Just a Regular OverEngineered FlowerPot
Introduction: Just a Regular OverEngineered FlowerPot
So Here's something Super Cool and unique, A Flower Pot made completely out of PCBs.
I made this flowerpot by combining three different PCBs, I used a diamond-shaped board as a flower petal by soldering them together in star-shaped form.
This project is a combination of electronics and art by pushing the limits of how and where we can use PCBs in so many different things.
This Instructables is gonna be about the build Process of the whole Flower so let's get started.
Supplies
These were the things I used in this build-
* Custom PCBs (Base PCB, Diamond-shaped PCB, STEM PCBs, and Tear Shaped PCB)
* Atmega328PU
* IP5306 Power Management IC
* 10uF Capacitor 0805 Package
* Resistor 10K 0603 Package
* Resistor 1K 0603 Package
* Resistor 3R3
* 1H Inductor
* Push Button SMD
* Push Button THT
* ON-OFF Switch
* Type C Port
* 22pf Capacitor
* Indicator LED 0603 Package
* 8205S Mosfets
* Connecting Wires
* WHITE LEDs 0603 Package
* BLUE LEDs 0603 Package
* 3D Printed PCB HOLDERs
* 3D Printed Vase
* Lithium-Ion cell 18650 Holder
* Lithium-Ion cell 3.7V 2200mah Cell
Step 1: Prologue
I used a previously made PCB as a leaf because its shape was somewhat similar to an actual leaf.
As for the stem, I prepared a PCB that holds the flower and leaf together, this stem is then soldered on a base that holds the whole structure and also contains the control board.
I've added LEDs on Petals and Leaf, these LEDs connected are in parallel. LEDs on each PCB are connected in parallel, they are all driven by six MOSFETs that are on the Base PCB.
These Mosfets are controlled by an Atmega328PU, we can turn them ON-OFF in sequence or dim them down or do some fading effects on them.
As for the Power, I've added a Boost IC Setup on the base that boosts 3.7V from the Lithium Cell into 5V for powering the LEDs and Microcontroller.
Step 2: Basic Concept
This idea came into existence almost two weeks ago, I prepared a diamond-shaped PCB necklace, and after finishing the project I noticed that it could be aligned side by side in a polygon shape, a pentagram to be specific.
So I taped five diamond-shaped PCBs together and made a PCB Flower just to visualize the idea.
As for the rest, I prepared a rectangular board that is long and have three big holes for connecting two or more PCBs.
For Leaf, I used a PCB from my previous project as the PCB Shape was similar to an actual leaf.
For Driving LEDs, Six N Channel Mosfet ICs were used which are connected to six PWM Pins of Atmega328PU.
Step 3: SCHEMATIC for the Main Controller Board
The Controller board consists of three main sections, the Atmega328PU Setup, Boost Module part, and Mosfet setup.
I used Atmega328PU here instead of using an MCU like Arduino as I wanted to make this project from scratch instead of using modules and addons.
The whole setup is powered by IP5306 IC that takes 3.7V from lithium-Ion Cell and boosts it up to 5V for driving MCU and LEDs.
Step 4: PCB DESIGN of Main Board
After finalizing the schematic, I prepare the PCB Design of the base board by using a 100mm Circle as an outline and putting all the components inside this circle.
I've added a Slot in the middle of the PCB, This slot will hold the STEM PCB, I also added all the MOSFETs setup around this slot so it would be easy to connect the LED section with each of its MOSFETs through connecting wires.
Step 5: PCB DESIGN of STEM Board
For Stem Board, I added three CON1 and connected them with each other.
As for the PCB Design, I used a Mechanical Hole Pad of hole size 5mm in each CON1 so it would be easier to attach two or more by using nuts and bolts or solder them other as these holes will be plated from inside and outside.
Step 6: Getting PCBs From PCBWAY
After finalizing both of the designs, I exported their Gerber data and upload it on PCBWAY's quote page.
I Choose a Yellow soldermask with white silkscreen for the Base Board and Green Soldermask for STEM Board. 982