Build Your Own 4x4x4 RGB LED Cube

by GreatScottLab in Circuits > Arduino

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Build Your Own 4x4x4 RGB LED Cube

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LED Cubes are awesome. The first one I created was a 8x8x8 blue led cube. It still works like a charm. But being able to display every colour in the spectrum is much more spectacular. Let's start with a small and simple 4x4x4 RGB LED Cube.

Watch Part 1 of the Video Series!

Build your own RGB LED Cube Part 1: the cube and case

As you might have noticed, part 1 concentrates on the cube itself and the case. No electronics yet. The video should already give you plenty of details. But I will give you a short list of parts that you will need to build the cube itself.

Order the Parts for the Cube!

Here you can find a parts list with example seller (affiliate links):

Ebay:

RGB LEDs Common Anode: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Silvered Copper Wire (Bridge Wire):http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Solder: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Ribbon Cable: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Amazon.de:

RGB LEDs Common Anode: http://amzn.to/1cjetjZ

http://amzn.to/1lHSJ48

Silvered Copper Wire (Bridge Wire): http://amzn.to/1cjeHaH

Solder: http://amzn.to/1lHSJ48

Ribbon Cable: http://amzn.to/1m8P3JA

Aliexpress:

RGB LEDs Common Anode: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZ2unDY

Silvered Copper Wire (Bridge Wire): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6ClzWi

Solder: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTGclAw

Ribbon Cable: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXkghb4

You Finished the Cube and Case!

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Congrats on your finished cube and case. It should now look a little bit like mine in the picture. Go ahead and test all connections with a power supply. If everything works fine you can go ahead and build the electronics in the next steps.

Watch Part 2 of the Video Series!

Build your own RGB LED Cube Part 2: the electronics

The video gives you plenty of info on how to build the controller for the cube. In the next step I will give you the schematic for the circuit and the part list.

Order the Parts for the Controller and Solder It!

LEDCube Schematic.png

Here you can find a parts list with example seller (affiliate links)

Ebay:

DC Jack:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Switch: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Potentiometer (10k):http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Arduino Nano: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

TLC5940: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Resistor Kit:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Power Supply (5V, 2A): http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

IRF9540N P-Channel MOSFET:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Capacitor Kit:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Prototyping PCB: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Amazon.de:

DC Jack: http://amzn.to/1Ed1hrt

Switch: http://amzn.to/1vi1UsA

Potentiometer (10k): http://amzn.to/1nRws1J

Arduino Nano: http://amzn.to/1d4H1w1

TLC5940: http://amzn.to/1rVmQZC

Resistor Kit: http://amzn.to/1gt9XPf

Power Supply (5V, 2A): http://amzn.to/1rUJuQN

Capacitor Kit: http://amzn.to/1yE71u3

Prototyping PCB: http://amzn.to/1rVpcI9

Aliexpress:

DC Jack: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6cVZVl

Switch: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d9dxPD5

Potentiometer (10k): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dX83GAF

Arduino Nano: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dULoNXh

TLC5940: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7bKqAI

Resistor Kit: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTPpXjt

Power Supply (5V, 2A): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7d5TO6

Capacitor Kit: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dU4FEsB

Prototyping PCB: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXx2Zv5

Upload the Arduino Code and Test the Cube!

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Download the code for the LED Cube. This is already my updated version of the code which I showed in part 3 of the video series. Be sure to watch this part as well to get an idea how the code works.

Watch Part 3 of the Video Series!

Build your own RGB LED Cube Part 3: optimisation and animations

This time it is all about optimisation. You may get a better understanding of the code if you watch the video carefully.

New Animations!

Build your own 4x4x4 RGB LED Cube Part 4: new animations

Here you can get some new animations which were created by a viewer.

Visit his channel here:

Success!

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You did it. You just finished your own 4x4x4 RGB LED Cube. Feel free to develope the code in more creative ways than I did. And feel free to share those new creations.

Feel free to check out my Youtube channel for more awesome projects.
https://www.youtube.com/user/greatscottlab

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for news about upcoming projects and behind the scenes informations.

https://twitter.com/GreatScottLab

https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlab