From c9650010e703f6c65ac8393e30b9281a8ea11cc8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Frederik Vanggaard Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2016 13:19:28 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Added README --- README.md | 93 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 93 insertions(+) create mode 100644 README.md diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ac2bc7 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,93 @@ +# Fadecandy Workshop + +This is going to be a small guide for using the [NeoPixels](https://www.adafruit.com/category/168) together with the [Fadecandy](https://github.com/scanlime/fadecandy) controller. We are going to use a single 8x8 NeoPixel board and a single Fadecandy controller. + +## Components + +We are going to use very few components: + +- 1x Adafruit NeoPixel 8x8 +- 1x Fadecandy +- 4x Jumper cables (male to male) +- Header pins +- Breadboard +- Mini USB cable +- Power Supply + + + +## Soldering + +This is a one time thing and I just did it to make the NeoPixels easier to use later on. + +Take the header pins and put them so you have two sets of 3 pins and two sets of 2 pins. + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Photo-Feb-15-6-46-24-PM-e1456938625359.jpg) + +First take the two sets of 3 pins and solder them on the back of the NeoPixel matrix so we can plug the matrix into the breadboard. + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Photo-Feb-15-6-46-17-PM-e1456938734420.jpg) + +Next solder the two sets of 2 pins on the GPIO pin 0 and 7 on the Fadecandy. We are actually just going to use one of the ports (GPIO pin 0) but if we have header pins on both 0 and 7, it will be better fastened to the breadboard. + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Photo-Feb-15-7-24-42-PM-e1456938752211.jpg) + + +## Wiring + +The wiring is very simple. We have 4 jumper cables: + +- 2 groung +- 1 power +- 1 input + + + +![](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/4b9058c8cadc29ab7c19e6786a91c31d47281212/68747470733a2f2f7261772e6769746875622e636f6d2f7363616e6c696d652f6661646563616e64792f6d61737465722f646f632f696d616765732f73797374656d2d6469616772616d2d312e706e67) + +(source: https://github.com/scanlime/fadecandy) + + + +We connect the top port (blue) on the GPIO port 0 to the DIN (input) pin on the NeoPixel matrix. The bottom port (black) to the ground pin on the NeoPixel and that's all for connecting the NeoPixels to the Fadecandy. + + +We are now going to need some power. There are two options, if we are just running a single board we can use USB power. So for this we need a USB cable with header pins in one end (as seen on the picture below). + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Photo-Feb-15-7-38-03-PM-e1456939049523.jpg) + +Attach the cable to the board and attach a black jumper cable from ground on the USB cable to ground on the NeoPixels, and a red jumper cable from the power on the USB cable to the 5v input on the NeoPixels. + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Photo-Feb-15-7-43-19-PM-e1456939033409.jpg) + +## Code + +Download the Fadecandy software from their GitHub site [link](https://github.com/scanlime/fadecandy) and extract it somewhere on your computer. + +Open the terminal (OS X/Linux) or command line (Windows) and go to your downloaded folder. + + + + cd ~/Downloads/fadecandy-master + + + +Inside that folder we need to go to the bin folder. + + cd bin + +Now we can run the fadecandy server depending on our platform. I'm using OS X. + + open fcserver-osx + +Connect the fadecandy to the computer using the mini USB cable and it should now be registered. + +Open up the folder called `examples/processing/grid8x8\_dot` and open the processing sketch `grid8x8\_dot.pde` with Processing. Run it and the fadecandy should have a green light on and Processing should look like this + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screen-Shot-2016-02-15-at-7.55.46-PM.png) + +Connect the USB power to your computer and you should now be able to move your mouse around in the Processing sketch and change the light on the NeoPixel matrix. + +If you don't have a USB cable with header pins on you can use a regular 5V ~2A power supply. Connect the ground and 5V pin from the NeoPixel matrix to the power supply and run the Processing sketch for the same result. + +![](http://www.drudoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Photo-Feb-15-7-10-31-PM-e1456939241663.jpg)