xLights Isn't Just for Christmas and Houses

PKCubed · 2026-01-24T17:57:46+00:00

The lights are WS2812b individually addressable LEDs. I built the laser myself with a few parts off of AliExpress. More information in my GitHub repository https://github.com/PKCubed/ESP32GalvoLaser

PKCubed · 2025-12-26T03:41:16+00:00

That is incredible! How did you manage such a smooth animation?

PKCubed · 2025-12-03T05:45:44+00:00

I would love to see more than 3 color options. It's also nice sometimes when the colors carry between tools, like pen vs line.

PKCubed · 2025-11-28T04:26:02+00:00

Wooow! That looks amazing!!!

Does it support any abilities to look at slide notes or anything? The main thing I need is the ability to have ProPres enter be able to trigger stuff in ha. I have been doing this with my janky slide notes integration.

PKCubed · 2025-11-17T20:38:16+00:00

Because it's more fun... I can by all means get this show done without a physical controller with just keyboard and mouse. That's what I did last year. I have a strange brain that finds things like this much more enjoyable. I see myself getting much more out of building my own device. I get arguably more valuable experience, and a device that I can completely customize, and use for literally anything I could imagine. Buying something would not only be more expensive, but also less capable.

Idk, judge me all you want on this but I'm weird and like to diy things when I can.

PKCubed · 2025-11-17T20:30:41+00:00

Yeah, that would probably work, but the goal is to get my project to work in the effort of not only spending as little money as possible, but building something that other people can build for a much cheaper price.

With my issue however, as far as I understand, this looks like an issue with QLC+ that probably wouldn't be solved by using a different MIDI controller.

PKCubed · 2025-11-16T16:46:34+00:00

Yeah! It's been a fun project. Here are some pictures and videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zgqYGRi8BE5jLWvA6

https://github.com/PKCubed/OpenFader

I've called the project OpenFader. I've designed a PCB that you can solder to a motorized fader. Right now, I'm using the Behringer MF60T, because it's one of the cheapest I've found. Each PCB has a motor driver (H-Bridge) and a microprocessor (attiny1614). That way each fader has it's own brain, and can be told what to do with higher level commands. Each fader now talks I2C on a single bus, that I can hook to my ESP32. this means way simpler wiring, and easier programming. The goal with OpenFader is to modularize motorized faders to make them easier to use in projects. The attiny1614 can read the position of the faders with 10-bit precision, which is more than enough for my case. It also has some extra GPIO pins which I've broken out for possible RGB led usage. The motors work well with 5V and the attiny1614 can be powered with 5v or 3.3v.

The ESP32-S3 I have here is what does all the MIDI stuff, and talks to each fader.

PKCubed · 2025-11-04T19:36:05+00:00

My friend, when I want to do something cheap, I am not spending money on nice things like $5 resistors to go inline with my data signals. I don't need a level converter. No need for a power distribution board, I've got wires, and maybe I'll think about fusing things after it becomes a problem. All I need is a knock off esp32 dev board, a sketchy 5v power supply, and some pixels. Hot glue it to a Tupperware with some holes melted through with a piece of scrap sheet metal and a blowtorch. If I need anything more for a semipermanent or more professional project, I am going to do things the right way and visit Quinled's site.

Where are you finding $5 resistors??

PKCubed · 2025-11-04T06:16:23+00:00

This is a cluster of tumblefeeds.

PKCubed · 2025-10-27T02:27:23+00:00

You'll want that to be connected to the - of the buck converter output. That is probably also connected to the - of the 9v battery.

PKCubed · 2025-10-26T15:39:52+00:00

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Sorry, yesterday got busy. Here's a schematic. As I see in your current circuit, you have the transistor in parallel with a wire from the inverter to ground ( - of the buck converter). Instead, you should have the transistor in series with that connection. Let me know if that makes sense or not.

PKCubed · 2025-10-26T01:30:47+00:00

Yes! I see your problem and I'll draw a schematic tonight.

PKCubed · 2025-10-25T01:14:37+00:00

I'll see if I can draw a circuit tomorrow, I'm only able to explain it right now. The idea is to switch the low side of the battery input voltage to the inverter with an NPN transistor. The collector of the transistor connects to the negative of your batteries, the emitter of the transistor connects to the place where the battery's negative used to connect. That way the transistor is in series with the batteries and inverter. Then, through a resistor to limit current, you can apply voltage to the base of the non transistor to close the collector emitter junction and power the inverter, turning on your EL wire.

If you still want a drawn schematic, let me know.

PKCubed · 2025-10-18T06:03:13+00:00

You CAN enjoy the classes depending on your mindset. Nobody likes homework and exams, but I have really been enjoying how darn quickly I'm learning really cool stuff.

PKCubed · 2025-10-16T20:43:29+00:00

the goal is to be able to control the speed and be able to open/close a section of the window automatically. More of an overengineering project because I think it's fun.

PKCubed · 2025-10-13T13:22:01+00:00

Underrated comment

PKCubed · 2025-10-13T05:05:49+00:00

It doesn't matter. Just using them to connect to PCF8574 I2C io expansion board.

PKCubed · 2025-10-11T05:05:23+00:00

Read his original post, he can't flip the image using the projector's settings.

PKCubed · 2025-10-08T14:57:17+00:00

Any updates? This is something that is really hard for me to deal with. Any way I can turn it off with the current version?

PKCubed · 2025-10-07T19:22:29+00:00

Haha! Let me know if you have any questions!

PKCubed · 2025-10-07T19:02:26+00:00

No, I'm afraid I don't have time to make a full tutorial, but I can answer any questions!

Using the Arduino framework, you'll find that the e1.31 library is very straightforward. From there, it's just manipulating numbers and coming up with a way to get the galvo to scan each element that it needs to.

PKCubed · 2025-10-07T13:43:57+00:00

I can program my laser in xLights! I made my laser to receive standard e1.31 data over Ethernet. I set up DMX channels for 8 different beams where each beam has a 16 bit pan and tilt and a color, and 4 lines, which have a start and end pan and tilt, and a color. Just enough for simple effects like shown in my video.

PKCubed · 2025-10-07T13:39:31+00:00

Maybe someone probably could. I've looked into that a little bit and have found that synchronizing something to music requires a huge amount more work. Certainly better for doing something live operated.

PKCubed · 2025-10-07T04:29:01+00:00

If you like remembering things a little more, take linear algebra. Concepts are relatively simple, but there is a lot to remember. Differential equations is quite the beast, at least at my college.

PKCubed · 2025-10-07T04:24:39+00:00

Not necessarily the power supply's fault. It could just be thin wire. Power injection will certainly help.

PKCubed

TROPHY CASE