Once he had the basics down, the next step was to start expanding his code to handle things like shapes, text, and daisy-chained panels. With careful attention and some custom code, he eventually figured out that each byte of data sent down the line would control a 4 x 2 section of LEDs. The next step was to take an ATmega328PB based development board and start throwing data at the panel’s input lines to see if he could elicit a response.
Especially once he noticed the MBI5024 shift registers dotting the board.
#Diy mini led panel crack#
The COVID-19 lockdown left him with only a limited set of tools, be he still managed to crack the protocol used to control his e-waste score and document it for our reading pleasure.īetween the helpful labels on the PCB silkscreen and the advice of a friend that used to work on digital road signs, it didn’t take long to get a general idea of what the panels were looking for in terms of power and control. Despite the fact that the model numbers didn’t reveal anything helpful after some online searching, he decided to pedal off with as many as he could safely carry. While out riding his bike, came across a dumpster overflowing with large LED panels. Posted in how-to, LED Hacks Tagged 3d printing, aluminum extrusion, bezel, enclosure, frame, LED panel, magnetic, raspberry pi We like the way the basic design scales and is flexible about the thickness and size of the LED panels themselves, making it a promising way to accommodate perfectly functional oddball panels that end up in the trash. The result looks slick and sturdy, and some of the tips are sure to be useful even if the whole process isn’t applied. For mounting all the other hardware, a piece of DIN rail and some 3D-printed parts takes care of that. This can provide a flush mount while avoiding the whole issue of screw-mounting the display panels themselves, or sliding them into channels. Mounting the LED panel itself is done with magnetic feet and providing a length of steel bar to which the display can attach. provides some basic frame layouts, and suggests using two- or three-channel extrusions to provide a flat bezel around the display edge if desired. It may not be much, but it can be the difference between an ideal fit, and something that looks like a bit of a hack job. There can be small differences between what a data sheet says to expect, and the dimensions of the actual part in one’s hands. Here is one tip that will resonate with some readers: don’t rely on specified dimensions of parts measure the actual parts yourself. Magnetic feet on the LED panels makes mounting much easier and more flexible.
The process of building an attractive frame also has a few hidden gotchas that can be avoided with a bit of careful planning. At first glance it may look as though slapping a rectangle of aluminum extrusion around a display is all it takes, there is also the mounting and management of wiring, power supply, and possibly a Raspberry Pi to deal with. Has created many LED-based display projects, and shares his method for making attractive LED panel frames and mounts.