Author Topic: 3 Months Off... Time to Get Modding (Read 9494 times)

hyper999 · « **on:** May 27, 2013, 02:58:37 PM »

So whilst being at uni I put myself together a gaming PC. So the this weekend I've been working on a project to enable me to control the colour of the LEDs in the fans in my PC from an application on my PC.

I'm going to have an ATTiny45 controlling 4 RGB LEDs on each fan.

A single USB serial converter is connected to all the ATTiny's to enable the PC to communicate with them.

I have ordered a serial converter like this one from ebay -

but for prototyping purposes i have been using the converter on board an arduino uno which I have also been using as a programmer.

So far I have written the ATTiny code, built up the circuit on a breadboard, designed a PCB, and written a basic PC app to control it.

The app is fully working but I plan to improve it while I wait for my PCBs to arrive.

PICTURES

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qS042V3hzS2RvaGs/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qM2psdi0zaUxpLUU/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qWlVJNU9QMWZxcUE/edit?usp=sharing

3D0kassiah · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2013, 03:37:23 PM »

sweet project
similar to the alienware setups?

hyper999 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2013, 03:56:14 PM »

Quote from: 3D0kassiah on May 27, 2013, 03:37:23 PM

sweet project
similar to the alienware setups?

yeah I will have control over each individual fan so just like that

3D0kassiah · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2013, 03:59:06 PM »

Quote from: hyper999 on May 27, 2013, 03:56:14 PM

yeah I will have control over each individual fan so just like that

nice project hyper
hope you enjoyed your vacation

hyper999 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2013, 04:28:23 PM »

Quote from: 3D0kassiah on May 27, 2013, 03:59:06 PM

nice project hyper
hope you enjoyed your vacation

Haha I have been at uni so haven't really had the time or space to be modding but i'm back home for 3 months now

ViSioNXx · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2013, 04:48:25 PM »

Sweetness.

Nevbox · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2013, 02:23:27 PM »

PC specs?

Don't know how big you are on aesthetics, but you might want to grab your self a black sleeve for the cables.

How much you spending on this mod btw? Getting a PCB printed sounds a bit expensive.

3D0kassiah · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:00:57 PM »

Quote from: Nevbox on May 28, 2013, 02:23:27 PM

PC specs?

Don't know how big you are on aesthetics, but you might want to grab your self a black sleeve for the cables.

How much you spending on this mod btw? Getting a PCB printed sounds a bit expensive.

yes i will be following this thread

i highly recommend oshpark.com now def good customer service had a bit of trouble but things got sorted out nicely
plusthere pcb are beautiful but some might not like the color purple for a pcb lol im not complaining
def affordable and free shipping if you choose

hyper999 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:04:25 PM »

Quote from: Nevbox on May 28, 2013, 02:23:27 PM

PC specs?

Don't know how big you are on aesthetics, but you might want to grab your self a black sleeve for the cables.

How much you spending on this mod btw? Getting a PCB printed sounds a bit expensive.

i5 3570K overclocked to 4.6Ghz water cooled
GTX660 overclocked
16GB RAM
120GB SSD

The cable I am buying has a black outer coating

The PCB's are only half a square inch so they cost less than $1 each

In total it will cost about £4 per fan however for me it is more about the learning experience rather than being worth the money

Quote from: 3D0kassiah on May 28, 2013, 03:00:57 PM

yes i will be following this thread

i highly recommend oshpark.com now def good customer service had a bit of trouble but things got sorted out nicely
plusthere pcb are beautiful but some might not like the color purple for a pcb lol im not complaining
def affordable and free shipping if you choose

Yeah gonna get them from osh park

ViSioNXx · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:30:49 PM »

Gonna make any extras? I would possibly be interested in one for my pc as well.

hyper999 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:47:12 PM »

Quote from: ViSioNXx on May 28, 2013, 03:30:49 PM

Gonna make any extras? I would possibly be interested in one for my pc as well.

I will share all the files when its finished so anyone interested will be able to make their own

ViSioNXx · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:53:53 PM »

Saweet! Gonna share the software package?

That is the only thing I have ever liked about Alienware pc's. The leds and cases are decent. What kind of case will you be putting that beast in?

hyper999 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2013, 04:43:55 PM »

Quote from: ViSioNXx on May 28, 2013, 03:53:53 PM

Saweet! Gonna share the software package? That is the only thing I have ever liked about Alienware pc's. The leds and cases are decent. What kind of case will you be putting that beast in?

Yeah I will share anything anyone would need to replicate my work and I will try to make the build log easy to follow along.

The case I've got is a CM Storm Scout

It's not my favourite case ever but I was running out of budget and the handle makes it easy moving it between uni and home.

And yeah same I didn't even realize they did it for their desktops until it was mentioned here but it was actually my friend's Alienware laptop that inspired this project.

ViSioNXx · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2013, 04:49:52 PM »

Scout is a good case. What kind of cooling will you be using? I have looked a few times at eBay for an alienware case just for the lighting. Boy had one locally that was like from late 90's. He wanted like 400 for it though :/ Cant wait to see the build log

hyper999 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2013, 06:23:55 PM »

I built the PC just before Christmas my cooler is a corsair H60

hyper999 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2013, 02:22:59 PM »

Ok so i got a proof of concept up and running here's a video of my pc app fading through different colours on a fan mounted to the side of my case.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qUzFXR0QyWXFack0/edit?usp=sharing

Just gotta order parts and PCBs now.

ViSioNXx · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2013, 03:53:22 PM »

sweet.

3D0kassiah · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2013, 05:05:45 PM »

nice work hyper

Icyhaze · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2013, 12:21:19 PM »

DEFINATELY tuned in!! Great work!

hyper999 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2014, 01:35:46 PM »

Just popped by to say I'm still working on this, really want this done before September!

I've made some major changes though, I've changed from the AVR chip I was using to a PIC12F1822 for cost reasons and more eeprom (and I've got kinda friendly with netbeans at uni). I've added proper support for animated light sequences they are now replayed from the internal eeprom as opposed to being streamed over serial (streaming it was awful and really bugged me :P). First version of the PIC firmware is done sequences can be downloaded to each device over serial from a C# app I've made. Only thing left to add to the PIC firmware is the ability to read sequences back to the PC and maybe a few extra features but, I'll get to those when and if I have time.

I have done a basic PCB layout today, I plan to send it in to OSHPark tomorrow for fab'ing as I go on holiday for a week on tuesday.

The current PC app is only for testing as it is very un-user-friendly but have started on a better one this evening, should be done by the time the boards get here.

hyper999 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2014, 02:13:29 AM »

I have just ordered the boards from oshpark should get to me before the end of July I think

.

I am also making good progress on the app here are some pictures of what I got done yesterday and this morning

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qM2JlVkdKbUZkUlE/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qZm55Nk5qdUcxUjA/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qaFJzSml5X0ZtREE/edit?usp=sharing

Update:

Still waiting for PCBs but they have been shipped

Made another prototype this time on a breadboard, so that I could test with more than one node

Making good progress on the PC side current features,
- Scans for connected devices at startup
- Allows Custom sequence creation for each device
- Sequences can be sent to devices
- Animation speed can be adjusted for each device
- Sequences can be saved and loaded from file

hyper999 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 18, 2014, 02:40:25 PM »

PCBs are in!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qckh4Wm5vaWxmcjg/edit?usp=sharing

Got here sooner than expected so I don't have any components yet but will place an order with Farnell this weekend which should get to me Monday or Tuesday.

On the PC side of things the app is 90% complete functionality wise just a few more bits (New device detection and setup) that I want to add, then depending on whether I can be bothered I might pretty it up a bit with some custom graphics, but we'll see.

Rodent · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2014, 05:40:00 PM »

Very nice work as always will you be selling them?

hyper999 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 21, 2014, 04:21:47 AM »

Wasn't planning on it as I will be providing everything you would need to make your own, but I suppose I could do a small run if there was enough interest...

hyper999 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2014, 01:38:53 PM »

Update:

In my haste to get the PCBs ordered before I went on holiday I forgot to include a decoupling capacitor, gate resistors for the mosfets, and used too small resistor package for the LED current limiting resistors, so I'm going to have to order new boards

. Would have had this finished by Sunday but now its going to be another 3 weeks before I get my new boards.

Should get the boards ordered Monday at the Latest.

If anyone knows of a similar service to OSHPark but where I could have the boards in the UK in less than 3 weeks please let me know.

hyper999 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 04, 2014, 07:41:40 PM »

Update: Have put together my first complete fan with a cheap CM case fan while I wait for my better ones and made a big update to the App also

Pics.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qNjZuaWxoczZWQ0U/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qQjQ4SUdaSExYdU0/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qSzdKRmlZNkdDRVk/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7fGzuWpq18qb3JDbnFFZklESXM/edit?usp=sharing

News:

Author Topic: 3 Months Off... Time to Get Modding (Read 9494 times)