What Is a 3D LED Cube?

Some MCU microcontroller control system enthusiasts' extended application of MCU development has developed into independent learning objects. The light cube is constructed by several diode led lights in the form of a cube, 4 * 4 * 4, 8 * 8 * 8, 16 * 16 * 16 or more, and is driven by electrical components such as a single chip microcomputer, a latch, a decoder, etc. Form a three-dimensional animation effect. 8 * 8 * 8 light cubes are the most common.

Light Cube

(Small cube led light unit controlled by single chip microcomputer)

Based on the enthusiasm of MCU enthusiasts for MCU learning, Light Cube is a very good practice material for learning MCU. Take the 8 * 8 * 8 light cube as an example. It is constructed by 512 light-emitting diodes in a cubic manner. There are two schemes, one for the total beam and the other for the anode. 8 light-emitting diodes, a total of 8 layers. Compile the MCU program with C language to realize the custom animation effect.

Take 8 * 8 * 8 light cube as an example: as the name implies, light cube is a cube, each light

Light Cube Material Preparation

If a workman wants to be good, he must first sharpen his weapon. First prepare tools, materials, and theoretical diagrams.

Tools required: Needle-nose pliers, electric iron, magnifier

Material list: light-emitting diodes (512 * 2 * 4led lamps), current-limiting resistors (64 500ohm resistors to limit each beam of current), hole boards (20cm * 20cm), single-chip minimum system (stc89c516RD + chip), latch (8 74hc573), 8-channel NPN Darlington tube (1 uln2803), ic socket (9 in 40 holes), 2 solders, several wires

Welding of light cube lamp feet

The long feet of the led lamp are positive and short and negative. First, fold the pins of the 512 lamps with needle-nose pliers and reserve them ^[1] . Can use wooden board or cardboard as an aid, draw 8 * 8 squares, drill holes at the size of the LED lamp head at each intersection, and weld a layer first. 8 layers were welded out by this, and finally 8 layers were sequentially welded on the hole board to form a cube. The detailed process can refer to the sticky post in the Light Cube Post Bar.

Optical Cube Principle Circuit Diagram

Welding of Light Cube Drive Circuit

The eight output ports of the latches are connected to the eight beams of each row, and the eight latches correspond to the eight rows. The 8 outputs of uln2803 correspond to 8 layers. For details, you can check the pin diagram of 74hc573 latch and uln2803. From the schematic diagram, it can be seen that the same input ports of 8 latches are connected respectively, and a total of 8 buses correspond to the P0 port of the microcontroller. The enabled ports correspond to the P2 port of the microcontroller, and the 8 input ports of the decoder correspond to the P1 port of the microcontroller. For a detailed tutorial, please refer to Light Cube Post Bar. ^[2]

Writing of Light Cube Program

When all the hardware is completed, programming is another important step, and everyone can write the corresponding animation effects according to their own ideas. However, a certain programming language capability is required. Before writing, you must consider the size of your chip, choose a chip that suits you, and write a program of a suitable size. There are corresponding programs in the Light Cube Bar boutique stickers for study, practice and research. ^[2]