forward. You should never have to go through this process again, unless you move the NeoPixel LED tree to another network or location. With Wi-Fi setup complete, change your computer back to your normal Wi-Fi network and navigate your browser to 192.168.0.3. If all is well, you should see the web page you will use to control the NeoPixel LED tree."