hello all! I am quite new to all of this and the fastLED library

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 24, 2017, 4:12pm

hello all!

I am quite new to all of this and the fastLED library has helped so much. But, but but! I have built a sphere with ws2812b strips inside. I am trying to figure out how to have the top row and bottom row meet in the middle of the sphere.

My thought is something like, take top row LEDS i.e. 10,11,30,31,50,51, etc. take bottom LEDS i.e. 1,20,21,40,41, etc. send to the middle 2 LED’s? i.e. for strip 1… 6 for top, 5 for bottom. I haven’t a clue how to program this, but that’s the visualization i have.

I am incredibly new to this and would appreciate help a ton!

I am using a Mega2650, inside my sphere is 15 strips with 10 LEDS each. My data pin is 6 for the whole thing.

I have it wired (bottom right of sphere)1-10 – 11-20 – 21-30 – etc. always going left with LED 150 ending at the top of the sphere next to strip 1 (w/1-10).

i.e.
30 11 -<-10
29 12 9
28 13 8
27 14 7
26 15 6
25 16 5
24 17 4
23 18 3
22 19 2
21-<-20 1 (Start / Connected to arduino)

Thanks!!!

marmil · July 24, 2017, 4:52pm

I’m not totally sure I understand what you want to do, but it sort of sounds like you’re wanting to do what’s called mapping (or remapping) of your pixel layout.

Here’s two links you can check out related to mapping.

github.com

macetech/RGBShades/blob/master/XYmap.h

// Helper functions for a two-dimensional XY matrix of pixels.
// Special credit to Mark Kriegsman
//
// 2014-10-18 - Special version for RGB Shades Kickstarter
//              https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/macetech/rgb-led-shades
//              2014-10-18 - code version 2c (local table, holes are r/w), 
//              by Mark Kriegsman 
//
//              This special 'XY' code lets you program the RGB Shades
//              as a plain 16x5 matrix.  
//
//              Writing to and reading from the 'holes' in the layout is 
//              also allowed; holes retain their data, it's just not displayed.
//
//              You can also test to see if you're on or off the layout
//              like this
//                if( XY(x,y) > LAST_VISIBLE_LED ) { ...off the layout...}
//
//              X and Y bounds checking is also included, so it is safe
//              to just do this without checking x or y in your code:

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https://macetech.github.io/FastLED-XY-Map-Generator/
If you make a 10x10 matrix (and for your wiring/layout also check on Serpentine, Vertical, V-Flip and H-Flip) it will have your layout as you’ve described. Then you need to edit the XYTable code to the new pixel order you would like.

Can you give us a bit more info about what you’re going for? Have some photos?

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 24, 2017, 5:26pm

@marmil excellent links! Thank you. Starting to wrap my head around it.

I think I just have to figure out exactly how to implement that.

I would like to just use the FastLED library for effects, but custom map it I guess to the sphere’s attributes? I think once I have it recognize the kind of matrix, I hope it will work.

I’m trying to upload a picture of it.

What I am hoping to do is use already made effects/animations on the sphere. It’s just a visual piece, no audio in or anything like that. Just wanting it to cycle through many animations on loop.

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 24, 2017, 5:27pm

quick image of it.
missing/deleted image from Google+

marmil · July 24, 2017, 5:59pm

@Party_Pods_PartyPods A great looking visual piece indeed.
Yes, you will be able to remap the pixel order as you’d like. Let us know how things go.

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 24, 2017, 7:46pm

I have found SmartMatrix via pixl matix that uses FastLED. I see this is all for the teensy though. Has anyone used a Mega 2560 with it? Trying to figure out it I can marry the two.

Sven_Eric_Nielsen · July 24, 2017, 9:32pm

You really don’t need smartmatrix. What Marc gave you is already a very flexible, powerful and simple way.

Your wiring method is called “serpentine wiring” by the way is very common.

However, if you need more special features you could also have a look on this :

His matrix library builds on top of fastLED and even supports text and sprites.

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 25, 2017, 1:37pm

@Sven_Eric_Nielsen thanks! I am still so new that I am not sure how to use the fastLED serpentine matrix with an existing library. My code keeps coming up with an error and I have been trying to figure it out.

Sven_Eric_Nielsen · July 25, 2017, 1:44pm

Try to play around with the examples. And also check out the wiki on the github page. This explains a lot.

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 25, 2017, 2:30pm

Alright, will do. I am having slight success, just figured out how to take github code and use it via library but many won’t compile for my mega2560.

Do you know of any thing that exists for visually programming a matrix? I’ve found Glediator and a few others but haven’t been able to get them to work.

marmil · July 25, 2017, 3:39pm

Here’s the code I used to test out Glediator.

github.com

marmilicious/FastLED_examples/blob/master/Glediator_test1.ino

//***************************************************************
// Testing out reading RGB data sent from Glediator
// http://www.solderlab.de/index.php/software/glediator
//
// For Glediator’s serial protocol each frame starts with 0x01,
// which is then followed by all the pixel data.  The number of
// LEDs (matrix size) needs to be set in Glediator, and also
// the output needs to be set to:
//    Output Mode:  Glediator_Protocol
//    Mapping Mode: Single_Pixels
//    Pixel Order:  HL_BL (for a single strip, or one of the the others per your setup)
//    Color Order:  RGB
//
//    Baud-Rate:    1,000,000 was suggested, but you can use 
//                  whatever as long as they are both set the
//                  same here and in Glediator.
//
//    *** Upload and have this code running first, then start up
//    Glediator otherwise it won't give you a COM port number.
//

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Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 25, 2017, 5:23pm

@marmil amazing, I am just working on this right now! I am trying to figure this out and trying to get my Mega2560 board to work with no success so far.
What board would you suggest to run 6 matrices, total LEDs=1350. All signs point to a teensy as my Mega won’t even compute.

Thanks again for the help! Every link so far and code you have sent has helped immensely.

marmil · July 25, 2017, 6:32pm

Teensy 3.2

https://www.pjrc.com/store/teensy32.html

Party_Pods_PartyPods · July 26, 2017, 7:19pm

@marmil I got the RGB shades mapped to my sphere… all i can say is WOW! Thanks again for the direction and links. I am starting to really get a handle on it after the last two days.

marmil · July 26, 2017, 9:36pm

Sweet! Hope we can see a video some time.