BlinkyTile — Blinkinlabs Forum

3D BlinkyTile Structures

foustja — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:24:34 +0000

Majorly stoked to discover that Blinky Tiles can be attached in 3D structures! Just wanted to share this with everyone, as all the images I've been able to find of Blinky Tile sculptures have them in 2D arrangments; essentially surfaces with only one tile attached to each edge. I had some old leftover tiles and wanted to see if I could stick an open dodecahedron onto one that was complete. Unfortunately, my engineering skills weren't good enough to allow me to predict if this would work or not, but so far, so good. I'm having trouble attaching an image, so I uploaded one to my blog, and here is a link:

https://symbolicdomain.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/blinkycat.jpg

BlinkyTile Programming

jasoncoon — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:15:44 +0000

Hi, I just received my BlinkyTile kit today, got it assembled, and it's working great. Thanks! Now I'm ready to start writing my own light patterns and have a few questions, if/when you get a chance, no rush: * Should there be a new forum category for BlinkyTile? * I assume I can use Arduino/Teensyduino? * What board should I select? * Is this the default program, if/when I want to revert back? https://github.com/Blinkinlabs/BlinkyTile/blob/master/bin/lightbuddy-firmware-v100.hex * What LEDs are used, are they NeoPixel compatible? * Can I use the fantastic FastLED library? Again, no rush, just wanted to get this started. Thanks! Jason

unique wiring?

nicknormal — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 02:30:35 +0000

hi Blinkinlabs folks!

I'm embarking on an adventure, and before a possible futile wiring I thought I'd ask here, first.

I'm hoping to use some stiff wire to make spatial connections.

Is this possible: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1D2KcUJs-gyjpZbt9i0T84IpwWmdamAbo

Or do I have to stick to: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LSq-JqMgnii-TRfe14zKFNKxYNuGZz35

Thoughts? THANKS!

Possibility of new Tiles?

foustja — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:30:56 +0000

Any new BlinkyTiles on the horizon? I am thinking specifically of triangular tiles. Among the benefits of these are that: a.) you can use them to build an icosahedron (like the head of a bacteriophage), and b.) you can combine groups of four equilateral triangles together to make larger triangles (and make your icosahedron even bigger!).

Power to BlinkyTile constructions

foustja — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 17:05:06 +0000

I read Honghong's excellent presentation on building a large BlinkyTile sculpture (http://www.instructables.com/id/Pentagon-LED-Sculpture/), and she provided some very good advice about powering Blinkys.

I have another question that I would appreciate some help with:

If I power a BlinkyTile construction (particularly a large one that draws more than 500mA) with an external power supply through a separate connector (like a barrel jack), do I need to do anything differently with the connector cable between the Lightbuddy and the BlinkyTiles?

Specifically, do I need to modify the connecting cable so that only the ground and data are connected (i.e., cut or remove the 5V line) or would it be OK to leave the 5V line intact?

i don't really understand the circuit well enough to know what happens if you connect power separately and through the Lightbuddy, too. Can someone comment on that?

Thanks,

Jack

Programming BlinkyTiles

Matt Mets — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 09:17:53 +0000

This discussion was created from comments split from: BlinkyTile Programming.

Bare metal BlinkyTile/LightBuddy controller programming

Matt Mets — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:02:13 +0000

The firmware for the BlinkyTile controller works 'bare metal' on the microcontroller, rather than using the Arduino interface. This allows us to use a much more powerful chip (same as the Teensy), however the downside is that it's a little trickier to write programs for it directly. For those that want to check it out, the code is here: https://github.com/Blinkinlabs/BlinkyTile/tree/master/firmware There's a quick readme file there, and I've got some extra boards for anyone wants to help improve the instructions :-).

Powering BlinkyTiles

palco — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 19:26:05 +0000

I have virtually no experience putting these things together so please bare with me.

I'm going to be making a small project using about 40 BlinkyTiles and an Arduino, but I won't have any access to a power outlet. How can I power them remotely?

Hexatiles

mrdoom284 — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 02:06:14 +0000

I was just thinking the other day it would be great to have a hexagonal shape to allow for better geometries. To my surprise you are now offering exactly that! However, the only available kit is rather pricey. Do you have plans to offer a single 8 pack of the hexatiles? That would be a great companion to the original kits.

Additionally, will there be diffusers for the hexatiles as well?

Finally, the images of the hexatiles do not show numbers on the hexagons or pentagons - how are the hexatiles addressed? Are they RGB, same as the pentagons?

Re-indexing Tiles

jepstein95 — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 01:21:58 +0000

Can you please explain how to re-index tiles? I have a base set plus one expansion and I'd like to be able to address each individually (i.e. 1-56). Thanks in advance!

General Questions

macbob — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:58:46 +0000

Hi There, I have just received your BlinkyTile kit - thanks for sending it so early. I appreciate that you were trying to get this in by Christmas and that documentation will be out soon, but I wanted to get started and have some basic questions. I have no experience of the BlinkyTape, which might have helped with some questions. I have 126 tiles and was intending to build these into a single object based on the Penrose tiling pattern. 1) How many tiles can be handled by a single controller? There are three controllers in the kit. Is the power load for 126 tiles too much for one controller? 2) Are there any restrictions on how many tile 'hops' there may be from the controller to the furthest tile? Indeed, are there any particular limitations on topology? 3) The five solder pads appear to be left-right symmetrical. Is it OK to solder tiles together in opposite orientations, i.e. one upside down relative to the other? 4) I have not seen anything yet on programming the controller. The tiles on each sheet are numbered 1 to 14. If I assemble a raft of all the tiles, is it the case that the behaviour of all tiles with a given number must be identical, or is it possible to address an individual tile. I have nine sets. Can I address say tile 6 in one set or are all tiles numbered 6 going to mirror one another? Put another way: in any raft of tiles, are there only 14 possible behaviours. 5) Presumably I can use all three controllers at once if I keep the tiles controlled by each controller electrically isolated. Yes? Or can I use extra controllers to provide power if they don't provide programming? All the very best for the season, Bob

Does the Blinkytile Expansion Pack come with diffusers?

jasoncoon — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 01:25:36 +0000

Does the Blinkytile Expansion Pack come with diffusers? Or are they available separately? Just curious. No reason. :)

dubstep pattern paint

flipperj13 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:58:30 +0000

looking for any cool designs for a collaboration with LED sign and pattern paint And dubstep music

Happy New Year!

MakeALot — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:36:35 +0000

I received my Blinkytiles yesterday (well, last year now) and made a ball for the Christmas tree, it looks great! By way of a thank you, I've uploaded a soldering jig that you're free to use if you find it helpful. https://www.youmagine.com/designs/blinkytile-ball-solder-jig Cheers, Mark.

Pinout Check

avatar8481 — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:51:44 +0000

If I solder the 4-pin connector to the provided input board such like this (http://i.imgur.com/wQLI1bJ.jpg) will that preserve the correct pin orientation from the controller boards?