Hi all, here’s a video of my LED Cyr Wheel (v2). I just switched to trying out FastLED, and it is pretty cool. I reworked my code to use it, as I like the library methods.
Test run video:
And a recent pattern based off the “fire” demo in FastLED:
I have a lot of build info on this project on my website/blog:
http://www.corbinstreehouse.com/blog/category/circus-and-silk/
In short: 660 WS2812 LEDs (strips from China - 60 per meter), Teensy 3.1 chip.
Freaking awesome! Thanks for sharing the video!
Fantastic! (Also, love the cat’s reaction at the end to this 
Out of curiosity - do you have an accelerometer or anything in there? for moving patterns around that stay upright even as the wheel spins around?
Love seeing the things people are doing with this!
Yup! I’ve got a 3 axis accelerometer/magnetometer/gyro inside. I’m working on interpreting the data so I can dynamically compute what side is “up”, and base patterns on rotational velocity (that part is easy).
Are you actually collapsing the unit into it’s five separate pieces, or does it remain as one piece once built? And if you are separating the pieces, how are you connecting the strips to each segment?
Hey Ashley – yeah, it breaks down into 5 sections to be able to transport it easily. Most cyr wheels are built this way. I used 3/16 sidewall thickness steel tubing to create the inserts to connect pieces and still be able to run wiring through them. Take a look here at various posts: Corbin's Treehouse
I’m using molex micro-fit connectors to connect one to another:
I computed the amperage of the entire wheel:
Which could be huge (27amps) at full brightness. But it won’t ever be that given that the amperage is divide by 5, and I run a high gauge thickness wire through the middle and “tap” off of it for each section.
Ashley – I’m also interested in POV….do you know the min velocity (revolutions/second) you have to spin stuff to get decent POV? I"m not sure I can maintain a high enough speed to do it.
Moodhoops flashes patterns, probably the same way you’re doing, just faster, and as the hoop is moved around, you can see the patterns emerge. This should give you an idea, notice the hoops isn’t moving very fast at all: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qyp9fWEduY <<
I assumed the inserts were solid for strength. Being hollow makes more sense as that will allow you to run wires from one segment to the other. This is making me want to build one … except I don’t have the tools necessary to bend, drill, grind, lathe … ah, dreams.
That is Freakin Awesome, not just the hoop but what you do with it. I’ve never heard of a ‘cyr’ let alone seen one in action. My wife goes to what she calls “Clown School” to do poi, hoops, juggling etc and I bet they would love one of these. I take it a basic non-led cyr are freely available?
@Adam_Groves : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBBypvakUdI - and here’s a fun “battle” between two performers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBBypvakUdI
Thanks for the links @Ashley_M_Kirchner_No (though they’re both the same there’s some serious amounts of skill involved here, very cool.
@Adam_Groves Yeah, Alexandre Lane is one of the top performers of cyr wheel. Here’s another highly skilled cyr wheel artist, Morales: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7ABc_5cpYw
My apologies @Adam_Groves , the second video was supposed to be this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtNNwqcF_0g
@Corbin_Dunn I swear some of the moves you guys do actually defy the laws of physics, it’s mesmerising.
whaaat too cool