Episode 613: Building a Magic Wand Talking Sound Board

In this episode, Mark Donners demonstrates how to create a captivating magical wand board using polymer clay. The wall-mounted ornament showcases several magic wands, each producing unique effects when activated. With a custom-designed PCB and Arduino Nano, the ornament comes alive with interactive LED strips and sound effects. The tutorial covers clay molding, power management, and Arduino programming, enabling makers to personalize their creations and add an element of whimsical magic to their workspaces. Unleash your creativity and explore the possibilities of this enchanting project. 

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Building a Magic Wand Talking Sound Board -- Episode 613

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In this episode of element14 presents, Mark demonstrates how to build a magical gadget for the office—a wall-mounted ornament adorned with magic wands. Rather than using wood, he opts for polymer clay as the material of choice, providing a more malleable and customizable medium for the project. Mark takes inspiration from eBay's examples and starts shaping the clay into the desired scroll-like ornament. After moulding and letting the clay dry, he achieves an antique appearance by adding paint for an aged parchment look. 

Another Kind of Hardware

The next step involves incorporating electronics into the ornament. Mark provides two options for powering the setup. The first involves using an Arduino Nano and an SD card module for playback, but this lacks power management, requiring a manual switch for on/off. The second option is a custom-designed PCB with advanced power management, making it more automatic. He shares the schematic for both approaches, emphasizing the versatility of the clay material even when dry. The clay allows for drilling holes and adjustments, facilitating the installation of components like connectors and speakers. 

Introducing the Magic

Moving on to the software, Mark walks through the Arduino sketch he wrote, which uses various libraries for SD card access, button inputs, and Neopixel control for LED strips. The code cycles through different wand effects, playing random sounds for each one. The final product allows for interactive fun in the office, helping colleagues to make decisions or simply enjoy a magical experience. 

Taming Electricity inside Rocks

Mark also provides an overview of his PCB design, showcasing the power management circuitry, the level shifter, and the connections for the Arduino Nano, SD card, and LED strip. The assembly process is straightforward, and he demonstrates how to wire the components onto the board. With the setup complete, the magical ornament responds to button presses, activating random wand effects with accompanying sounds, adding an element of excitement to the office. 

This project encourages creativity and experimentation, as makers can customize the ornament's appearance and even modify the sounds and effects to suit their preferences. With this magical wand board, adding a touch of enchantment to the office has never been more accessible and fun. So why not indulge in a bit of office magic and see where the wands take you? 

Bonus Content:

• Download Code, Schematics, CAD Files, and More!
• Pre-assembled PCB

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element14 presents  |  About Mark Donners |  Project Videos