# 3D Printed Glowing Mace Prop
## Overview
https://youtu.be/JaP2hzsd36Q
## The Morning Star
More commonly known as a "mace", this medieval weapon has been popularized by one of DC Comics heroines, Hawkgirl. Hawkgirl carries a mace made of Nth metal, which generates electric currents and repels magical energies.
From Wikipedia:
> A **morning star** is any of several medieval [club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_(weapon) "Club (weapon)")-like weapons that included one or more spikes. Each used, to varying degrees, a combination of blunt-force and puncture attack to kill or wound the enemy.
## 3D Printing & Electronics
This project is uses 3D Printing and electronics to create a cosplay prop that lights up. The head of the mace is an icosahedron with 18 individual spikes. Inside the head is a NeoPixel Jewel that glows bright and animates a color wheel. The handle houses an Adafruit Trinket and 2200mAh battery. On the bottom of the pommel features a metal pushbutton with a red LED ring.
There's a total of 28 3D printed parts, most of which screw together via custom threads. This project utilized some special filaments such as Wood and Steel composite PLA materials, making an interesting combination.
## Get Inspired & Remix
If a Moring Star isn't your jam, you could easily use this tutorial as a guide for making a number of different cosplay props. The components and circuit can totally be used in lots of different ways, for example, this could be a sword, battle axe or even a wearable gauntlet.
The goal of this project is to inspire cosplayers and prop makers to use electronics in their builds. By incorporating micro-controllers and NeoPixel LEDs, you're giving your props that extra dimension, adding value and depth that makes it stand out.
## Prerequisite Guides
We suggest walking through the following guides to get a better understanding of the components and Arduino IDE. We also have great tutorials on learning how to solder.
- [Collin's Lab: Soldering](../../../../collins-lab-soldering/video?view=all)
- [Adafruit's Uber NeoPixel Guide](../../../../adafruit-neopixel-uberguide)
- [Adafruit Trinket](../../../../introducing-trinket/downloads?view=all)
## Parts
All of the components used in this project are listed below and in the right hand sidebar.
- [Adafruit Trinket](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1500)
- [NeoPixel Jewel](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2226)
- [Switched JST Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1863)
- [Metal On/Off pushbutton w/ Red LED Ring](https://www.adafruit.com/products/916)
- [2200mAh Cylindrical Battery](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1781)
- [Adafruit Micro Lipo Charger](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1904)
## Tools & Supplies
You'll need some tools and supplies to complete this project, but feel free to improvise and use any materials you like.
- [3D Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/245) & [Filament](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2080)
- [Soldering Iron](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/84) & Solder
- [Wire Strippers](https://www.adafruit.com/products/527) / [Cutters](https://www.adafruit.com/products/152)
- [Panavise Jr.](https://www.adafruit.com/products/151) / [Helping Third Hands](https://www.adafruit.com/products/291)
- USB Cable & [Wire](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/473)
- Super glue / E6000 Adhesive
## Lighting Effects
The photos shown here are not photoshopped, they're just taken with a long exposure. This results in the " **Light Painting**" effect that's a common photography technique. NeoPixel LEDs can get pretty bright, enough for the diffusion to be visiable even in well lit environments.
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-glowing-mace-prop/circuit-diagram.md)
## Featured Products
### Adafruit Trinket - Mini Microcontroller - 3.3V Logic
[Adafruit Trinket - Mini Microcontroller - 3.3V Logic](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1500)
**Deprecation Warning: The Trinket bit-bang USB technique it uses doesn't work as well as it did in 2014, many modern computers won't work well. So while we still carry the Trinket so that people can maintain some older projects, we no longer recommend it.**
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1500)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1500/guides)
### NeoPixel Jewel - 7 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers
[NeoPixel Jewel - 7 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2226)
Be the belle of the ball with the NeoPixel Jewel! We fit seven of our tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) smart RGB LEDs onto a beautiful, round PCB with mounting holes and a chainable design to create what we think is our most elegant (and evening-wear appropriate) NeoPixel board...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2226)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2226/guides)
### Switched JST-PH 2-Pin SMT Right Angle Breakout Board
[Switched JST-PH 2-Pin SMT Right Angle Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1863)
This switched JST connector is the best way to quickly prototype with our LiPoly batteries. We paired a genuine JST connector with a slide switch that can do up to 600mA. Both are soldered onto a breadboard-friendly breakout. There's two ground pins, one 'switched' power pin, and...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1863)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1863/guides)
### Adafruit Micro-Lipo Charger for LiPo/LiIon Batt w/MicroUSB Jack
[Adafruit Micro-Lipo Charger for LiPo/LiIon Batt w/MicroUSB Jack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1904)
Oh so handy, this little lipo charger is so small and easy to use you can keep it on your desk or mount it easily into any project! Simply plug it via any MicroUSB cable into a USB port and a 3.7V/4.2V lithium polymer or lithium ion rechargeable battery into the JST plug on the other end....
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1904)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1904/guides)
### Rugged Metal On/Off Switch with Red LED Ring
[Rugged Metal On/Off Switch with Red LED Ring](https://www.adafruit.com/product/916)
These chrome-plated metal buttons are rugged and look real good while doing it! Simply drill a 16mm hole into any material up to 1/2" thick and you can fit these in place, there's even a rubber gasket to keep water out of the enclosure. On the front of the button is a flat metal...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/916)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/916/guides)
### Lithium Ion Cylindrical Battery - 3.7v 2200mAh
[Lithium Ion Cylindrical Battery - 3.7v 2200mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1781)
Need a big battery for your project? This lithium-ion battery contains a 2200mAh and a protection circuit that provides over-voltage, under-voltage, and over-current protection. Yet, it is slim and easy to fit into many project cases.
This cell can provide 2 **C** of...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1781)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1781/guides)
### Ultimaker 2+ 3D Printer
[Ultimaker 2+ 3D Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2673)
The **Ultimaker 2+** is one of our favorite 3D printers on the market. It's a well-built open-source compact machine with an excellent UX. Every inch of the Ultimaker 2+ is designed to create the most effortless and reliable 3D printing experience ever!
No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2673)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2673/guides)
### Filament for 3D Printers in Various Colors and Types
[Filament for 3D Printers in Various Colors and Types](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2080)
Having a 3D printer without filament is sort of like having a regular printer without paper or ink. And while a lot of printers come with some filament there's a good chance you've been printing up a storm and need something new. That's why we've started carrying a...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2080)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2080/guides)
## Related Guides
- [NeoPixel Novelty Cufflinks with Scrolling Text](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-novelty-cufflinks-with-scrolling-text.md)
- [Neopixel Cosmic Turtle Necklace](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-led-magnetic-pendant-necklace.md)
- [Lie Ren's Stormflower Gun Blade](https://learn.adafruit.com/stormflower-gun-blade.md)
- [DIY Bluetooth Gamepad](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-bluetooth-gamepad.md)
- [Adding Third Party Boards to the Arduino v1.6.4+ IDE](https://learn.adafruit.com/add-boards-arduino-v164.md)
- [LED Harness Bra](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-led-harness-bra.md)
- [Festive Feather Holiday Lights](https://learn.adafruit.com/festive-feather-holiday-lights.md)
- [DIY Rechargeable LED Makeup Compact](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-rechargeable-led-makeup-compact.md)
- [Neopixel Jewel 10 Minute Necklace](https://learn.adafruit.com/10-minute-neopixel-necklace.md)
- [Simple LED Unicorn Horn](https://learn.adafruit.com/simple-led-unicorn-horn.md)
- [Using Crickit and Adafruit IO together](https://learn.adafruit.com/crickit-and-adafruitio.md)
- [LO-LA59 Droid](https://learn.adafruit.com/lola-droid.md)
- [Adafruit Trinket-Modded Stuffed Animal](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-trinket-modded-stuffed-animal.md)
- [A NeoPixel Blinkendisc](https://learn.adafruit.com/a-neopixel-blinkendisc.md)
- [Glowing LED Team Badge for Pokemon Go](https://learn.adafruit.com/glowing-led-team-badge-for-pokemon-go.md)