RGB Saber

Created by [Ye Gao] • Started on April 04, 2024

I wanna build thoose collapsing sword 3d print with like a string of neo pixels and some kind of pcb in the hilt to power it

June 4th: Develop the basic software

Today I focused on making the software for the RGB Saber lighting. I wrote a simulation in wokwi using mircopython that where 16 NeoPixels change color based on motion like the acceleration and rotation data and translates those movements into color and brightness. Now I just need to create the CAD model

https://hc-cdn.hel1.your-objectstorage.com/s/v3/d15d8fdf623ed5de376db096c4af2843837e347e_04.06.2025_20.14.30_rec.mp4

Journal Update for highway call

Total time spent: 2.5h

June 5th: Cadded the sword

Okay so today I opened onshape and began modeling the collapsible blade sections. The walls currently are only 1 mm thick and 1.25 mm apart which hopfully is thin enough for the light to go thur but doesn't break, I need some testing to be sure tho.

image image

Total time spent: 1.5h

June 5th: Created the pcb

Now finally the important part the electronics, I made the schematic and PCB so that it fits inside the hilt handle. The components being the thing with Adafruit powerboost 500C to provide stable 5 v to the Xiao seeed rp 2040 which is compact and enough pins for my desgin, and mpu6050 that will provide the gyroscope data for the motion.

Additionally I had to do some research on the wiring and learn some things I didn't know before like the need for decoupling capitours to prevent voltage droop, and the need for ground pour to reduce EMI

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Total time spent: 4h