Really great job modifying the panel housing! I don’t have any of the led matrix’s but this is inspiring cause wled’s are pretty neat stuff for nerds 😉
Thank you, it took a few hours and I still feel I have another iteration of it in me that I need to get out. I'll post a video when i do. Thanks for the nice comment :)
Definitely need to try chaining 3 to 5 of these together, like that tower light behind you. Or you could roll them first and stack up the rolls to make a sweet 360° tube. So many possibilities. 🤯
Absolutely! I saw a video recently where a chap linked about 20 of them horizontally and made a news ticker. Looked awesome. And that tower light behind me... I made I have a tutorial video on how to make them. Thanks for stopping by and being thoughtful enough to leave a comment. I appreciate it. Happy Holidays!
That's a great question, if you plan on running these leds at full brightness then you will likely need ventilation and maybe a small fan, as it's made out of PLA it will withstand a fair amount of heat, but eventually will warp. I never plan on running these at the maximum power that they can draw. A heat sink is a good idea but that heat would still likely need to be vented.
Looks like a great redesign. What thickness are the stencil sheets? We can not get the same in the UK but can get alternatives but not sure of thickness. Number of microns would be helpful.
Oh crikey, i threw the empty packet away. I actually used 2 stencil sheets. I don't think I can measure it in microns. Over here they cost about 3 dollars for 3 of them, so I used trial and error to get the correct thickness. 2 sheets is probably about a quarter of a millimeter. I'll pull up my original cad design when i wake up later and take a look at the gap.
That's a great question David, I actually cut mine a little larger to start and then cut it down from their. I don't have the exact size on hand, however, when I wake up on Sunday I will measure and post it in the description. Thanks for your comment!
Cut stencil sheets to 324mm x 85mm Hope this helps. Even at this size, you should still have a little wiggle room to maybe go a mm bigger on either dimension. Mine have a little play in them once installed.
Thanks - after looking at it and taking multiple measurements I cut on that is 322mm X 86mm and it is perfect! Thanks for a great fun project! @@mybritishcomputerguy
You're welcome, i'm glad you enjoyed it, it's always nice to have a project on the go. I have more projects in the works! stay tuned!!! @@davidcappello
Thank you very much, after seeing your video I bought the LED matrix and printed your case. Great remix!! One request if you don’t mind. Would you please create a middle piece that can be printed twice to make the case longer to support 2 8x32 panels. I think we would also need the grid redesigned do both ends are thinner so the can be butted together. Again thank you for all the work it took to put this together. Happy New Year!
Thank you for sharing this, I always wanted a module version so I can add a second or third 16 x8 panel or even a 16 x 32 that would allow additional panels to be added for a bigger display, can you share you tinker cad design?
I took some milk plastic and made a rectangular box by gluing the sides and top together. The bottom is open and the long dimension is about a half the length longer than the matrix. The sides are as tall as the matrix. I used black foam core as the base and the look reminds me of a Star Trek prop.
Looks great. Thanks for sharing. I have a Raspberry Pi running arcade games. This would be great for the top marquee display. I wonder if the Pi can control what the esp displays depending on the game selected ???
@@mybritishcomputerguy yes it fits good. I currently have a GPS-module connected to the Rapsbery pi Pico inside - so I will try to make a small change to the case (top part). Do you also share the original edit files? Thanks!
Nice but don't think that the thickness is not going to work for me, I would like to mount this vertically inside of my fractal meshify 2 case. the matrix will sort of just fit i think, but it seems like this design has a lot of empty space because it is for mounting horizontally on a desk. Would it be a lot of work to just make another stl but get rid of all the empty space at the back and make it thin so it is just the matrix the Grid and the diffuser? Also what do you think about repurposing a diffuser( or pars of it) from a discarded LED/ LCD flat screen TV?
@@mybritishcomputerguy do you think a half an inch is feasible? I don't have any CAD skills but what if I took the model for the frame and drag it below the print bed in the slicer so it cuts off just after the channel for the led matrix so it just prints the front and not the hollow back half . I have dragged files below the print bed before to cut them off and make them shorter and it works but I am not sure if it will still be thicker that 1/2 inch with the non essential back part cut off
The hobbylobby stencil stuff is a great idea! Very well engineered! Top tier video as per usual! Only improvement I'd probably make is to make another little channel at the bottom have a backplate for the housing that can slide out for easy access all of the components as well as some support towers to support the back of the matrix to prevent flex away from the diffuser grid. One of if not the BEST video you've done yet, congrats on all the new subscribers! Well deserved 👏🏻 I have to make one!!! :D
That's a really great idea, the build uses no glue, just pegs, so it's a friction connection, so technically with a little force it should just come apart.
Thanks for your message, I'd say pretty well lit. Especially if you're using a 15 amp power supply and injecting the power at the middle and the end in addition to the start. These LEDs are so damn bright. I use mine in a room that's moderately lit, and am only powering it with 3 amps!
What are you using for powering this Matrix? I've bought everything, but only powering with a DC 5V 3A or a USB Piggytail seems not enough from the specification. In you design you go with a DC IN Plug, but what kind of power supply are you using? Are you powering it down via WLED software?
I'm using 5v 6.0amp power brick (kind of hard to find, i'll post a link to it when i can), it's powerful enough to power the matrix at about one 3rd of its maximum brightness. I didn't want to use one that was too powerful, as i wasn't planning on running the panel at full brightness. If you intend on running it at full brightness (which is don't recommend) you will need to rethink what you make the enclosure out of, plus also add ventilation and cooling.
Thank you I just got a 3D Printer and so far everything has come out great! Quick question, what power supply do you use to power them? Any links? Thanks again! Edit: I just finished the whole print I used Hole B. My only issue is when socketing the two parts with the grid ontop the LED it seems to resist being closed all the way at the joints. I see the grid is at the end of each respective piece. After messing with it for a few minutes it closes and is almost perfect but it's slightly uneven at the middle joints in terms of stability. Is that normal for this current revision or did I do something wrong?
To be honest Luciano, I'm not sure what could have happened? Maybe it's a print quality thing? I've printed a couple of these on my Prusa Mini+ and they both fit just right, no gaps after gluing.
How much would someone charge to print this and send it to me (uk)? I have not got any experience whatsover but really want a 8 x 32 diffuser. Best Regards
Lol, sorry, i don't offer printing services. There are some out there though. Just download the files from thingiverse (link in the description) and send it off for print!
hi @mybritishcomputerguy do you have a STEP file you can share for this by any chance? I would like to a small edit for my specific application. Thank you!
@cheesemas46 I don't, sorry. However, when I get back to my pc in a few days I'll take a look and see if it is possible to create one. I'll keep you posted.
Thank you very much, after seeing your video I bought the LED matrix and printed your case. Great remix!! One request if you don’t mind. Would you please create a middle piece that can be printed twice to make the case longer to support 2 8x32 panels. I think we would also need the grid redesigned do both ends are thinner so the can be butted together. Again thank you for all the work it took to put this together. Happy New Year!
Great suggestion, many thanks for the comment. Let me look into that! Stay tuned. So..it's definitely feasible and not too difficult to do. I'll work on that this week.
You just saved me a bunch of time and hassle. Thank you!
Printing this build right now, looks like its gonna be an amazing project.
Awesome, glad you found it. Hope it turns out well.
How is it going? I was thinking of getting this kit. Did u do the one panel or more?
I have a couple of panels, but this build was just 1 of the 8x32 panels@@chevy4x466
The 8x32 matrix has been a personal project on my backburner for over a year now lol. Awesome design!
Great! This really helps. I’m working on a project that requires some led matrix panels and this helps a ton. Thanks again
My pleasure, more stuff coming soon!
amazing work, this video is underated
Much appreciated!
Really great job modifying the panel housing! I don’t have any of the led matrix’s but this is inspiring cause wled’s are pretty neat stuff for nerds 😉
Thank you, it took a few hours and I still feel I have another iteration of it in me that I need to get out. I'll post a video when i do. Thanks for the nice comment :)
Definitely need to try chaining 3 to 5 of these together, like that tower light behind you. Or you could roll them first and stack up the rolls to make a sweet 360° tube. So many possibilities. 🤯
Absolutely! I saw a video recently where a chap linked about 20 of them horizontally and made a news ticker. Looked awesome. And that tower light behind me... I made I have a tutorial video on how to make them. Thanks for stopping by and being thoughtful enough to leave a comment. I appreciate it. Happy Holidays!
Nice, thoughtful build. This American computer guy just subscribed.
Lol, cheers Tom
Do you need any heatsink plate on the back of led stripe? If yes, how could you join the sink and the stripe?
That's a great question, if you plan on running these leds at full brightness then you will likely need ventilation and maybe a small fan, as it's made out of PLA it will withstand a fair amount of heat, but eventually will warp. I never plan on running these at the maximum power that they can draw. A heat sink is a good idea but that heat would still likely need to be vented.
Looks like a great redesign. What thickness are the stencil sheets? We can not get the same in the UK but can get alternatives but not sure of thickness. Number of microns would be helpful.
Oh crikey, i threw the empty packet away. I actually used 2 stencil sheets. I don't think I can measure it in microns. Over here they cost about 3 dollars for 3 of them, so I used trial and error to get the correct thickness. 2 sheets is probably about a quarter of a millimeter. I'll pull up my original cad design when i wake up later and take a look at the gap.
Great build - I am getting ready to assemble - what are the exact dimensions of the diffuser sheet ? I am looking for the 1 piece size
That's a great question David, I actually cut mine a little larger to start and then cut it down from their. I don't have the exact size on hand, however, when I wake up on Sunday I will measure and post it in the description. Thanks for your comment!
Cut stencil sheets to 324mm x 85mm Hope this helps. Even at this size, you should still have a little wiggle room to maybe go a mm bigger on either dimension. Mine have a little play in them once installed.
Thanks - after looking at it and taking multiple measurements I cut on that is 322mm X 86mm and it is perfect! Thanks for a great fun project! @@mybritishcomputerguy
You're welcome, i'm glad you enjoyed it, it's always nice to have a project on the go. I have more projects in the works! stay tuned!!! @@davidcappello
Thank you very much, after seeing your video I bought the LED matrix and printed your case. Great remix!! One request if you don’t mind. Would you please create a middle piece that can be printed twice to make the case longer to support 2 8x32 panels. I think we would also need the grid redesigned do both ends are thinner so the can be butted together. Again thank you for all the work it took to put this together. Happy New Year!
Middle piece created! Please make sure you read the notes in Thingiverse before printing :)
(not had a chance to work on the grid sections yet though)
Thank you for sharing this, I always wanted a module version so I can add a second or third 16 x8 panel or even a 16 x 32 that would allow additional panels to be added for a bigger display, can you share you tinker cad design?
Hi BillBat I did. There is a link in the comments section to it on thingiverse.com
I took some milk plastic and made a rectangular box by gluing the sides and top together. The bottom is open and the long dimension is about a half the length longer than the matrix. The sides are as tall as the matrix. I used black foam core as the base and the look reminds me of a Star Trek prop.
You need to post a video on your channel. I'd love to see it. It sounds cool.
Looks great. Thanks for sharing. I have a Raspberry Pi running arcade games. This would be great for the top marquee display. I wonder if the Pi can control what the esp displays depending on the game selected ???
Thanks, and that's a really great question, a little beyond my current level of expertise, im sure someone in a forum somewhere can answer that one
Thank you for your model and video. I just started the printer! We know in 1 day and 8 hours if it worked. Cheers!
Hopefully it did!
@@mybritishcomputerguy yes it fits good. I currently have a GPS-module connected to the Rapsbery pi Pico inside - so I will try to make a small change to the case (top part). Do you also share the original edit files? Thanks!
Cool. Stuff. I can see sanzoro in lights:)
lol, i really enjoyed this build
You have tried diffuser from a broken TV?
I haven't, sounds like it could make for an interesting project though. I'll keep my eyes open for a broken TV! Cheers!!
Nice but don't think that the thickness is not going to work for me, I would like to mount this vertically inside of my fractal meshify 2 case.
the matrix will sort of just fit i think, but it seems like this design has a lot of empty space because it is for mounting horizontally on a desk.
Would it be a lot of work to just make another stl but get rid of all the empty space at the back and make it thin so it is just the matrix the Grid and the diffuser?
Also what do you think about repurposing a diffuser( or pars of it) from a discarded LED/ LCD flat screen TV?
Hmm, how thin are we talking here and I'll see what it looks like
@@mybritishcomputerguy it is pretty tight
about a half inch clearance is all I have, a tiny bit over
@@mybritishcomputerguy do you think a half an inch is feasible?
I don't have any CAD skills but what if I took the model for the frame and drag it below the print bed in the slicer so it cuts off just after the channel for the led matrix so it just prints the front and not the hollow back half .
I have dragged files below the print bed before to cut them off and make them shorter and it works but I am not sure if it will still be thicker that 1/2 inch with the non essential back part cut off
The hobbylobby stencil stuff is a great idea! Very well engineered! Top tier video as per usual! Only improvement I'd probably make is to make another little channel at the bottom have a backplate for the housing that can slide out for easy access all of the components as well as some support towers to support the back of the matrix to prevent flex away from the diffuser grid.
One of if not the BEST video you've done yet, congrats on all the new subscribers! Well deserved 👏🏻 I have to make one!!! :D
That's a really great idea, the build uses no glue, just pegs, so it's a friction connection, so technically with a little force it should just come apart.
Does this design include enough space for a Esp32 board inside it?
Yes, i thought I showed putting the esp 32 inside it?
How visible is it with the grid and diffuser in a well lit room? I am doing a display for my Rc car racing club showing race positions etc.
Thanks for your message, I'd say pretty well lit. Especially if you're using a 15 amp power supply and injecting the power at the middle and the end in addition to the start. These LEDs are so damn bright. I use mine in a room that's moderately lit, and am only powering it with 3 amps!
Great cheers. The plan is to use decent sized supply. It does look very cool with diffused but crisp square pixels.
What are you using for powering this Matrix?
I've bought everything, but only powering with a DC 5V 3A or a USB Piggytail seems not enough from the specification. In you design you go with a DC IN Plug, but what kind of power supply are you using?
Are you powering it down via WLED software?
I'm using 5v 6.0amp power brick (kind of hard to find, i'll post a link to it when i can), it's powerful enough to power the matrix at about one 3rd of its maximum brightness. I didn't want to use one that was too powerful, as i wasn't planning on running the panel at full brightness. If you intend on running it at full brightness (which is don't recommend) you will need to rethink what you make the enclosure out of, plus also add ventilation and cooling.
amzn.to/3AI1rPc here's an affiliate link to the one i use. It's the only 6 amp power supply i've found in this form factor, and it works really well!
Thank you I just got a 3D Printer and so far everything has come out great! Quick question, what power supply do you use to power them? Any links? Thanks again!
Edit: I just finished the whole print I used Hole B. My only issue is when socketing the two parts with the grid ontop the LED it seems to resist being closed all the way at the joints. I see the grid is at the end of each respective piece. After messing with it for a few minutes it closes and is almost perfect but it's slightly uneven at the middle joints in terms of stability. Is that normal for this current revision or did I do something wrong?
To be honest Luciano, I'm not sure what could have happened? Maybe it's a print quality thing? I've printed a couple of these on my Prusa Mini+ and they both fit just right, no gaps after gluing.
Where is the link to the acrylic cement? I would like to try it.
I thought it was in the comment section, let me check. I'll update it if it's not there in a few minutes. Thanks for letting me know.
Thanks again.. I added the link for the Glue in the comments section. 👍
How much would someone charge to print this and send it to me (uk)? I have not got any experience whatsover but really want a 8 x 32 diffuser. Best Regards
Crumbs lol. Let me look into that. There are companies in China that have 3d printing services.
How much to print me a couple of these?
Lol, sorry, i don't offer printing services. There are some out there though. Just download the files from thingiverse (link in the description) and send it off for print!
Opening my 3D software try to make one, ok...wait, how about google first and landed here :)
hi @mybritishcomputerguy do you have a STEP file you can share for this by any chance? I would like to a small edit for my specific application. Thank you!
@cheesemas46 I don't, sorry. However, when I get back to my pc in a few days I'll take a look and see if it is possible to create one. I'll keep you posted.
Thank you very much, after seeing your video I bought the LED matrix and printed your case. Great remix!! One request if you don’t mind. Would you please create a middle piece that can be printed twice to make the case longer to support 2 8x32 panels. I think we would also need the grid redesigned do both ends are thinner so the can be butted together. Again thank you for all the work it took to put this together. Happy New Year!
Great suggestion, many thanks for the comment. Let me look into that! Stay tuned. So..it's definitely feasible and not too difficult to do. I'll work on that this week.