CoronaLamps: Simple Friendship Lamps Anyone Can Make
Introduction: CoronaLamps: Simple Friendship Lamps Anyone Can Make
As I sit here, trying to come up with gift ideas for my friend who I haven't seen in months due to the virus, I keep on seeing the ultimate gift on Amazon: Friendship Lamps. Lamps that are connected to the internet, so when one touches their lamp, the other person's lamp lights up. One problem, the cheapest set of these on Amazon is $170!
Are you stuck separated from a loved one or significant other because of the Covid-19 pandemic? The simple act of having something that lights up whenever the other person touches theirs and thinks about you is an amazing feeling, and especially useful during the lockdown. In this Instructable, we will build a simple, inexpensive, internet-connected Friendship lamp that anyone with basic electronic experience can make, while learning how it works on the way.
When a lamp is touched, the other lamp will activate for 10 minutes, and that person can respond by touching their lamp at any point.
Originally, I did not intend to make this project into an Instructable, but after seeing how well it worked, I hoped that I could inspire other people to make similar projects!
If you enjoy this project, make sure to vote for it in the First Time Author competition! With that out of the way, let's get into the supplies.
Supplies
(To Make Two Lamps)
* 2x ESP8266 Wemos D1 Mini
* 2x HiLetgo 10pcs TTP223B Capacitive Touch Sensor
* 24x Neopixel LEDs
* Spare Jumper Wire
* 3D Printer
* Soldering Iron/Supplies
* Resistors (any value) For Soldering Neopixels Together
* Hot Glue
*The amount given is the number of individual items that are needed. Some of the links given are links to multiple of those items, so more orders are not needed.
Step 1: 3D Printing the Lamp
The Lamp is printed in two parts in two different colors. Although everything could be printed white, the black and white looks much more aesthetically pleasing. All of these parts will have to be printed twice to make two lamps.
Print 1 (Black):
* Base.stl
* Top.stl
Print 2 (White):
* Shell.stl
* Button.stl
Print Settings (Ender 3 Pro):
* 0.28mm layer height
* 10% Infill*
* Supports
*I chose to print the shell with a 10% infilll. It creates a hex pattern on the outside when the lights are on that looks interesting. If you don't want this, you can print with a 100% infill.
Step 2: Wiring the Neopixels
This is by far the most challenging step. The Neopixels that I had on hand came as individual LEDs that needed to be wired together. If you wish to further simplify the project, I suggest using a strip like this. I can't assure that it would fit properly, but it would require less soldering, and I'm sure that you could get it to work.
What are Neopixels?
Neopixels are a type of RGB LEDs that are controlled through a digital signal, rather then 3 analog RGB values. This means that they can be wired in series, and each LED's state and color can be controlled individually, separate from the other Neopixels. 492
Not only are these useful for creating simple LED strips that can have more complicated animations, but it also simplifies the design by removing the need for a driver circuit.
Soldering Them Together
For this step, set aside 12 of the Neopixel LEDs and a handful of resistors of any value. Set down a piece of cardboard or use a surface that you don't mind hot gluing to. Glue the LEDs face down in a U shape as shown in the picture above. Make sure that the arrows are all pointing in the same direction, going from left to right. This shows the direction the data will flow.
Heat up your soldering iron (I usually set mine to 400C), and one by one tin each contact. Take the resistors, and solder the end to the bottom left, inner corner contact. This contact should be labeled ground (GND). Use the photos and video above as a reference. Solder the resistor to the next ground contact. A single resistor leg should be able to bridge 3 contacts. After the resistor leg can’t bridge more contacts, snip off the remainder of the resistor, and repeat this process using another resistor leg. When you reach a corner, bend the resistor leg, and continue soldering the ground contacts together. Once you solder every ground contact together, we can move on to the data line. 635