Ping Pong Pixel Matrix Builder

thingiverse

I wanted to make an LED Pixel Matrix using ping pong balls. I started by printing a design by ObsoleteNerd (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4609923), which is an exceptionally-clever design if you're doing a smaller Matrix. However, after printing a couple dozen pixels using ObsoleteNerd's design, it occurred to me that I could build something faster and sturdier if I printed a larger number of pixels connected together in each print. Instructions: 1) Using the attached SCAD file, specify the number of pixels to print simultaneously. This is done by adjusting the values of the variables "pixelwide" and "pixellen" on rows 2 & 3 of the code. Note: Each pixel requires 40X40mm of print area, so if you have a 200X200mm printer, you can do a max of 5X5 pixels per print. Note: You can open the file using the free software OpenSCAD: https://www.openscad.org/downloads.html 2) Render the file and export an STL 3) Slice the STL using your favorite software Note: No need to use supports. Should print perfectly without them! 4) Push your pixels through the holes in the back of the print. They should be held snugly in place with no need for glue. Note: I used full-color individually-addressable ws2811 pixel strings. 5) Cut holes into your ping pong balls of the same size as the holes in the print. I did this by placing ping pong balls in the tray and tracing the size of the hole with a marker. Then I used a drill to put a small hole into the center of the traced circle. Then I used small scissors to cut out the marked area. Note: These beer pong balls are cheap and have no logo, making them perfect for this project: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072Z8QGQR/ 6) Place the balls on the tray over the lights. If you've cut the hole to exactly the right size, the balls will be held in place by the lights. If, however, like me, you lack that level of hand-eye-coordination, you can hold them in place with a dab of hot glue. 7) Repeat for as many pixels as you'd like until your matrix is complete. My project was a 12X8 Matrix (96 pixels). Note: I held the prints together with a bit of hot glue. 8) Connect the LEDs to a power supply and controller and you're done! Note: The cheapest and easiest way that I'm aware of to control the lights is with an ESP8266 NodeMCU (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CB4P2XY/) with WLED (https://github.com/Aircoookie/WLED) flashed. You can also use ready-made controllers from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-Remote-Controller-Wireless-Control/dp/B00AF5YOK2/)