Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat -- Episode 620

Matt — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Matt on 9/14/2023 11:00:00 PM

Discover an enchanting world of electronics and craftsmanship with Mark as he guides you through the creation of a magical hat! In this DIY project, you'll delve into the realms of animatronics, electronics, and mechanical design, culminating in a hat that comes to life. From intricate wiring and servo mechanisms to the art of paper and glue, Mark's tutorial unveils the secrets behind crafting this interactive wizard's accessory. Whether you're a seasoned maker or a novice in the world of electronics, this project offers a fun and educational journey into the fusion of technology and imagination, perfect for cosplay enthusiasts, educators, and curious minds alike.

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

In this element14 presents episode, Mark takes us on an exciting journey into the creation of a magical hat! It combines electronics, software, and mechanical components. The setup begins with a power supply, either a 9- or 12-volt battery. A diode is used for reverse polarity protection. A voltage converter transforms the input to 5 volts. A microcontroller is connected to a microSD card, an amplifier board, three servos, an OLED display for showing an eye, and an input for remote control. The components are meticulously assembled on a PCB.

Next, Mark delves into the mechanical parts, starting with the creation of a "uni-brow" that attaches above the eye. He’s interested in making the top of the hat movable, with a complex mouth mechanism, decisions he’ll make as he gets further along with the build.

The construction of the hat itself is an engaging process involving glue and paper. Mark shares a variety of tips on using glue and various paper types to create a firm and smooth surface. Once the hat's structure is complete, Mark integrates the electronics. He mounts the servo for the "uni-brow," the eye display, the speaker, and the mouth mechanism, taking care to explain their placement and connections.

The software aspect of the project involves utilizing the microcontroller’s dual cores efficiently, in this case an ESP32 microcontroller. Mark splits tasks between the cores to ensure smooth operation, covering servo movement, audio playback, and display updates. He provides a brief overview of the code, including essential libraries and ESP32 board setup. For those who want to replicate this project, Mark offers valuable advice on installing necessary libraries and configuring the ESP32 board. He emphasizes using stable library versions for a reliable outcome.

In conclusion, Mark showcases his magical hat, encouraging viewers to share their ideas for sound effects and what kinds of costumes the hat could be used for. Mark's comprehensive walkthrough of this project, from electronics to mechanics and software, provides a valuable resource for makers and electronics enthusiasts looking to embark on similar creative endeavours.

Read the Blogs

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Tags: esp32, building a magic hat, magic hat electronics guide, creative diy electronics projects, crafting a magic-themed prop, interactive talking hat design, wizard hat diy tutorial, maker's guide to animatronics, Electronics project tutorial, glue and paper crafts in electronics, how to build an enchanted hat, diy animatronic hat, electronics and mechanics in cosplay, electronics for cosplay costumes, step-by-step hat construction, friday_release, magic-themed teaching tools

Episode 620: Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat

cstanton — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:18:15 GMT

Revision 7 posted to Documents by cstanton on 10/5/2023 2:18:15 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

Read the Blogs

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Episode 620: Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat

pchan — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:04:03 GMT

Revision 5 posted to Documents by pchan on 9/15/2023 1:04:03 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

Read the Blogs

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Episode 620: Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat

pchan — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:04:03 GMT

Revision 6 posted to Documents by pchan on 9/15/2023 1:04:03 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

Read the Blogs

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Episode 620: Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat

cstanton — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:02:44 GMT

Revision 4 posted to Documents by cstanton on 9/14/2023 3:02:44 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

Read the Blogs

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Episode 620:

cstanton — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:53:33 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Documents by cstanton on 9/14/2023 2:53:33 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

Read the Blogs

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Episode 620:

cstanton — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:25:18 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Documents by cstanton on 9/14/2023 2:25:18 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos

Episode 620:

cstanton — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:49:19 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Documents by cstanton on 9/14/2023 1:49:19 PM

Watch the Video:

https://youtu.be/vTyKqLM7QtU

The construction of the hat itself is an engaging process involving glue and paper. Mark shares a variety of tips on using glue and various paper types to create a firm and smooth surface.

Once the hat's structure is complete, Mark proceeds to integrate the electronics. He mounts the servo for the "uni-brow," the eye display, the speaker, and the mouth mechanism, taking care to explain their placement and connections.

For those who want to replicate this project, Mark offers valuable advice on installing necessary libraries and configuring the ESP32 board. He emphasizes using stable library versions for a reliable outcome.

In conclusion, Mark showcases his magical hat, encouraging viewers to share their ideas for sound effects and what kinds of costumes the hat could be used for.

Mark's comprehensive walkthrough of this project, from electronics to mechanics and software, provides a valuable resource for makers and electronics enthusiasts looking to embark on similar creative endeavors.

Supplemental Content

Resource Files
ESP32 Board Library (json format)

Bill of Materials

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Power switch	TE Connectivity	1	Buy Now
Elco 470uF 16V	RUBYCON	1	Buy Now
pin headers	Molex	4	Buy Now
PCB Receptacle sockets	SAMTEC	4	Buy Now
Speaker	VISATON	1	Buy Now
Battery clip	BUD INDUSTRIES	1	Buy Now
SD card	DELKIN DVICES	1	Buy Now
servo's SG90.
3d printed parts: print of use your local printservice, files are included
some nuts and bolts mostly M2,5 and M3
ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT 1,0
"Remote Module
PCB-> use the included pcb production files to order a pcb at your prefered manufacturer
"I2S Audio Board bases on MAX98357
"OLED Display 128 * 128 pixels

element14 presents | About Mark Donners | Project Videos