Save Money by Building Your Own Custom RGB LED Ring

NeoPixels are great little RGB LEDs that can be used with nearly any microcontroller, allowing you to add color to any number of projects for that extra-added flair. It’s understandable that all things RGB LED become popular after being released and NeoPixel rings are no exception. NeoPixels are Adafruit’s version of the WS2812 RGB LED, only they’re slightly more expensive, especially in ring form, and as a result, Hyper_Ion has detailed how to make your own NeoPixel Ring.

The tutorial is equal parts designing your PCB and surface-mount soldering the LEDs, a tough job if you’ve never done it before. The shape of the NeoPixel Ring is created using coordinates to make a radius as well as placements for the LEDs, which is done using CAD software such as DipTrace, ExpressPCB or EaglePCB. Hyper_Ion supplies a handy Excel sheet to help with coordinate installation if you’re looking to match his design.

The next step involves routing the connections between the LEDs by creating an input/output data stream on the circuit pad with pins referencing an LED placement. Then the routing is done for power and ground as well and is implemented by the use of circles and semi-circles, which forms a jumper connection on the circuit board between the LEDs.

Combining this board with another NeoPixel product is possible by plugging in the power/ground pins into the pins of a suitable microcontroller. Connecting the last pin (data) to any digital pin also helps to incorporate the modifications made by the one putting it together. Downloading the NeoPixel library, setting the number of LEDs, the chosen digital pin and programming the animations make it all possible to design your version of the NeoPixel Ring.

Obviously, there’s more to making this LED ring- including etching the PCB, soldering with and without a stencil, board shaping and more, enough information to fill a tutorial. Those looking to build their own can follow Hyper_Ion’s roject page, which provides a step-by-step process along with all of the tools and materials needed.