# Fiber Optic Whip ## Introduction https://youtu.be/1V3Tf-m23Q4 This whip makes me feel like I'm dancing with a thousand fireflies. Its light source is a neopixel jewel, with seven addressable pixels allowing for an amazing array of color changes and animations.  The end-glow fibers dance around in the air and create a whirl of color points that is mesmerizing to watch and incredibly fun to play with.  I never want to put it down. The handle is 3d printed and fits the battery and all the electronics inside.  There's a button for changing modes and an on-off switch.  It's got an onboard battery charger too, so you can play with it for hours and then recharge by plugging in a USB cable. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/046/701/medium800/led_pixels_LED_Whips-2.jpg?1505946436) ### Difficulty Level This project requires decent soldering skills and the ability to upload code with the Arduino IDE.  It's also a little fiddly to get everything situated in the handle correctly. You don't need mad coding skills -- you can copy and paste the code into your IDE and use it as-is.   Also don't worry if you don't have a 3d printer!  There are services available that will print the handle and ship it to you. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/046/694/medium800/led_pixels_fibers.jpg?1505944546) # Fiber Optics Fiber optics are fiddly beasts.  You can order them in bulk online but lining them up with the light source is hard -- to do it right you need specialty tools like a hot knife and fancy connectors.   I left that part of it to the pros, and ordered [this pre-assembled fiber optic bundle from Weidamark](http://www.wiedamark.com/14420FT3SizeStrandBundledFiber.aspx).  Shop around on the site -- there are several different options for cable length and number of fibers.  The 12 foot, 144 strand bundle is what I used.   # Parts & Materials ### Part: Pro Trinket quantity: 1 Pro Trinket 5v [Pro Trinket](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2000) ### Part: Neopixel Jewel quantity: 1 Neopixel Jewel [Neopixel Jewel](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2226) ### Part: LiPoly Backpack Charger Add-On quantity: 1 Battery Charger [LiPoly Backpack Charger Add-On](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2124) ### Part: Momentary Switch quantity: 1 Metal mode-change switch [Momentary Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3347) ### Part: Slide Switch quantity: 1 On/off Switch [Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) You'll also need the [fiber optic bundle](http://www.wiedamark.com/starceilingfiber.aspx) and a 3d printed handle.  I also added a [wrist strap](https://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-1801021-Strap/dp/B000H02B6O/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1505510399&sr=1-7&keywords=camera+wrist+strap) to minimize dropping. # Tools - Soldering Iron & accessories - Heat shrink tubing - Hot glue gun - Gaffer's tape or duct tape - USB cable ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/046/695/medium800/led_pixels_assembly.jpg?1505944645) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/fiber-optic-whip/wiring-diagram.md) ## Featured Products ### 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) ### Adafruit Pro Trinket - 5V 16MHz [Adafruit Pro Trinket - 5V 16MHz](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2000) **Deprecation Warning: The Pro 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 Pro Trinket so that people can maintain some older projets, we no longer recommend it.** Please... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2000) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2000/guides) ### Adafruit LiIon/LiPoly Backpack Add-On for Pro Trinket/ItsyBitsy [Adafruit LiIon/LiPoly Backpack Add-On for Pro Trinket/ItsyBitsy](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2124) If you have an ItsyBitsy or Pro Trinket you probably know it's the perfect little size for a portable project. This LiPoly backpack makes it really easy to do! Instead of wiring 2 or 3 boards together to make a charging system, this little PCB sits on top of the PCB and allows a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2124) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2124/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) ### 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... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/805/guides) ### Metal Ball Tactile Button (6mm) x 10 pack [Metal Ball Tactile Button (6mm) x 10 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3347) Add some steely elegance to your project with these **Metal Ball Tactile Buttons**. They've got a nice industrial shine to them along with a light blue underbelly. Not only do they look good, but they're also good if you have an actuator that will be pressing the... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3347) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3347/guides) ## Related Guides - [NeoPixel Flame Torch](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-flame-torch.md) - [Animated Flame Pendant](https://learn.adafruit.com/animated-flame-pendant.md) - [Gemma M0 Sheikah Pendant](https://learn.adafruit.com/gemma-m0-sheikah-pendant.md) - [Your Pulse Displayed with NeoPixels](https://learn.adafruit.com/pulse-sensor-displayed-with-neopixels.md) - [NeoMatrix 8x8 Word Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/neomatrix-8x8-word-clock.md) - [Pro Trinket Tachometer](https://learn.adafruit.com/pro-trinket-tachometer.md) - [Adafriend the Virtual Pet Cube](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafriend.md) - [Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-audio-fx-sound-board.md) - [Animated Scrolling "Mario Clouds" TFT Jewelry](https://learn.adafruit.com/scrolling-mario-clouds-tft-jewelry.md) - [Tent Lantern](https://learn.adafruit.com/tent-lantern.md) - [Watchmen's Sister Night NeoPixel Goggles](https://learn.adafruit.com/watchmen-sister-night-circuitpython-neopixel-goggles.md) - [Portable Trellis Sound Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/portable-trellis-sound-board.md) - [Neopixel Jewel 10 Minute Necklace](https://learn.adafruit.com/10-minute-neopixel-necklace.md) - [Fiddy - the FTDI Clip](https://learn.adafruit.com/fiddy-ftdi-pogo-pin-clip.md) - [Galaxy Pendant](https://learn.adafruit.com/life-proof-led-necklace.md)