4x4x4 Cube? - Is it possible?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Software Syntax & Programs
1

Since the arduino has 14 digital outputs...and 4x4x4 cube has 16 leds, is it possible to create a 4x4x4 cube using the arduino? Perhaps you'd need to use 2 atmel168's to accomplish it?

2

there's tons of videos of this on youtube, so yes it is possible - even in full rgb.

have a look at www.instructables.com, maybe even search for led cube :slight_smile:

or look at this and start drooling: 3D LED Cube (三维显示器) - YouTube
I wish I had that thing :slight_smile:

3

A 4x4x4 cube has 64 LEDs; but I believe can be driven with 12 pins (4row + 4column + 4layer) if you wire it properly; it's a lot easier to wire with 20 pins (4x4 matrix + 4layer); my 3x3x3 uses 12 pins (3x3matrix + 3layer) - a lot easier to wire and only "costs" 3 pins more. Though, I'm trying to imagine the schematic and it's blowing my mind. In theory, you could do a 5x cube with only 15 pins.

Different colors, of course, adds another dimension to the equation.

4

Since the arduino has 14 digital outputs..

FWIW keep in mind the analog pins can also be used as digital outputs.

--Phil.

5

I've seen a few on instructables and youtube. The problem is, the only one's that use arduino are 3x3x3. This one is probably the best tutorial I've found, but doesn't use the arduino:

http://www.instructables.com/id/E103BSEFE7ITU0C/

This place has some good stuff too, but again, doesn't use the arduino!

Can anyone find a 4x4x4 that uses the arduino?

Thanks!

6

4x4x4 = 64 LED's

The MAX7219 can control 64 leds with one chip and only uses 3 pins on the arduino. More info is available in the playground on how to use it and either the matrix or ledcontrol libraries. I've been using these and the ledcontrol library in particular does everything I want.

7

Sweet, found tons of great info about that MAX chip. I copied the URLS for anyone else who's interested:

http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/LEDMatrix
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/LEDMatrix/Max7219
http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/MAX7219-MAX7221.pdf
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/MAX72XXHardware
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/MultiplexMAX72xx
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/LedControl

http://tomekness.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/max7219_tutorial_pre_c.pdf

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/09/make_a_pocket_led_cube_we_1.html
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1145204941/