Overcomplicated RGB Matrix Panel - The Finale!

#rgbmatrix #electronics #neopixels
Like most makers that play in the electronics space the allure of building a custom RGB LED matrix/panel is super tempting... I almost made one... but maybe it's time to do one now... in an unorthodox, overcomplicated way...
Part 2 of the project is here:
• Overcomplicated RGB Ma...
Part 1 of the project is here:
• Overcomplicated RGB Ma...
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[@AndyCallaway]

Well, that looks pretty cool.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Thanks Andy! I'm pretty happy with it... even exceeded my expectations :-)

[@andymouse]

Nice looking panel, and great idea for your kid's. This is what it's all about for me, making stuff that's useful and will be used in every day life, plus maybe not available in the shops...and the added " I made that ! " feel good factor!

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Yes! The "made it myself" feeling is great.. but as usual, getting a project started is fun... getting it finished is tough... I hope I can get this project to where I can see it in my head.

[@andymouse]

@@UnexpectedMaker I'm sure you will, but I no the feeling of finishing a project too ! sometimes doting the "I's" and crossing the "T's" is the hard part

[@dylankbuckley1342]

Awesome project Seon. For the past few months I have been working on a LED cube (5 x 64 Pixel Panels) and the library situation for the ESP32 is a shame - but just ordered some d1 minis as they worked for you, and will give them a shot tomorrow! Cheers for another cool project.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Awesome Dylan! Can you share your project when you get it up and running? I'd love to see it :-)

[@TheDefpom]

The acrylic will be bowed because of the etching, it would have heated up the plastic on that side of the panel only, when you heat up plastic and then cool it, it will shrink to be smaller than it was so it has pulled that side of the sheet to make it effectively shorter making it bow, you could anneal it by putting it in an oven at about 160-180 degrees for about 5 minutes.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Oooer? I did not know I could straighten with heat... will try it out over the weekend, thanks Scott!!!!

[@TheDefpom]

Unexpected Maker - try it on an offcut first, in case it has other internal stresses which come and and ruin it. Only heat it for as little time and using as little heat as you can, to reduce uncontrolled shrinkage and deformation.

[@TheDefpom]

Unexpected Maker- oh, and it’s probably obvious, but lay it down flat.

[@LeChameauCommuniste]

Very cool build, nice to see it finished! And I love the concept of the clock for your kids

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Thanks Ben... now the pressure to get it finished is kicking in... ;)

[@JeremyCook]

Looking good! I wouldn't sweat the bowing - perhaps some sort of frame for support in the final version?

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Final version? What final version? Hahahaha.... Not sure I'm taking this specific version any further... it's just really a proof of concept.

[@JeremyCook]

@@UnexpectedMaker Yeah, these projects are never really finished, intentionally or not!

[@corban111]

What a great idea with the clock! This would be perfect for a friend of mine who is in the same situation with one of his kids. I look forward to seeing where you go with this.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Thanks Chris... I fear this project is going to take a lot of time to end up with something useful enough and tuned enough to actually make an impact.... but I'm looking forward to the journey and I will of course keep everyone up to date on progress.

[@jameshauser1507]

Nice display. What you want to do for the kids sounds like a "magic mirror" of sorts.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Thanks James... yes the type of info you'd find on a magic mirror, but delivered to them in specific ways, rather than just a screen full of info for them to decipher. That's too overwhelming for them.

[@James02876]

Could you apply the black spraypaint after etching most of the depth of the cavities, then cut the final mm off? That would leave a black wall on the interior walls.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Cutting some of it, then removing it and spraying it and then realigning it in the laser would be unreliable. Even with a clamped jig to square/hold it, if it's < 0.5mm out it will be noticeable, and will still leave a 1mm wall that will edge light. Right now the squares are only a smidge over 1mm deep and the spill is noticeable. I had thought about spraying it afterwards, but I cant think of a good/easy/reliable process to fill the squares with something to protect against the black spray... that will look nice when removed and that would leave even/clean black walls.

[@davidlegault9745]

Very nice Seon. Regards, Dave (PS, have a nasty cold or I would say more)

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Hey David.. sorry you're sick mate, I hope you get better soon!

[@TheTinkerDad]

Beautiful final results! Btw I think the ESP32 is an overkill for this anyway, so the D1 mini will be just fine.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Thanks! yeah, ESP32 is way overkill :-)

[@ChunkySteveo]

Awesome work Seon, makes me want to get my 8x32 pre-fab flex Neopixel board up and running - pretty lights!! I think there is an instructable on at the moment with the same idea you have, would be worth checking out to give you some inspiration! So what was/is the core issue with the ESP32 not running the pixels right?? steve

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Yes! You should be playing with your RGB flex strip!!! Make more videos mate...!!!! The issue is with the RTOS heart beat/WD timer stalling the processing of the data to the IC's in the pixels... check this link for extra info on the bug... github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel/issues/139

[@Dust599]

@@UnexpectedMaker Doesn't the esp32 have two cores? perhaps you could shift the RGB to the second core and avoid the OS CPU cycle stealing entirely...

[@MaxintRD]

Hi Seon, You may have seen this already, but Ben Heck made an SPI converter for Neopixels, allowing you to use DMA on the ESP32 to drive lots of neopixels directly from memory using very little software overhead. This is his video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3SuYYamj5eom8k

[@UnexpectedMaker]

I had seen he had done it, but haven't watched the video yet... but I guess now is I good time to do it :-)

[@KARLLARK100]

Very very cool lov it well done,.//.,

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Cheers Karl!

[@TylerTimoJ]

See if you can get it working with my control software!

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Which is?

[@TylerTimoJ]

@@UnexpectedMaker I've got some videos about it on my channel.

[@tablatronix]

I have not used esp32 with neopixels yet, not good.

[@UnexpectedMaker]

I think it's specific to the W variants ... the RGB only ones have worked fine for me in the past... but the RGBW/GRBW have the extra channel issue :(

[@tablatronix]

@@UnexpectedMaker I have rgbw, I might have to test, i bet its a timing issue, how many leds in your matrix?

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Yes it's a timing issue and a RTOS stall on the ESP32... 175 in my panel, but you can see it every 20-ish on any strip. It's a known and documented issue... see this link rom Doug's comment on my first video... github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel/issues/139

[@tablatronix]

@@UnexpectedMaker wow, so no dma either, yeah figured it was the length + the extra W data, I have issues like this past 300 pixels but that is expected as suspending interrupts that long is not an option

[@mattytrentini]

tablatronix Sounds like the FreeRTOS heartbeat needs to be reduced... In any case I eventually want this to work in MicroPython and the implementation will use the RMT module...just need a little breathing space!