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Adding Electronics to 3D Printed Action Heroes
This document discusses adding electronics to 3D printed action figures. It covers cleaning 3D printed parts, soldering basics, programming a microcontroller to control LEDs, buzzers and Neopixels. Circuits are prototyped on a breadboard before assembling components into the action figure base and figure. Wires connect the electronics between the base and figure. The document provides instructions for assembling the interactive figure and adding details like hair, clothes and painting.
Adding Electronics to 3D Printed Action Heroes
- 1. Adding Electronics to3D Printed Action Heroes Anna Gerber Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 2. Outline • Previously: 3DSculpting Action Heroes – Generating base models – Slicing into parts & adding joints – Customizing via 3D sculpting tools • Last week: 3D Printing Action Heroes – Recap Meshmixer & finish models – Preparing parts for 3D printing – 3D printing – Cleaning up 3D printed parts • Today: Adding electronics to 3D printed Action Heroes – Make them interactive – Electronics & coding – Assembly Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 3. Outline • Clean up3D printed parts • Soldering • Micro-controller programming • Design & test the circuits • Assemble the action hero • Decoration • Discussion of painting / finishing techniques Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 4. Clean up parts •Remove raft • Remove support using pliers and cutters • Test that parts fit together • Optional : use hobby knife or fine sandpaper to tidy up / adjust fit Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 5. Breadboard Anna Gerber 3D ActionHeroes • Use to prototype circuits without soldering by plugging in components and jumper wires • Numbered rows are connected • Ours have power rails along the sides
- 6. IC test hooks •We'll use IC test hooks to prototype our circuits without needing to solder onto the Digispark • Solder jumper wires onto the test hooks Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes Solder wire here
- 7. Soldering Anna Gerber 3D ActionHeroes From Soldering is easy by Mitch Altman, Andie Nordren and Jeff Keyzer
- 8. Electricity • Electricity isa form of energy • We can connect components that convert electrical energy into other forms of energy: light, sound, movement, heat etc, into a circuit • In a Direct Current (DC) circuit, current flows from positive to negative • We will use the 5V pin on the Digispark for power Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 9. Electrical concepts • Current(Amps): measures the flow of electrical energy through a circuit • Voltage (Volts): measures difference in potential energy between the positive and negative sides of a circuit • Resistance (Ohms): measures a material's opposition to the flow of energy • Power (Watts): the rate at which energy is converted from one form to another Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 10. Digital vs Analog •Digital – discrete values (0 or 1) – Examples: tilt sensor, push button • Analog – continuous values – typically values for analog sensors are constrained within a range e.g. 0 – 255, 0 – 1023 – Example: photo resistor • Some sensors and actuators support both digital and analog modes Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 11. LEDs • Light EmittingDiode • Polarized: diodes act like one way valves so must be connected in a certain direction • Emits light when a current passes through Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes Anode (+) longer lead connects to power Cathode (-) connects to ground
- 12. Resistors • Introduces resistance,so restricts the amount of current that can flow through a circuit • Can be connected in either direction • Bend and trim the leads to approx 1cm each make it easier to use with the breadboard Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 13. Anna Gerber 3D ActionHeroes
- 14. Digital Write -Blinking an LED • Unplug the Digispark from the computer! • Include a 330 ohm (orange, orange brown) current limiting resistor to avoid damaging the LED • Attach long lead (+) of LED to pin 1 of Digispark • Connect short lead of LED to 330 ohm resistor and then GND Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 15. Loading programs ontothe Digispark • Use Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to write and send programs • The programming language is C++ • Open File > Examples > 01.Basics > Blink and change pin to 1 Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 16. Uploading to Digispark •Plug in Digispark and select board (Digispark Default 16.5 Mhz) & port from the Tools menu • Unplug Digispark • Click on upload • Plug in the Digispark when prompted (watch the messages at the bottom of the editor window) Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 17. Piezo Buzzer Anna Gerber 3DAction Heroes Open File > Examples > 02.Digital > toneMelody Change piezo pin to pin 0
- 18. Neopixels • WS2812B lightsource – Chainable, individually addressable RGB LEDs – Many formfactors (pixel, ring, bar, strip etc) – Each unit is connected via 5V, GND and data pin – Use external power if working with more than a few LEDs • See https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel- uberguide/overview Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 19. Install the Neopixellibrary • Download library files from: – https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel • Copy files into your Arduino Libraries folder • Open File > Examples > AdaFruit Neopixel > buttoncycler and change pin to pin 2 and number of pixels to 2 Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 20. Connect the Neopixels AnnaGerber 3D Action Heroes
- 21. Push Buttons • Adda button to the circuit with a 10K resistor Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 22. Action Hero Base •Base holds the batteries and includes a switch and power indicator light • Metal pads connect to wires on bottom of feet to power electronics inside figure Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 23. Base circuit Anna Gerber 3DAction Heroes
- 24. Solder the basecircuit Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes 680ohm resistor goes here
- 25. Assemble the base AnnaGerber 3D Action Heroes Attach LED mount & switch to case
- 26. Assemble the base AnnaGerber 3D Action Heroes Put some tape over the tabs to hold them in place
- 27. Assemble the figure •Solder leg wires (thicker wire to go through legs, thinner wire through torso) • Solder wires onto button for back • Solder neopixels for eyes together & attach short wires • Legs: – Run wires up through leg parts – Run elastic down through each leg across cross-beam inside torso) – Use fishing line to attach feet – Tighten and tie off elastic • Thread button wires through back (don't push button in yet) Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 28. Assembly (continued) • Usesticky tape to gather four wires (from legs and button) and make a pointed end. Thread up through neck • Thread fishing line down around cross-beam in head and through neck, use pliers to grab through arm hole to bring to the side • If you can manage it, tie fishing line around body cross-beam (use pliers through button hole) – this is tricky. Alternative is to tie off fishing line around arm elastic • Thread elastic through arms – fishing line for hands • See https://youtu.be/6QIx_XImcxc for how joints are threaded with elastic Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 29. Assembly (continued) • Useputty to secure neopixels • Solder power leads, neopixels and button to digispark • Optional: solder leads to piezo and secure inside head with putty • Upload your program to digispark & unplug USB cable • Secure digispark under headcap with putty – to make it easy to remove for updating the program • Place figure on stand and test! Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 30. Hair • Use fauxfur to create wild hair • Hot glue onto head cap or sew together for changeable wig Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 31. Clothes • Hero tunic: –Cut a rectangle of lycra about 2 cm wider than torso on each side, and twice as long as desired tunic length – Fold in half longwise and cut out a hole in the middle for the neck – Staple, safety pin or sew along the sides around body – Take off and trim off excess fabric from sides (leave at least 0.5cm for seams) – Turn inside out – Use a ribbon for a belt Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 32. Finishing • "Lines" inprint will be obvious under paint, smooth your print by: – Using fine grit sandpaper (the slow way) – Use acetone vapour smoothing (very shiny surface) • See https://youtu.be/9qByAGrbmS8 – Use XTC-3D epoxy to smooth out surface (easiest way) • Prime the surface with brush on acrylic primer (used for gaming miniatures) or spray on undercoat • Use acrylic paints, water colour pencils, pastels, sharpies etc to draw face and decorate. • Use a thin coat of matte clear spray to waterproof Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
- 33. License • This slidedesk was authored by Anna Gerber, April 2016 and may be shared or adapted under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike (4.0 CC-BY-SA) license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Anna Gerber 3D Action Heroes
Editor's Notes
- #2 Intro section: 10 minutes Introductions, housekeeping In this hands-on two hour beginner’s class we’ll:Generate customised 3D human models using MakeHuman Slice up a 3D model and add articulated joints using Meshmixer’s slice and merge tools Use Meshmixer’s 3D sculpting tools to customize 3D parts
- #3 We'll cover how to sculpt the figure It actually takes longer than 2 hours to create a completely custom figure You are welcome to come into the Fab Lab during opening hours to keep working on your models, or you can download the software at home
- #6 Channel down center splits the two sides – use a bridging wire if you want them to be connected across the entire breadboard