# Animated LED Sand
## Overview
https://youtu.be/rDo1S-UWtdg
## Simulated Glowy Physics!
These LEDs interact with motion and looks like they’re affect by gravity. An Adafruit LED matrix displays the LEDs as little grains of sand which are driven by sampling an accelerometer with an Adafruit Feather.
The code, written by [Phillip Burgess](../../../../users/pburgess), simulates physics by calculating collisions and terminal velocity.
We designed 3d printed enclosures to take advantage of sensor readings by allowing it teeter totter as well as a gimbal to create interesting simulations.
## Prerequisite Guides
I suggest walking through the following guides to get a better understanding of the electronics.
- [Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer](../../../../adafruit-lis3dh-triple-axis-accelerometer-breakout)
- [Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix](../../../../adafruit-15x7-7x15-charlieplex-led-matrix-charliewing-featherwing)
- [Adafruit Feather M0 Basic](../../../../adafruit-feather-m0-basic-proto)
### Part: M2X8mm Screws
quantity: 6
M2x8mm screws
### Part: M2X4mm screws
quantity: 2
M2X4mm screws
Featured
### Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto - ATSAMD21 Cortex M0
[Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto - ATSAMD21 Cortex M0](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2772)
Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores.
This is the **Feather M0 Basic Proto** , it has a bunch of prototyping space...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2772)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2772/guides)
Featured
### Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix Display FeatherWings
[Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix Display FeatherWings](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2965)
You wont be able to look away from the mesmerizing patterns created by these **Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix Display FeatherWings**. These 15x7 LED displays can be paired with with any of our [Feather...](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/830)
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2965)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2965/guides)
Featured
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7V 350mAh
[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7V 350mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2750)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 350mAh for a total of about 1.3 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!) battery,
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2750)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2750/guides)
Featured
### Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer (+-2g/4g/8g/16g)
[Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer (+-2g/4g/8g/16g)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809)
The **LIS3DH** is a very popular low power **triple-axis accelerometer**. It's low-cost, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want in an accelerometer:
- Three axis sensing, 10-bit...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2809/guides)
Featured
### Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch
[Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805)
These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch no matter what size fingers you have, but not so easy that they'll get flipped by accident. Work great as...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/805/guides)
# Animated LED Sand
## Circuit Diagram
Take a moment to review the components in the circuit diagram. This illustration is meant for referencing wired connections - The length of wire, position and size of components are not exact.
The **Slide switch** will connect to the Feather board and will need to be **70mm** for the **GND** and **50mm** for the **EN** pin
**CharliePlex Featherwing** connects the **Feather**.
The connections for **SDA** and **SCL** wires will need to be **70mm** long.
**3V** and **GND** connections can both be **80mm** long
**LIS3DH** connects to the top of the Feather via the 3d printed mount and will need to be 40mm long for **3V, GND, SDA and SCL** connections.
# Animated LED Sand
## Code
To use the LED Sand sketch you'll want to make sure you're using the [latest version of the Arduino IDE](https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software) (1.6.5 at the time of this writing).
If you're totally new to Arduino take a little time to go through some introductory tutorials like [how to make a LED blink](../../../../adafruit-arduino-lesson-1-blink). This will help you understand how to use the IDE, load a sketch, and upload code.
Next you'll need to make sure the libraries used by the sketch are installed. With the latest Arduino IDE you can use its [library manager](https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Libraries#toc3) to easily install libraries, or check out this [guide on how to manually install a library](../../../../adafruit-all-about-arduino-libraries-install-use/arduino-libraries). You'll want to install the following libraries:
- Adafruit LIS3DH
- [Adafruit Unified Sensor](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Sensor)
- Adafruit IS31FL3731 Charlieplex LED
Search for the libraries in the library manager and they should be easy to find and install.
If you already have one or more of these libraries installed then make sure to update it to the latest version.
https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Learning_System_Guides/blob/main/LED_Sand/LED_Sand.ino
# Animated LED Sand
## 3D Printing
The 3D printed parts are fairly easy to make with most common home desktop 3D printers that are on the market.
And if you don’t have access a 3D printer, you can order our parts by visiting our Thingiverse page and have someone local 3D print the parts and ship them to you.
[Download the Fusion360 files (dome version)](https://a360.co/3RSijas)
[Download the Fusion 360 files (gimbal version)](https://a360.co/4aGM3Qd)
[Download from Thingiverse](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2751250)
[Download from Youmagine](Enter%20a%20Link)
[Download from Pinshape](https://pinshape.com/items/41902-3d-printed-animated-led-sand-physics-toy)
## Slice Settings
Download the STL file and import it into your 3D printing slicing software. You'll need to adjust your settings accordingly if you're using material different than PLA.
- 230C Extruder Temp
- No heated bed (65C for heated)
- 1.0 Extrusion Multiplier
- .4mm Nozzle
- 0.38 Extrusion Width
- .2mm Layer Height
- 30% infill
- No Supports
- skirt
- 60mm/s | 120mm travel speed
## Clean up
We used a flush diagonal cutter to clean up any stringing and overhangs around the port openings and around the standoffs inside the enclosure.
Make sure the openings for the USB ports are cleaned before mounting components. Use a hobby knife to help cut away stringing that could block components from mounting.
# Animated LED Sand
## Assembly
## Measure Wires
First we'll need to measure wires for each component so its long enough to reach each mount inside the enclosure.
The **Slide Switch** will connect to the Feather board and will need to be **70mm** for the **GND** and **50mm** for the **EN** pin.
CharliePlex Featherwing connects the Feather. Connections for **SDA** and **SCL** wires will need to be **70mm** long. Measure the **3v** and **GND** connections to both be **80mm** long.
**LIS3DH** connects to the Feather and will need all four connections to be **40mm** long.
## Assemble Slide Switch
A slide switch is used to tie the enable and ground pins so we can turn off the 3 volt regulator, while still enabling you to charge the lipo battery through a USB cable.
Use heat shrink to prevent the pins from touching other components when inserted into the enclosure.
We used 1x45mm sized heat shrink tubes. You can use the side of the soldering iron to heat up and shrink the tubes around the solder connections.
Use a flush diagonal cutter to remove the unused third pin.
## Wire Boards
The LED matrix is free-wired to the Adafruit Feather to make the assembly as slim as possible.
We can solder the wires from the bottom side of the boards to make them easy to attach to each other. This also gives room for the battery to fit between the two boards.
We used 30AWG silicone coated wires to provide flexibility and durable handling.
##
## Solder Slide Switch
Next, we'll solder the slide switch to the **EN** and **GND** pin on the top of the Feather board.
## Solder Accelerometer
The LIS3DH is soldered in the same way, with the wires underneath the board.
We can then solder connections for **SDA, SCL, GND** and **3V** to the top side of the Feather board.
Later, will mount it to the top of the Feather board with the help of a 3d printed mount.
## Accelerometer Mount
This 3d printed mount will secure the LIS3DH to the top of the Feather board.
We'll use **M2x4mm** screws to connect the LIS3DH to the 3d printed mount.
Next we'll fasten the the 3d printed mount on top of the feather board. We'll use the two mounts close to the prototyping area.
Use two **M2x8mm** screws so they can reach through the Feather and in the 3d printed spacer.
## Spacer
This 3d printed spacer will join the Feather and CharliePlex board together.
This will allow a 350mAh lipo battery to safely sit between the two boards, with just enough space to fit the wires from both boards.
## Attach boards
First fasten the two screws on the accelerometer mount. Leave the other two screws unfastened until we fit the battery cable through the opening on the spacer.
## Bundle wires
Next, we'll want to tidy up the wires by bundling them up with a small pieces of kapton tape. This will make it easier to arrange the wires allowing the battery to fit between the boards.
## Mount Battery
Now we can pass the battery wire through the opening on the side of the 3d printed spacer.
Reference the picture so the wires wraps around the board with enough space to plug into the Feather board.
## Attach Spacer
Now we can fasten the other two **M2x8mm** screws through the Feather board. Tighten them in from the top of the Feather, into the spacer.
The Feather board should now be firmly attached to the 3d printed spacer. The CharliePlex board will attach after we mount it into the enclosure.
## Plug in battery
First we'll need to plug in the battery before we insert it into the enclosure.
Reference the picture to route the wire along the side of the spacer, to the JST PH-2 connector on the Feather board.
If the LEDs light up, use the slide switch to turn the circuit off.
## Mount inside enclosure
Align the CharliePlex to the enclosure, making sure the display cutout matches the LED matrix. (We're showing the box enclosure, but all of the design variants mount the same).
## Tuck wires
One side of the enclosure is wider to accommodate the JST connection on the side of the Feather board. Carefully fit the wires inside the enclosure. You can use tweezers to arrange them next to the spacer.
## Align mounting holes
Flip the enclosure to the display cutout. Move the CharliePlex board so it aligns with the mounting holes on the front face of the enclosure.
Use four **M2x8mm** screws on the front face of the enclosure to attach the CharliePlex to the spacer.
## Face cover
To hide the screws on the front of the enclosure, we used a small amount of tac to adhere one of the printed face cover.
## Slide Switch Tolerances
To adjust for different printer tolerances and to ensure the slide switch tightly press fits into the enclosure, we might need to gently spread the two metal sides. This will help the slide switch snap fit into place on the printed part.
## Slide Switch Mount
First, carefully flip the slide the switch into the middle position. This will make it easier to pass through the opening in the enclosure.
Now we can insert the slide switch into the mount. Tilt the slide switch at an angle and then press fit into place.
## Attach Lid
The lid press fits onto the enclosure by aligning the nubs on both parts. Insert the protruding nubs on the lid into its matching cavity on the enclosure.
## Gimbal Assemble
To assemble the gimbal version of the enclosure, simply insert the points on the sides, one by one, at an angle.
Use by holding the outer ring close, but not over the points that attach them to each other ring. Gently move in an up and down motion to spin the center of the gimbal!
## Teeter totter
The boards are offset so the display can mount to the center of the enclosure. This make it unstable on a dome, making the "grains of sand" bounce in unexpected fun ways.
Simply push on the side close to the USB port to randomly spin the enclosure on a flat table.
## Guide Products
### Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto - ATSAMD21 Cortex M0
[Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto - ATSAMD21 Cortex M0](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2772)
Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores.
This is the **Feather M0 Basic Proto** , it has a bunch of prototyping space...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2772)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2772/guides)
### Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix Display FeatherWings
[Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix Display FeatherWings](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2965)
You wont be able to look away from the mesmerizing patterns created by these **Adafruit 15x7 CharliePlex LED Matrix Display FeatherWings**. These 15x7 LED displays can be paired with with any of our [Feather...](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/830)
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2965)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2965/guides)
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7V 350mAh
[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7V 350mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2750)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 350mAh for a total of about 1.3 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!) battery,
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2750)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2750/guides)
### Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer (+-2g/4g/8g/16g)
[Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer (+-2g/4g/8g/16g)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809)
The **LIS3DH** is a very popular low power **triple-axis accelerometer**. It's low-cost, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want in an accelerometer:
- Three axis sensing, 10-bit...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2809/guides)
### Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch
[Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805)
These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch no matter what size fingers you have, but not so easy that they'll get flipped by accident. Work great as...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/805/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)
### PLA Filament for 3D Printers - 1.75mm Diameter - Teal - 1KG
[PLA Filament for 3D Printers - 1.75mm Diameter - Teal - 1KG](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3069)
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...
No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3069)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3069/guides)
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