Published September 18, 2018 © CC BY

DIY Lightsaber

In this project you'll learn how to make your very own lightsaber using evive and other objects around around you.

IntermediateFull instructions provided3 hours1,078

Things used in this project

Hardware components

STEMpedia evive

SparkFun LilyPad Rainbow LED (strip of 7 colors)

Thick Cardboard

Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Butter Paper

Foam Sheet

Acrylic Bar

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

We all have imagined ourselves as one of the Super Heroes of the Star Wars universe fighting the enemies with our LED glowing swords or the Light Saber. A typical Light Saber is an energy sword containing plasma. But the Light Saber which we are going to make contains the RGB strips thus making the sword glow.

Step 1: Things You'll Need

The non-electrical components will be available in all your nearby stores.

Step 2: Making of Blade

For making the Light Saber, the main component we need is the RGB strip.

Thus let’s start with assembling it.

Take the RGB of the desired length and stick it on both the sides of the cardboard strip or bar which is the same length as the strips.

NOTE: We have used an Acrylic bar.

Next thing we need to do is, to connect the wires to the RGB strips. This can be done with the help of soldering.

Solder three wires to +5 V, DIN, and GND pins as shown in the figure.

NOTE: Do this step under the supervision of an adult.

Step 3: Time to Make the Holder

As the blade is now ready, we need a holder for it.

We have made a 3D printed holder or gripper, you can use the cardboard to make the holder.

Make sure you leave a holo space in the middle of the holder so that the wire of the strip can pass through.

Using Glue Gun attach the holder ends.

1 / 2

Let’s wrap a butter paper around it to make it look good.

Step 4: Why Not Butter Paper

Now, as you must have noticed that as we have covered it with butter paper, the brights spots are being seen. The light is not dispersed as we see it in Star Wars.

Step 5: Completing the Sword!

We’ll use the foam sheet to wrap around it so as to disperse the light.

Cut a piece out of the foam sheet of the size of the blade and wrap it around using tape.

Finally, warp a butter paper around it. This will make your sword look smooth.

And your Light Saber is now ready.

Step 6: Circuit Diagram

The three wires connected to the RGB Strips are connected as follows:

GND to GND of evive

+5V to +5V of evive

DIN to Pin No. 3 below the breadboard

Step 7: Conclusion

With this, you lightsaber is ready for action!

Go ahead and use it wisely to defend your land against enemies who try to take it over! May the force be with you.

Code

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include<evive.h>

#define neo_pixel_led_pin  3
#define button 38
#define number_of_neo_pixel_leds 60

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(number_of_neo_pixel_leds,neo_pixel_led_pin, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

unsigned char temp=0;
unsigned char temp2 =0;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
 strip.begin();
 strip.show(); 

 tft_init(INITR_GREENTAB);
 tft.setRotation(1);
 tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

  tft.setCursor(25,10);
  tft.setTextSize(2);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE,ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.print("STEMpedia");

   tft.setCursor(15,50);
  tft.setTextSize(2);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_GREEN,ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.print("LIGHTSABER ");

  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_GREEN,ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(0,95);
  tft.setTextSize(1.8);
  tft.print("FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT");
  tft.setCursor(30,110);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE,ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.print("thestempedia.com");
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  
  while(1)
  {
    
       if(digitalRead(button)==HIGH)
         {
          delay(1000);
           break;
         }
       if(temp2==0)
         {
             for(unsigned int i=0;i<number_of_neo_pixel_leds;i++)
                 {
                     strip.setPixelColor(i,strip.Color(0,210,0));
                 }
             strip.show();
             temp2=1;
            
         }
 
   }
   temp2=0;
    while(1)
  {
    
       if(digitalRead(button)==HIGH)
         {
          delay(1000);
           break;
         }
       if(temp2==0)
         {
             for(unsigned int i=0;i<number_of_neo_pixel_leds;i++)
                 {
                     strip.setPixelColor(i,strip.Color(210,0,0));
                 }
             strip.show();
             temp2=1;
            
         }
 
   }
   temp2=0;
    while(1)
  {
    
       if(digitalRead(button)==HIGH)
         {
          delay(1000);
           break;
         }
       if(temp2==0)
         {
             for(unsigned int i=0;i<number_of_neo_pixel_leds;i++)
                 {
                     strip.setPixelColor(i,strip.Color(0,0,210));
                 }
             strip.show();
             temp2=1;
            
         }
 
   }
   Clear();
   temp=0;
   while(1)
   {
    if(temp==1)
    {
       delay(1000);
      break;
    }
    rainbow(20);
     
   }
    Clear();
   temp=0;
   while(1)
   {
    if(temp==1)
    {
       delay(1000);
      break;
    }
    rainbowCycle(20);
   }
    Clear();
   temp=0;
   while(1)
   {
    if(temp==1)
    {
       delay(1000);
      break;
    }
    theaterChase(strip.Color(210,0,0), 20);
   }
  
    Clear();
   temp=0;
   while(1)
   {
    if(temp==1)
    {
       delay(1000);
      break;
    }
    theaterChase(strip.Color(0,210,0), 20);
   }
    Clear();
   temp=0;
   while(1)
   {
    if(temp==1)
    {
      delay(1000);
      break;
    }
    theaterChase(strip.Color(0,0,210), 20);
   }
   temp=0;
   Clear();
   temp2=0;
   

}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait)
       {
         uint16_t i, j;
         if(temp!=1)
           {
             for(j=0; j<256; j++)
                 {
                   if(temp!=1)
                       {
                           for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++)
                               {
                                 strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
                               }
                           strip.show();
                           delay_ms(wait);
                        }
                  }
            }  
      }

void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait)
     {
        uint16_t i, j;
        if(temp!=1)
           {
              for(j=0; j<256*5; j++)
                  {
                     if(temp!=1)
                        {
                            for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) 
                                  {
                                     strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
                                  }
                            strip.show();
                            delay_ms(wait);
                        }
   
                   }
           }
 
     }

void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait)
      {
         if(temp!=1)
            {
              for (int j=0; j<10; j++)
                  { 
                    if(temp!=1)
                           {
                               for (int q=0; q < 3; q++)
                                    {
                                        for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3)
                                             {
                                                strip.setPixelColor(i+q, c);    //turn every third pixel on
                                             }
                                        strip.show();
                                        delay_ms(wait);
          
                                        for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3)
                                             {
                                                 strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
                                             }
                                    }
                           }
                   }
           }
 
     }

uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
    return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  }
  if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
    return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
  WheelPos -= 170;
  return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}

void delay_ms(uint8_t Time)
{
  for(unsigned int i=0;i<Time;i++)
  {
    delay(1);
    check_pressed();
  }
}

void check_pressed()
{
  if(digitalRead(button)==HIGH)
  {
    temp=1;
  }
}
void Clear()
{
  for(unsigned int i=0;i<number_of_neo_pixel_leds;i++)
  {
    strip.setPixelColor(i,strip.Color(0,0,0));
  }
  strip.show();
}

Credits

STEMpedia

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DIY Lightsaber

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Step 1: Things You'll Need

Step 2: Making of Blade

Step 3: Time to Make the Holder

Step 4: Why Not Butter Paper

Step 5: Completing the Sword!

Step 6: Circuit Diagram

Step 7: Conclusion

Schematics

Fritzing Diagram for connecting RGB LED light

Code

Different Pattern of RGB for the Lightsaber

evive Library

Credits

STEMpedia

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

DIY Lightsaber

DIY Lightsaber

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Step 1: Things You'll Need

Step 2: Making of Blade

Step 3: Time to Make the Holder

Step 4: Why Not Butter Paper

Step 5: Completing the Sword!

Step 6: Circuit Diagram

Step 7: Conclusion

Schematics

Fritzing Diagram for connecting RGB LED light

Code

Different Pattern of RGB for the Lightsaber

evive Library

Credits

STEMpedia

Comments

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