Deskduino

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:15:07 +0000

~~REVEAL~~

Deskduino

The Edge March 2018

Created by Phil Gullberg on 2018/03/27 14:36.

contributors

Andrei Maberley
Andrei Maberley
Phil Gullberg
Phil Gullberg
Rosy

Summary

Participants will create an electronic display for their workplace/desk. The display uses a programmable 8×8 LED Matrix display, an Arduino Nano and a cardboard frame made using a laser-cutter.

This workshop was initially developed for the Flying Arts program ArtizINNOVATE@theEdge in June 2017, then run at Woodford Folk Festival 2017/2018 and eventually run as an in-house workshop. This latest iteration (March 2018) removes the battery and charger so that it can sit on a desk instead of being worn. Previous Version.

Skills Introduced

High level overview of circuit and components
Case assembly and wiring between components
Coding in the Arduino IDE

Materials

Electronics

Material	Quantity	Cost	Supplier
Arduino Nano v3	1	$3.40	AliExpress
MAX7219-dot-matrix-module	1	$2.10	AliExpress
Short USB Cable - USB-A to Micro USB	1	$2	Tronixlabs
	Total	$7.50

Frame

Tools and Prepartion

Tools

Computer with working USB 2.0 ports
A working internet connection (or pre-downloaded files)
Pen/Awl
Ruler

Introduction to Arduino Microcontrollers

What is a micro controller?

A microcontroller (or MCU for microcontroller unit) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit.

one or more CPUs (processor cores)
memory
programmable input/output peripherals
can be mixed signal devices interacting with
- digital signals
- analog singals

Why use an MCU?

Microcontrollers are small, low powered and robust, making them perfect for embedded systems such as:

medical devices
remote controls
office machines
appliances
power tools
toys
wearables!

What is Arduino?

Arduino is an open source computer hardware and software company, project, and user community ¹⁾ .

The hardware is based on the Amtel 8-bit AVR MCU
The software uses the Processing IDE, with a simplified version of the C++ language
Open source has led to the creation of a huge range of
- clones
- compatible devices
- peripherals
A strong community means
- “Someone, Somewhere has solved the problem”
- we can run this workshop using and adapting existing resources.

Assembly and Testing

It's time to get started!

Step One: Connecting and Testing the Arduino Nano

Download the Arduino IDE

Download the latest version of the Arduino IDE.

Select your operating system and when prompted choose “Just Download”.

If you are using a genuine Arduino with the FT chipsets you won't need to download any drivers on PC and MacOS Sierra. If you are using a knockoff Arduino with the CH340G chip you will need to download the drivers for Mac.

Follow the instruction and install the program on your computer.

Connect Your Arduino

A red and then a green LED will light up on the Arduino, indicating that it's receiving power (for some Arduinos this may just be a single red light)

Now launch Arduino IDE

Go to the Tools menu and change the following:

Board to Arduino Nano
Processor to ATmega328
Port to USB/Serial (different depending on OS and Chip)
- If you are having problems finding a USB port you most likely need to download the correct drivers.
  
  Once again, the exact OS (and version) as well as the chip make a big difference.

Once that is done, run “Get Board Info” in the same menu, this should bring up a small pop-up with some information.

As long a you're not receiving an error in the console, you have successfully connected your Arduino!

Test with the Blink Example

Another step you can take to test that everything is working is to load one of the basic example projects and upload it to the Arduino.

Go to File → Examples → 01.Basic → Blink
Click on the verify button (Check mark) and let it compile. You should get a message at the top of the console telling you when it's done (this should take no more than a few seconds)
Once this is done, without any errors, click the Upload button (Arrow)
This will upload the instructions to the Arduino and it will say “Done Uploading” when everything worked
Your red LED on the Nano should now be blinking, one second on, one second off
Uploading scripts to your Arduino works!

Now we are ready for the real projects

Step Two: Assembly

When working with the cardboard frame make sure you take care not to accidentally bend it other than where we have bend lines as this may affect the structural integrity later on.

If your frame has any holes filled in, make sure you remove them. Using an awl or pen/pencil works well but your hands should be sufficient.

Flip the frame so that the natural side faces up. We are now going to start shaping the frame using the bend lines

Use the ruler to help you with the next ones

These next two bends are tricky, make sure to take them slowly

The final bend needs to go the other way! Turn the frame around!

Let's fold it together. Don't slot the tab in yet as it will be difficult to open up again and may end up damaging the frame

Step Three - Assembling the Electronics

Now it's time to mount and connect the screen.

Mount the screen

Write down what color wire goes to each of the pins (each pin is labeled). This will make it a lot easier to correctly connect the screen to the Arduino later

Slot the wires through the dedicated hole. Try to run the wires on one side of the screen to help make everything fit

Connect the screen

The Arduino fits into the two parallel slots. Make sure you orient the USB connector to match with the slot in the frame

Fold the side of the frame over (with the Arduino still attached) and connect the wires to the correct pins. This is where the notes you took earlier will come in handy. The pins on the Arduino are also labeled.

This is how the wires need to be connected:

SCL/CLK (System Clock) → D10
DIN(Data In) → D8
CS (Chip Select) → D9
GND (Ground) → GND
VCC (Voltage) → 3V3

You should end up with something that looks like this

Close it all up

Step Four - Using the Library and Project

Now it's time to check our Arduino and LED are talking to each other.

Download and install the Library

In order to make the LED display a lot easier to work with we'll need to install a custom version of the MaxMatrix library (found in the download section below).

Go to Sketch → Include Library → Add .ZIP Library
Just find and click the downloaded file and it will be added to your project automatically

Download and open the project

Below you will find the project files compressed into a .ZIP file.

Extract the content wherever you'd like it and open up the wearables_matrix_ino file
The .INO file format should be associated with Arduino and launch it automatically
Alternatively you can open Arduino and select the File → Open option in the menu

Note: You won't be able to run this script unless you have downloaded the library above.

Upload the Project

It is time to test the project file in your desk Arduino. Upload it the same way as the blink file. Your desk Arduino should say Free Bear Hugs.

Hacking the Code

While it's beyond the scope of this workshop to teach your how to program your Arduino - here are some tips on:

Changing the displayed text
Displaying a symbol
Changing the speed of the text scrolling

void loop()
{
 // displayText(text1, 100);  // Send scrolling Text
  displayText(text2, 100);  // Send scrolling Text
  //displayCustom(smile01, 1000);
}

Look for the void loop() section. This contains what your Arduino will do once it turns on. In this case it will:

ignore displayText(text1, 100); as it has been commented out with two backslashes
displayText(text2, 100)
ignore displayCustom(smile01, 1000)

Want to change the displayed text?

Look for text2

 char text2[] = " FREE BEAR HUGS!!!    ";  // Scrolling Text

and change it

char text2[] = " I Have Changed!!  ";  // Scrolling Text

References

MaxMatrix Github

Downloads

Arduino

Laser Cutter Files

These files are for cutting on The Edge Rayjet. Settings are:

Colour	Power	Speed	Description
Black	25	12	Bend lines
Red	50	8	Cut lines

Deskduino v1 Final (.cdr)

¹⁾

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino

SLQ Wiki workshops:trials:deskduino_v1

Deskduino

Deskduino

Summary

Skills Introduced

Materials

Electronics

Frame

Tools and Prepartion

Tools

Introduction to Arduino Microcontrollers

What is a micro controller?

Why use an MCU?

What is Arduino?

Assembly and Testing

Step One: Connecting and Testing the Arduino Nano

Download the Arduino IDE

Connect Your Arduino

Test with the Blink Example

Step Two: Assembly

Step Three - Assembling the Electronics

Mount the screen

Connect the screen

Close it all up

Step Four - Using the Library and Project

Download and install the Library

Download and open the project

Upload the Project

Hacking the Code

References

Downloads

Arduino

Laser Cutter Files