Digital Sky Project - Part 3 - Building the Lights

[@no1spod]

This is all fantastic! great project Jim, glad you are back. That tshirt at the end is fantastic.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thanks Simon - Glad you like my T-shirt.. it's one of my own designs. Perhaps I should set up some kind of shop for merch like all the popular youtubers have. Cheers!!

[@sdgelectronics]

Looking good Jim. Thanks

[@bryngerard4334]

They look really fine! I had found a 3ft long cylinder-shaped lamp in the street that looked an interesting design. The diffusing material seemed like flexible plastic, coated with what seemed like fabric but was probably something plastic. It feels like fabric. I have used it with an LED remote controlled colour bulb and I am well impressed. It is flexible, robust and diffuses the light perfectly with only a 4(or maybe 8) watt bulb. Somebody must make it :)

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. I'm not overly impressed with my current design for the endcaps and opacity layer... Ideally I'd like to be able to find some rigid 60mm tubes which I can cut in half... If you find a link to the manufacturer of the stuff you're talking about, please ping me a message. Thanks.

[@EyesOnReality]

Hi Jim! Great to know all is well with you and hope all is well with the family. I've been looking out for your new videos from time to time, even sending you a KZbin PM, hoping all is well. Great to know you're still alive just been busy, now getting back to video making when you can. I've enjoyed all your past videos, from boost converters to all your gardening videos, hoping you'll be back at doing more. Since I've not been getting the usual YT notices of new videos as I am subscribed, so this time checking to see if you are about, there you are! Wonderful! So, this message is sent in respect and gladness of see you're back at more creative projects and sharing.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Hi EyesOnReality. Thank you very much for your kind words. It's nice to have been missed. I've been beavering away busily for the last couple of months writing the software to run my lights and I'm very happy to say that it's now at the stage where it's ready to show the world. It's not all finished and polished, but it's good enough to let everyone else have a look at it. Just in case KZbin doesn't tell you about it, I've got the video uploading now, so it should show up in your feed very soon. Hope all is well with you. Cheers!!

[@billconiston8091]

Hi Jim, thanks for the update video - would be interested to see code process (writing and deployment) on the pi

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thanks Bill - The next video is going to be about the software... but I need to write some more of it before it's ready for a demo. Cheers!!

[@RcCarFan01]

Awesome, thanks for your interesting Videos. They are well explained & entertaining.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thank you for your kind words RcCarFan01. Cheers!!

[@KhangStarr]

Nice stuff, Jim!

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thank you Khang.... Just as an aside here.. I do actually have some things growing in my hydroponics setup, so I'll force myself to make another hydroponics video one day soon. Cheers!!

[@KhangStarr]

@@ThingsWhichArentWork Can't wait to see it. Will you make LED growlights in the future? That would be fantastic to see!

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

I did the growlight a couple of years ago... here's the link.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3WWm4eeZsdkfKM

[@Roamor1]

Really impressive, enjoyed the video.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thank you very much Niels. Cheers!!

[@DansKoiPond]

Good progress. Love the t shirt! Think I might need to get myself one of those.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thanks Dan - The T-Shirt is my own creation. I've got a couple of other T-shirt ideas that I'll be getting printed soon too... Maybe I should start selling merch. Cheers!!

[@DansKoiPond]

@@ThingsWhichArentWork think you should. I think it sums me up perfectly.

[@farpointstation]

Jim, your projects are always inspiring. I eagerly await your next video! Great work

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thank you very much Farpoint Station. Cheers!!

[@OrbiterElectronics]

Hiya Jim.. Wow you got patients cutting those heatsinks mate. I think id have given up after a few and just crossed my fingers that something on ebay would be available 🙂 Forgot to add.. Love the lights too Cheers .. John 👍

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Thanks John. Well... I _could_ look for smaller heatsinks on ebay... or... seems to me that I've got the perfect justification for looking for a bigger better bandsaw instead :-).. Cheers John. Hope you have a good weekend.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

If you are looking for some video ideas there are always hydroponic strawberries videos to be made :) Thanks for sharing :)

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Hydroponic strawberries video coming right up sir... editing it now.. and I reckon you're going to like it because these are some very unusual strawberries.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

@@ThingsWhichArentWork Man I have to say you are the most accommodating KZbinr I know :) I cant wait to see what kind of strawberries you have :) I like unusual! I did catch up on your other videos. Looks like the lights turned out GREAT :)

[@jasonmhite]

Looks like you're using *way* too much solder paste. You'll have better results with 1/2-1/3 that amount. It really doesn't take much to get a solid electrical connection.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Certainly am... I'm trying to put the absolute minimum on using a toothpick to transfer it from the nozzle on the tube on the board... It goes OK for a while but eventually you end up with a big blob on the end of the toothpick and have to try and dab it around, resulting in the mess you saw in this video... I notice that the place I ordered the PCB will do the paste mask as an extra for just $9, so when I order the V2 PCBs I'll certainly be adding that onto the list. At least the solder paste mess is easy to clean up with a bit of drag soldering. Cheers!!