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How to build a 8x8x8 led cube (English version) by agofi (/member/agofi/)

Download (/id/How-to-build-a-8x8x8-led-cube-English-version/?download=pdf)

(/id/How-to-build-a-8x8x8-led-cube-English-version/) 7 Steps

Collection I Made it! Favorite Share

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(http://cdn.instructables.com/FB8/R6IZ/FY7M6CDC/FB8R6IZFY7M6CDC.LARGE.jpg) cube/)

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THANKS TO ISACCO THAT HELPED ME TO TRANSLATE THIS
INSTRUCTABLE

Probably you have reached this page because you have seen one of the video
Related
clips on led cubes, which are spread in the internet, and you have decided to build
Led Cube 4x4x4 (/id/Led-
one by yourself. Cube-4x4x4-6/)
Well, I am happy to let you know that you have got to the right place. Here you will by bajgik (/member/bajgik/)
find my notes, the pictures for crafting, the source code for the software that I
developed for controlling the cube, and many demonstration videos.
3x3x3 LED Cube
Before you start, please read the whole instructable. This is advisable to have a (/id/3x3x3-LED-Cube-2/)
global view of the project. by JColvin91
Prior to enter in the practical steps, a short theoretical introduction is necessary to (/member/JColvin91/)
well understand what we are talking about.
8x8x8 led cube (build)
(/id/8x8x8-led-cube-build/)
How the cube is made: by fallinsquirrel
The dimensions of the cube will be 8 led by 8 led, by 8 led, for a total of 512 leds. (/member/fallinsquirrel/)
The whole structure will be based on a wood board.
LED Cube 4x4x4 (/id/LED-
Cube-4x4x4/)
The concept of persistence of vision: by chr (/member/chr/)
In this project we will exploit the persistence of vision. This phenomenon is a feature
of the human eye and is responsible for the illusion that a movie is not composed
8X8 LED Cube take 2
by individual still images. All the animations are based on this biological dis- (/id/8X8-LED-Cube-take-2/)
functioning of the human eye. If we can switch on and off the leds in a sufficiently by mrsyfy (/member/mrsyfy/)
quick time, (a few milliseconds) they will appear as if they were simultaneously on.
We use the persistence of vision because simultaneously switching all the cube
 leds on would require a very high electric current (in ampere). Actually, if we See More (/tag/type-id/?q=)
consider that the high brightness leds of this project require about 20 mA, we can
calculate that 512 leds would require 10.24 A. This high current is hard to manage.
So, what we do? We switch on a cube layer at each time! In this way the current
consumption will never exceed 1.28 A (20 mA x 64 leds), which is easily supplied
by a good voltage transformer. Let us suppose that we want to make the cube
appear as completely switched on. To achieve that we simply have to switch on the
different layers one by one at high speed. To a human eye the cube will appear as
completely lighted.

How to control each led:

In order to independently control each led, we divide the cube into horizontal layers
and vertical columns.
All the leds of a horizontal layer will have the cathodic contact (-) in common.
All the leds of a vertical column will have the anodic contact (+) in common.
Overall, it will be necessary to control 8 cathodic contacts to select the layers and
64 anodic contacts to select the columns. The combination layers by column will
select and switch a single led.

The 8-bit shift registers:

The shift registers are composed by 1-bit memory cells connected one each other.
At each clock impulse, they allow the bit flowing from a cell to the next-one. The
registers used in this project are SIPO (serial input-parallel output) type. The data
are charged one by one through the input bits and the output bits are
simultaneously collected from the 8 outlets.

Power supply':
To power the cube and the control circuit it is necessary a power supplier with the
following specifications:
- voltage: 5 volts (stabilized)
- current: 2 ampere (4 is better)

Pictures:
The finished cube functioning.

Step 1: Let us build the real cube (first part)

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Needed tools:
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FM1/ZDAK/FY7M6CEO/FM1ZDAKFY7M6CEO.LARGE.jpg)
- Soldering iron
- Soldering(http://cdn.instructables.com/FN9/ZO8V/FY7M6CEM/FN9ZO8VFY7M6CEM.LARGE.jpg)
tin alloy
- Hot glue gun
- Jigsaw

Needed materials:
- 512 leds of your favourite colour
- 1 40 pin flat cable (to connect the IDE hard disk to the pc)
- 1 34 pin flat cable (to connect floppy disk to the PC)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F9L/KIX5/FY7M6CEL/F9LKIX5FY7M6CEL.LARGE.jpg)
- 1 prototype board
- 1 plywood board 20x20 cm, 8 mm thick
- Electric wire suitable for soldering (thin, flexible, and resistant)

Building:
Draw a 7x7 square grid (2.5 cm side) on the the plywood board. At the crossings of
the grid lines drill 64 holes with a mesh diameter as the led size, generally 5 mm.
This board will be the basis on which all the leds will be soldered. By this solid grid
the leds will be evenly spaced and perfectly aligned. As explained in the intro, the
cathodic contacts of each layer will be joint together. Insert the 64 leds in the board
holes and bend the cathodic (-) terminal to obtain an interconnected grid.

SEE IMG. 02.1 AND 02.2

Let go out the board holes only one led terminal. It will control the layer.
Attention! Each time you finish soldering a layer, test each single led. It is
convenient to discover early if a led is burned out or not well soldered.

SEE IMG. 03.1 AND 03.2 AND 03.3

Make 8 identical grids, paying attention that the led terminals going out of the board
have a different orientation for each layer.

SEE IMG. 04

Step 2: Let us build the real cube (second part)

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Once the 8 layers have been made, we are going to connect them together.
Place the led layer on the plywood board, one layer at each time. Bend the anodic
terminals (+) as shown in the picture. Bending the terminals is necessary to solder
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FET/6179/FY7M6CM5/FET6179FY7M6CM5.LARGE.jpg)

all the anodic terminal on the column with a straight wire, without the need of wire
bending to overcome the led.

SEE FIG. 05.1, 05.2 and 05.3

Once all the led layers are ready, cut an electric wire into 64 pieces 20 cm long.
Take the insulation plastic off these wire pieces and make them as straight as
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FCT/W4D8/FY7M6CM4/FCTW4D8FY7M6CM4.LARGE.jpg)
possible (surely you do not want to build the Pisa cube!). The more straight the wire
the more squared will be the cube. The led layers must be spaced 1.5 cm in
vertical.

SEE FIG. 06

Place the top layer on the plywood board with the leds corresponding to the holes.
Solder all the previously prepared 64 wires to the anodic terminals of the leds. After
finished this layer, insert from the top the next layer and continue soldering the
terminals.

Important tips:
 To obtain an even spacing between the layers, prepare 4 small wood pieces 1.5 cm
thick. You will insert them between the layers and they will help in holding the layer
in place during soldering.

After soldering each layer, always test all the leds. If you discover some bad leds at
the end of the project, it will be very hard to replace them. It is far better to spend
some time in preliminary tests than completely unmounting the cube to fix a single
led. You will need some patience for this tests, but, as the cube building goes on,
the structure will become more and more steady.

SEE FIG. 07.1 and 07.2

SEE FIG. 08

SEE FIG. 09

Once all the layers have been connected, you have to bring all the cathodic
terminals to the cube bottom. Remember that at this step the cube is up-side down.
So, bend at 90° all the terminals of a layer and solder them to the wires, as already
done for the columns.
Now remove the plywood board and drill 8 small holes on it to let the cathodic wires
pass through. Place the board over the cube, where the column wires (anodic
contacts) go out vertically. Let these wires pass through the 64 holes. You can use
the 1.5 cm wood pieces to hold the board over the led cube. Cut a prototype board
into 64 squares of 3 x 3 holes. These boards will serve to fix the terminals of
columns and layers to the plywood board.

SEE FIG. 10

Fill the holes of the plywood board with hot glue. For each hole, fill in the glue and
then insert the prototype board square at the right place, with column wire in the
central hole. When the glue is cold and solid, the wires will be steadily fixed in
place.
Remark: 8 prototype board squares will host both a layer wire (cathodic) and
column wire (anodic). After all the 64 board square have been fixed, solder all the
wires to the prototype boards and cut the exceeding wires. In this way the
connection with the control cables will be easy.

SEE FIG. 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3

At this moment, the cube is almost finished. It only remains to solder the control
wires to the led terminals. However, this step will be carried out later, after defining
the connections between the led terminals and the pins of control circuit.

Step 3: Build the control circuit (first part)

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Short introduction
The control circuit is basically composed of:
- 8 shift registers of 8 bits (total 64 bits) that enable / disable each column of the
cube
- 1 shift register connected to 8 NPN transistor to enable / disable each layer.
- 2 connectors with 40 and 34 pins for connection to the cube
- 1 connector with 2 pins for connection to the parallel port
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FNE/2P4J/FY3KNS66/FNE2P4JFY3KNS66.LARGE.jpg)

Why do we connect the 8 NPN transistor to the shift register of layers? As we

know, the leds of each layer have a common cathode (-), then we must enable
them to connect the signal mass. The problem is that the output of the layer shift
register have a high level signal (logic level 1 is equivalent to Vcc) in any pin
enabled. We need a component that, given a signal at logic level 1, enables the
passage of the current. This component is the transistor. It works as a switch: if the
pin of the base is set to logic level 1, the pin collectors and emitter are connected
together.

Tools needed:
- Soldering iron
- Soldering tin alloy
- Pincers

Materials needed:
- 9 shift register of 8 bit (I have used 74HC164B)
- 9 slots for shift register
- 8 NPN transistor (I have used 2N3904)
- 70 resistors 100 ohm
- 8 resistors 1500 ohm
- 1 prototype board
- 2 connectors with 40 and 34 pins for connecting to the cube
- 1 connector with 12 pins for connection to the parallel port
- 3 connectors with 2 pins for connecting the power switch, the led power and
power supply
 - 1 red / green led (power led)
- 1 button (power switch)
- 1 male connector for power supply
- 3 little cables with 2 wires, ended with a connector (like those used in PCs to
connect the leds of the front panel to the mother board)
- Electric wire suitable for soldering (thin, malleable, and resistant at the same time)

Once you have got all the components, you can begin the construction of the
control circuit. Use the scheme that you can found in the pictures of this step.

SEE PICTURES FROM 20.00 TO 20.14

First of all you must begin by placing the components above the base (or use the
same disposition that I have chosen), to realize their actual size. Once you have
positioned all the components, you should draw rectangles around them with a
pencil to outline their actual space. So, when you re-position them back, you will be
sure of their place. This is useful as you have to flip the base for soldering.

I would suggest you to solder the components in this sequence:

1 - Slots for shift register
2 - Resistances of 100 ohms and 1.5 Kohm
3 - Transistors
4 - Connectors

Now, with mooooooooooooooooooore patience, make the connections between the

main components. In a second stage, connect each resistor/transistor to the
connectors for connecting the cube. Take note of all matches OUTPUT SHIFT
REGISTER -> CONNECTORS PIN. This will be essential when we will solder the
various wires to each terminal of the cube.

There are several tips that you can follow:

- Cover 3/4 of the perimeter of the base with a track which you connect to the
signal mass. It is always useful to have a mass nearby.
- For connections between 2 or more adjacent points use soldering iron to connect
directly these points each other
- Do not insist too much with the iron on a single hole of the base, otherwise the
pitch copper could fall off.

Datasheets SHIFT REG e TRANSISTOR.zip

(/files/orig/FU7/UU5X/FY3KH9P7/FU7UU5XFY3KH9P7.zip)713 KB

schema circuito definitivo_Vcc.zip

(/files/orig/F3E/A0F9/FY3KH9P8/F3EA0F9FY3KH9P8.zip)686 KB

Step 4: Build the control circuit (second part)

 (http://cdn.instructables.com/FTG/XGMW/FY5WRLNA/FTGXGMWFY5WRLNA.LARGE.jpg)

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Show All 7 Items

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Connecting the wires to the cube:

Go back to the cube. Take the flat cables with 40 and 34 pin and cut it by removing
the connector from one side.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FHI/G4AL/FY7M6DFJ/FHIG4ALFY7M6DFJ.LARGE.jpg)

We must separate for about 10 cm the wire to the side where we cut the connector.
That wires will be connected to different pins of cathodes and anodes of the cube
according to the scheme that we made during the construction of the board. Each
pin of an output shift register will be connected to a whole row of connectors in the
order of pins (so not at random). In this way the first shift register controller the first
row, the second controller second, ecc&
PS: of the (http://cdn.instructables.com/F9H/HKPM/FY7M6DFM/F9HHKPMFY7M6DFM.LARGE.gif)
74 pins available (40 + 34) we will serve only 72 (64 columns, 8 layers),
2 remain not connected.

SEE IMG FROM 25.01 TO 25.04

Build the cable to connect to the parallel port:

In my case I've found a cable of an old 486 mother board. The outdated mother
board have not the parallel port integrated, it is connected by a flat cable to the pins
of mother board.
If you do not have a way to retrieve a cable and want to build it, this is the scheme
of the parallel port pins:

SEE IMG FROM 30.01 TO 30.03

 You'll have to use the pin from D0 to D5 connetting like this:
D0 -> input shift register columns
D1 -> clear shift register columns
D2 -> clock shift register columns
D3 -> input shift register layers
D4 -> clear shift register layers
D5 -> clock shift register layers

CAUTION: If the pins are not connected as described above, the control software
will not work.

Construction of cables for the power switch, power LED and power supply:
For all 3 cables you must only solder the components to the wire.

Step 5: Build the cube base

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 The basic is necessary to hide and protect the control circuit and for hide all the
cables to connect the PC and the cube.

Tools needed:
- Screwdrivers (or hammer)
- Vinavil glue
- Mini dremel
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F48/38KP/FY7M6DQE/F4838KPFY7M6DQE.LARGE.jpg)
- Black spray
- Spatula for putty
- Wood putty
- Fine sandpaper

Materials needed:
- 1 tablet of wood 20x20 cm, 8 mm thick
- 2 tablet of(http://cdn.instructables.com/FDI/0XAC/FY3KH9PM/FDI0XACFY3KH9PM.LARGE.jpg)
wood 20x6, 8 cm, 8 mm thick (for the sides of the base)
- 2 tablet of wood 21.6 x7, 6 cm, 8 mm thick (for the other two sides of the base)
- About 25 wood screws (or nails)

Get all the boards as to form a box (see photo) and prepare ourselves to merge.
Before inserting the screws apply Vinavil glue between a piece and the other: in
this way, once the glue dried we can remove the screws without unmounting the
box. The cover of this box is the cube that we constructed at first. Instead of screws
you can use small nails, but remember that you must remove it using a small
pincers.

Once the glue dried remove all the screws (or nails) and fill the holes with wood
putty, helping with the spatula to make it well.

We must make 4 holes on the back of the base:

- 1 for the parallel port
- 1 for the LED power
- 1 for the power switch
- 1 for power supply

After making holes pass the sandpaper along the outside of the base. After the
outer surface will be smooth we can color it with the spray. The passage with spray
must be not too close to the surface to be colored. Steps must be fast and fluid,
otherwise it will form drops of paint that compromise the quality of your work. You
can also distribute the paint with a brush, maybe it will be more easy.
When the box will be finished, you can fix the various connection cables and place
the control circuit on the bottom of the box, placing a soft material such as pluriball
under the control circuit, to prevent any damage. Connect the cables to the
appropriate connectors on the control circuit and place the cube of leds above the
box, using it as a cover. Connect the wires coming from the cube to the control
circuit.

Now you can connect your cube power supply and the PC. Use the control
program to create your own animations. Have fun!

Step 6: The software

The control software is written in Visual Basic language. The code is to be inserted
in a module in your Visual Basic project. It is also necessary
to insert the library inpout32.dll in c:\windows\system32 folder of your PC. You can
this library typing the name on google or downloading the attached file
PROGRAMMI.ZIP.
You can find some explanation (in English) about parallel port here:
http://logix4u.net/Legacy_Ports/Parallel_Port.html
(http://logix4u.net/Legacy_Ports/Parallel_Port.html)
At every moment the status of the cube is stored in the StatoCubo matrix. Using a
timer an event is generated every little ms and the state stored in the matrix is
rappresented on the cube.
PS: the function of this module is to visualize on the cube the content of StatoCubo
matrix. YOU MUST MANAGE BY YOURSELF THE CHANGES OF THE VALUES
OF MATRIX!

If you want something already written, in attached file PROGRAMMI.ZIP you

can found some programs that practically do everything:
Gestione led cube 0.5.3 --> manual management of the cube (including timeline)
level meter con monoton --> a free MP3 reader that controls led cube (equalization
of output signal)
inpout32.dll --> library to manage parallel port (necessary for the execution of
programs)

The StatoCubo matrix:

The StatoCubo matrix is composed by 8 vectors of 64 elements. Each vector
represents the state of an entire layer, every element of the vector represents the
state of 1 single one led: 1 = on, 0 = off

The ScriviCubo function:

This function is called by the timer event and his function is to transmit the content
of the StatoCubo matrix to the real cube.

The ClokkaLed function:

This function is called by ScriviCubo function and it works by sending a clock
signal to shift register of the columns ONLY modifying the bit of the clock. In this
way the bit placed on input of the first shift register of the columns becames
acquired.

The ClokkaLivello function:

This function is called by ScriviCubo function and it works by sending a clock
signal to shift register of the layer ONLY modifying the bit of the clock. If the layer
to activate is the first, an high signal (1) is placed on input of the shift register, for
the next layer the bit on input is 0. In this way the bit for activation slides from one
layer to the next one. The layer will be lighted in sequence, one at each time.

The ClearAll function:

This function enables the clear pin on both shift registers. All the bits in the shift
register will be set to 0 and the cube will totally switch off.

The Aspetta function:

This function is used to delay the cycle of updating of each layer. Without this
function, the leds of the each layer turns on and off too quickly for properly lighting.

Now we can pass to the real code, comments in bold:

Public Declare Function Inp Lib "inpout32.dll" Alias "Inp32" (ByVal PortAddress As
Integer) As Integer
Public Declare Sub Out Lib "inpout32.dll" Alias "Out32" (ByVal PortAddress As
Integer, ByVal Value As Integer)

'--------------------------COSTANT FOR LPT1 ADDRESS--------------------------------

Public Const IndirizzoData As String = "&H378" 'DATA REGISTER: 8 bit

'-------------------------------------------------------GLOBAL VARIABLES------------------
----------------------------------
Public StatoCubo(1 To 8, 1 To 64) As Integer 'variable that contains the actual state
of cube

'-------------------------------------------------------------FUNCTIONS------------------------
--------------------------------
Public Function ScriviCubo(NumeroCicli As Integer) 'function for write into cube
the state stored in StatoCubo matrix
Dim ByteLpt As Byte
Dim ContaLivelli As Integer
Dim ContaLed As Integer
Dim ContaCicli As Integer

For ContaCicli = 1 To NumeroCicli

For ContaLivelli = 1 To 8

'set all bit of shift reg. of columns without clocking on shift reg. of layers and
disabling EVER all clear pins (xx 01x _1_)
For ContaLed = 64 To 1 Step -1 'For ContaLed = 1 To 64
'SHIFT REG. LAYERS:
'MSB (D5) = 0 --> clock disables
'CENTRAL (D4) = 1 (valore=16)--> clear disabled
'LSB (D3) = not important

'SHIFT REG. LED:

'MSB (D2) = 0 --> clock disabled
'CENTRAL (D1) = 1 (valore=2)--> clear disabled
'LSB (D0) = StatoCubo(ContaLivelli, ContaLed)
ByteLpt = (0 + 16 + 0) + (0 + 2 + StatoCubo(ContaLivelli, ContaLed))
Call ClokkaLed(ByteLpt) 'send the value at function that give 1 clock signal to the
shift reg. of columns
Next ContaLed

'SHIFT REG. LAYERS:

'MSB (D5) = 0 --> clock disabled
'CENTRAL (D4) = 1 (valore=16)--> clear disabled
'LSB (D3) = (if layer = 1--> 1(value=8); if layer <> 1--> 0) --> set 1 only the fist
time

'SHIFT REG. LED:

'MSB (D2) = 0 --> clock disabled
'CENTRAL (D1) = 1 (valore=2)--> clear disabled
'LSB (D0) = not important

If ContaLivelli = 1 Then 'if I​

m setting the first layer I send a 1 at the shift reg. of
layers, after I will send only the clock signal
ByteLpt = (0 + 16 + 8) + (0 + 2 + 0)
Else
ByteLpt = (0 + 16 + 0) + (0 + 2 + 0)
End If
Call ClokkaLivello(ByteLpt) 'send value to the function that give a clock signal to the
shift reg. of layers

Call Aspetta(60000) 'calling the function for generate a delay (the cube stops
flashing from 60.000 to 70.000 cycles)

Next ContaLivelli 'restart the cycle for setting the next layer

Call ClearAll 'call the function for activate clear on all shift register (switch off all
leds)

Next ContaCicli

End Function

Public Function ClokkaLed(Valore As Byte)

Out Val(IndirizzoData), Val(Valore) 'clock DISABLED
'add 4 because I want to set at 1 the clock bit of shift register of columns for giving
clock signal
Out Val(IndirizzoData), Val(Valore + 4) 'clock ENABLED
End Function

Public Function ClokkaLivello(Valore As Byte)

Out Val(IndirizzoData), Val(Valore) 'clock DISABLED
'add 32 because I want to set at 1 the clock bit of shift reg. of layers for giving
clock signal
 Out Val(IndirizzoData), Val(Valore + 32) 'clock ENABLED
End Function

Public Function ClearAll() 'function for enable the clear pin on all shift register
Dim ByteLpt As Byte
'enabling clear on all shift register (value=0) (xx x0x x0x)
ByteLpt = 0 '00 000 000
Out Val(IndirizzoData), Val(ByteLpt)
End Function

Public Function Aspetta(Ncicli As Long) 'function used to delay the cycle of

updating the each layers
Dim Contatore As Long
Dim Contato As Long

For Contatore = 0 To Ncicli

Contato = Contatore 'assignment operation (only for do a CPU operation)
Next Contatore
End Function

programmi.zip (/files/orig/FUH/GGXZ/FY7M6DVB/FUHGGXZFY7M6DVB.zip)4 MB

Step 7: The final result

These are the videos made during the tests:
 We have a be nice comment policy.
I Made it! Add Images Make Comment
Please be positive and constructive.

1-40 of Next » (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-8x8x8-led-cube-English-version/?

132 &sort=ACTIVE&limit=40&offset=40#DISCUSS)

dkaran1 (/member/dkaran1/) 1 year ago Reply (CP9USOAHGH6K52H)

hi this is dev from new delhi, India. i liked this 8*8*8 led cube but not able to make it
can i buy it from
(/member/dkaran1/) any where i am ready to pay the cost of it and other expanses.
please help me with it. please revert me on attitude.dev@gmail.com.
thanks & regards
Dev

SatyaranjanD (/member/SatyaranjanD/) dkaran1

14 days ago Reply (CM1TCAJI0HZ3NHE)
This MIGHT be the right thing for you :-
(/member/SatyaranjanD/)
http://www.trilobyteprojects.com/shop/index.php
 sdevi reddy (/member/sdevi+reddy/) 1 year ago Reply (CS20S4EHLY7C5RT)

sir small doubt regarding the power supply!

im doe with ther
(/member/sdevi+reddy/) cube and im using our clg LAB RPS to power my cube.now im
planing to use pc smps.ca i dircetly conect the smps 5v rail same as rps? smps has
very high current ratings,does it make any damaga to my cube?
thankyou

trinhgia1993 (/member/trinhgia1993/) 1 year ago Reply (CRDXN6KHAVGJTDK)

Can i have the code ? I would really appreciate it :)

trinhgia1993@gmail.com
(/member/trinhgia1993/)

Geekaton (/member/Geekaton/) 1 year ago Reply (CPDJIGTHAQ381YW)

Here is a time-lapse video that shows me making my LED cube 8x8x8 (with this
technique):
(/member/Geekaton/)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gTZJOy70rrc

Let me know what you think of it.

Scroll01 (/member/Scroll01/) 2 years ago Reply (CSJRKPMH6738EJ1)

quien me puede pasar el PDF gracias

Scroll01@live.com.mx
(/member/Scroll01/)

navi2012 (/member/navi2012/) 2 years ago Reply (CXC858YH3QETNU6)

hello friends I can not download the pdf .. who can send me my mail porfa ... <>
(/member/navi2012/)

matiasvan (/member/matiasvan/) 2 years ago Reply (CGJ243CH3QF97V9)

can I use an Arduino Mega 2560?

(/member/matiasvan/)

killerone (/member/killerone/) 2 years ago Reply (C41F5ZJH2WEY0IS)

agofi you tell me why I turn on the LEDs should be slightly off during the animation? I
double-check
(/member/killerone/) the circuit and everything is properly asseblato .. please it's urgent.

razamatraz (/member/razamatraz/) 2 years ago Reply (C1DD3N1GYY8FQGC)

Nice instructable but it has some very missized components. The 2n3904 transistors
are only rated
(/member/razamatraz/) for 200ma but you have them running layers that are otherwise sized for
1.28 amps.

Also, you are using 100 ohm resistors with the intention of getting 20ma per LED.
This is too much. Each shift register can only handle 50ma TOTAL so with eight
outputs you should not be putting more than 6.25 ma out per pin meaning 330 ohm
resistors are a better choice.

I think you got lucky and the current limit provided by the layer transistors is dropping it
enough to stop you from blowing your shift registers, I suspect the LEDs are not
actually running anywhere near the calculated 20ma each.

Luna! (/member/Luna%21/) 2 years ago Reply (CO3I217GYN8W342)

Great Instructable, congrats!!

(/member/Luna%21/)
I have a few doubts, if you allow me..
- Can I start/control it from a web browser (chrome, i.e., etc..)?

- If I put some sensors on it, it is possible to "trigger" it when someone walks into the
 room?

Thanks!!!

randomness72.5 (/member/randomness72.5/) 4 years ago Reply (CR6GIH5GC4G0US3)

What are the three wires going across each LED layer for? Are they the ground
wires, and if so
(/member/randomness72.5/)what are they connected to?

'earl (/member/%27earl/) randomness72.5

2 years ago Reply (C4ZNN48GY18WFUD)
Those are just brace wires. they only
serve the purpose of supporting the
(/member/%27earl/)
frame of the cube. They dont connect
to anything. they are just soldered to
each leg. Thats it.

lemos.luciano (/member/lemos.luciano/) 2 years ago Reply (CGOVIXDGVOW4ZDZ)

Quem souber portugues tem como entrar em contato, to querendo construir mas tá
osso. multiplexação
(/member/lemos.luciano/) tá foda. Nao to entendendo direito.
Meu email é : lucianobr37@yahoo.com.br

Obrigado.

gomas211 (/member/gomas211/) 2 years ago Reply (C2TAWQGGVA8V3E9)

REUPLOAD VIDEOS
(/member/gomas211/)

matt_february12 (/member/matt_february12/) 3 years ago Reply (C4MY2X2GIJG15NE)

That has to be one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my life! About 10 years
ago I did a lot less
(/member/matt_february12/) impressive project using RGB multi color LEDs when they first
became widely available. If you could add multi color LEDs you could create some
amazing 3d effects! ...I hope someone tries it! :)

Super_Nerd (/member/Super_Nerd/) matt_february12

3 years ago Reply (C8SN7NEGRFNCYW0)
I was planning on attempting that
with a 4*4*4
(/member/Super_Nerd/)

kieth (/member/kieth/) 3 years ago Reply (CF8CQMOGRFNCPRK)

wow. thanks guys!!!!

(/member/kieth/)

4uguyzz.in (/member/4uguyzz.in/) 3 years ago Reply (CG6SEC4GONGHL11)

very good attempt i have a request to provide the circuit diagram for the cub
(/member/4uguyzz.in/)

jayeshshinai (/member/jayeshshinai/) 4uguyzz.in

3 years ago Reply (CXCL3Q3GQX1NSKZ)
u can use an arduino..now a lot of
cheap options
(/member/jayeshshinai/) r available, chk
freeduino..

huoyunjie (/member/huoyunjie/) 3 years ago Reply (CWJDX1HGPBD516J)

Its cool!
But Im thinking
(/member/huoyunjie/) how let it make easily!

huoyunjie (/member/huoyunjie/)
 3 years ago Reply (CNKVJOSGPBD512T)
Hi.cool!!
Im starting.I want do it.thanx.....
(/member/huoyunjie/)

Vick Jr (/member/Vick+Jr/) 3 years ago Reply (CHDL9V1GOB88VGD)

For each 'frame" of the cube it looks like your bit-shifting in all 64 bytes, using the shift
registers
(/member/Vick+Jr/) in series.
Why not connect each shift register to a pin on the parallel port - you have plenty extra
- and load all the first bits for each register at once, then the second bit, then the third,
etc. It should be 8 times faster.

tchristensen0209 (/member/tchristensen0209/) 3 years ago Reply (CL6CFTJGKI19ENZ)

Do you have a video?

(/member/tchristensen0209/)

dangadave (/member/dangadave/) 3 years ago Reply (CY7LJZ9GJQEDGUP)

hi guys...i have no idea how to get the software to work on my pc... im running
windows 7... need
(/member/dangadave/) help... do i have to download a program to run the software...?
cause my itunes wants to try open it... but no success...:(

thanx

MrGentlemen (/member/MrGentlemen/) 3 years ago Reply (CRTR1VOGJC3PBSS)

I Have a Question about the vcc connection:

(/member/MrGentlemen/)
Did this Circuit doesnt need a VCC connection to work?

The only positive volt connection is just on the led, and nowhere else.

the shift register needs vcc too, but Pin 14 is nowhere connected

nate1357 (/member/nate1357/) 3 years ago Reply (C5T04J4GINORH77)

Would using a parallel to usb adapter still work with the given software. I no longer
have any computers
(/member/nate1357/) with parallel or serial ports.

stevonr (/member/stevonr/) 5 years ago Reply (C5961NJFZ8J4N78)

so what would the circuit for an rgb 24x24x24 cube look like?
(/member/stevonr/)

Aru3 (/member/Aru3/) stevonr 3 years ago Reply (CDNQQ0VGIJG3QVC)

It would be quite possible if you can get an active addressing matrix in your
cube. Control of huge
(/member/Aru3/) numbers would be possible on few outputs, and each
LED would get a 100% on time. Problem is getting three transistors and a
capacitor in there with each LED by hand, and still keep it small enough to be
see through.

stevonr (/member/stevonr/) stevonr 3 years ago Reply (CI10LZSGGPF414H)

ok now that the jokes are out of the way, I'm still curious... I know the costs for
getting the
(/member/stevonr/) LEDS would be sky high but if someone were to do it what would
the circuit diagram look like. I can follow the instructions I just don't know the
engineering side of it to draw it out myself. even if you just drew out the sub-
assemblies to save time and they would be replicated to the number needed,
I'd be interested in seeing how one would bulid this one up from input to the
LED.

Gasburner (/member/Gasburner/) stevonr

 4 years ago Reply (CEUJ639G1ZGOYOF)
really, REALLY big :D
(/member/Gasburner/)

iMakeItHappen (/member/iMakeItHappen/) Gasburner

4 years ago Reply (C6OSMK4G9WJCMPN)
And thats, WHATS SHE SAID!!!
(/member/iMakeItHappen/)

BIGHAIRYDUDE (/member/BIGHAIRYDUDE/) iMakeItHappen

3 years ago Reply (CR7UEVRGFA3Z0BK)
hahaha
(/member/BIGHAIRYDUDE/)

Kush_Slayer (/member/Kush_Slayer/) stevonr

4 years ago Reply (CZEXJBAG1ZGOZ18)
lol they should just skip everything in
between and head right to the
(/member/Kush_Slayer/)
800x600x800 RGB one so you can
use it as a monitor lol, only problem is
buying 384,000,000 LEDs and then
even worse having to solder all of them

causticbreath (/member/causticbreath/) Kush_Slayer

4 years ago Reply (CNXQ4FXG79F1H0T)
ROFLMAO!!! Now that's a project I'd
LOVE to see!!
(/member/causticbreath/)
let's start with a Soldering robot project
:D

guusberens (/member/guusberens/) 3 years ago Reply (COOSA7KGHFK869A)

I have a question about the wiring diagram.

The single circuit left I do
(/member/guusberens/) not understand.
Could someone maybe able to explain what that meant?

Thank you

lazardj (/member/lazardj/) 4 years ago Reply (CE423VSGCJ0YU1I)

can any1 give me code without serial or USB control? i want whole program to put in
microcontroler
(/member/lazardj/) like 4x4x4 cube that is here on site. Thx

R- (/member/R-/) lazardj 3 years ago Reply (CFRG86MGHFK3Q4U)

Here's one controlled by an Arduino

(/member/R-
/) http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-an-8x8x8-LED-cube-and-
control-it-with/

dds90 (/member/dds90/) 5 years ago Reply (CUVGIVJFYNT9XVT)

(removed by author or community request)

(/member/dds90/)

agofi (/member/agofi/) (author) dds90

5 years ago Reply (C1DZH0CFYTD4GYJ)
Daniele,
(/member/agofi/)grazie per i complimenti...
la versione in italiano puoi
trovarla a questo link:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Come-
costruire-un-led-cube-8x8x8/
(http://www.instructables.com/id/Come-
costruire-un-led-cube-8x8x8/)
 Per quanto riguarda i led a poco
prezzo io li ho presi su ebay, 500
led blu a 50 euro. Se hai bisogno
posso anche darti il nome del
venditore..

ciao, Matteo

1-40 of Next » (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-8x8x8-led-cube-English-version/?

132 &sort=ACTIVE&limit=40&offset=40#DISCUSS)

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