Below I show Dave an end cap to a toilet paper roll that would have gone into a landfill. I have an eye for the craziest ideas my husband Sam tells me. I believe that when you are a maker, you see things very differently than most folks. I always think outside the box and so when I find something that i can use in my art, I don't see it as trash I see it as something cool to add to my creations!
Below checkout the parts for the Neo-pixel ring - x12 buttons. These are very simple to make if you follow the tutorial on Adafruit. I'm using the code from the Gemma hoop earrings or the strand test code in the Adafruit Arduino 1.0.5 software. https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-flora/download-software After you go through the learning process, then this is what to do to find the strand test. I share it because I am still new to all this tech stuff and i have had to spend many, many hours trying to figure things out. You first open Arduino then click on open then libraries then Adafruit_Neo Pixel then you get strand test and that is a cool code. Once you have the code you upload it and if you followed all the instructions in the learning page of Adafruit, the LEDs will light up rainbow colors.
https://learn.adafruit.com/gemma-hoop-earrings/program-over-usb This is the code for the hoop earrings so all you do is copy the whole code and paste it in the Arduino software, upload it and watch the magic! You then just add the battery to the Gemma and see the cool effect!
Check it out, my cool buttons! I have decided to use Neo pixel rings for the buttons. I shared before that we have cleaning businesses and when my husband has to replace the rolls of toilet paper on a job, these caps are on the ends. I took some home because i just though i could find a use for them and sure enough, this is it! The cap looks like like it is moving in slow motion, due to a plastic piece that is inside of theses caps. I put it on a cd so everyone could see how cool they look. The video doesn't show the full effects that you get when this cap is on top of the Neo pixel ring, but I thought I would share it maybe some folks can see the magic. You can keep lighting up your creations by charging these tiny batteries with this neat little usb charger. https://www.adafruit.com/products/1304
Below I discuss with Dave from Hive76 who is one of the 3D printer experts, my idea for a backing to my toilet paper end-cap. Our goal is to add a backing to the end cap so that one, it will keep the Neo-pixel in place and also so that the Neo-pixel ring won't get wet when it rains.
We did one prototype but Dave took the end-cap home, to perfect it since our end goal is also to have the back flush with the center and it was getting late. Dave was the first person I met at Hive 76 when i was trying to get help with my Computerized couture gown that i created last year. He right away gave me some pointers. Everyone there is so willing to help anyone that walks in through their door. I'm sorry about the background music and noise but it is a packed house on Wednesday nights which is open house, that means that even if your not a member you can come in with your project and get help, meet other makers or learn something from someone who is working on their own project.
I'm sorry about the water marks on the video above, but I'm still learning how to hold my cellphone when recording and i have a few mistakes that i could not fix with the youTube editing software or my computer for that matter.
Below is the first prototype. I was so excited when it came off the print and I also thought it weighed more than it did so as you can see in the video, I almost drop the thing.
