Space Invader Neopixel Desk Invader

thingiverse

I had a spare Teensy 2.0 and some 8mm led Neopixels lying around so I decided to build a space invader sculpture that would live (invade) the space on top of my computer. It usually takes me a few shots to design an object to my liking. I designed two Space Invaders (one is anatomically correct) and the other (pictured) is less so. I posted both STL files. I also posted "add ons" which can be used with some superglue to make the prototype more accurate. The idea is to backlight the "space invader" and to have a project box, background to house electronics. This is a really neat thing to put on top of a lit computer fan. It looks cool. I have teensy running the stock Neopixel test script. If you notice I also have a speaker pictured in the background of one shot. Since I am only using power, ground, and signal pins the combinations of how your Space Invader can perform is endless. I might program the light show to do the accelerating Space Invader background sound. I constructed the Space Invader to be solderless by using a cheap breadboard and some dupont cables. PS it would be great to have an "animated invader" using small motors or servo's. The Teensy is a great device and it is great for "makers." The "with ears" version is the anatomically correct version. The Neopixels fit into 8mm holes and then are glued in place from the back. The dupont wires fit over the Neopixel leads. Neopixels $6 http://www.ebay.com/itm/5x-Adafruit-NeoPixel-Diffused-8mm-LED-Through-hole-breadboard-WS2812-5050-RGB-/181589698257?hash=item2a4796e6d1:g:gqYAAOSwj0NUa~Jb These are great because they have an input pin, positive, ground, and output pin. You can you a really small Arduino device because you only need one pin for signal with the leds chained to each other. I could have put a capacitor between Positive and ground; but decided not to. Teensy 2.0 with pins $19 (but you could use any board with 5v output) https://www.pjrc.com/store/teensy_pins.html Sound board 5v. $1.50 ebay.. (one shown from a greeting card will need a 5v to 3v converter)