Help me please, I don't know what to order or how to write code for any of this.. I'm 100% a beginner to this and I don't want to get the wrong thing. I'm trying to find out what Arduino to get to run an LED matrix in my Thomas daft punk helmet, I build costumes but I want to learn how to do this so I can start integrating it into my costumes but literally every tutorial I see on YouTube talk like more intermediate than a beginner and I get lost before the tutorial even starts. I know I can just buy a Thomas kit but that would still prevent me from learning this new skill... Can someone help me out and let me know what to get as well as explain what the components do
Hi, @pugsly1996
Welcome to the forum.
There is a search box in the top right hand side of the screen.
Put "daftpunk" in it and it will give you some other posts on the subject.
OR Google;
daftpunk arduino
Tom.... 
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Help 1:
- Put a comma after "me" and a fullstop after "please" or your sentence (fragment) indicates pleasing others.
This one?
Help 2:
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The RGB lights are an 8x32 NeoPixel matrix (or smaller matrices due to size and power). Flexible 8x32 NeoPixel RGB LED Matrix : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits
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The NeoMatrix can be controlled with a (if all pixels "white" - up to 15A) power supply and an ESP32 (good memory size, M1 mini or C3 mini) or Arduino Nano (8x32 will use a lot of memory, but should "work", and cheap at three for US$10 on Amazon).
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This guy uses neodymium magnets to hold his helmet parts together. https://youtu.be/8y_8VXlSIKs
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Mount the LEDs below eye level and leave a (narrow) horizontal viewport field of view as wide as possible, but at least 120 degrees for binocular vision.
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Make a large, mesh, slot "below" the matrix for air, and so you can see what you are walking on, and any food/drinks you are consuming.
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Ok, so if that's the case... Would a Arduino nano work well with the MAX7219 and if so, what gauge wire would I need and other supplies like enamel wire, resistors, ect.
Also would the nano only allow me to run an 8x8 setup at a time or could I run the full 8x32 without connecting another nano along another 8x8 setup in total 4 nanos to run the full 32
To what case are you referring?
Nano works fine with MAX7219. Neopixels and MAX7219 are not compatible.
I think around 24AWG / 0.511mm
Yes. Read Adafruit's guide on NeoPixels and NeoMatrix.
No. Your question is confusing, so make it more clear.
You are changing devices... 8x8 LEDs... is not NeoMatrix. Nano can do both. MAX7219 can do 8x8LEDs.
8x8 is LEDs.
8x32 is Neopixels.
Nano can do both. 8x32 needs a lot of power, or careful programming.
No need for more than one.
I need to do 320 LEDs total and I was wondering if the Arduino nano can run the full 320 or if I would need four separate arduinos run in sequence/linked together to make the full 320 work as one
And I was wondering about the MAX7219 cathode in my previous question
You need to be aware that the 7219 is daisy chained. If you look at my picture, the row of 8x8 is controlled by input on one end.
You serially command the 7219's.
NOTE, You are not powering the display with the Nano, just controlling how the display performs.
You need to do some reasearch of your own.
Google;
how does arduino control MAX7219 ledcontrol
There are tutorials and how to examples.
We cannot do your programming, just advise and guide you as you develop your code.
The code cannot be written in one go, you need to write code to learn how to communicate with the display and expand to what you want to do.
Tom....
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this forum is what I've been trying to learn more on all of this is, I've spent the last week trying to figure things out and i appreciate your help. like I said I'm 100% new to all of this but the question I've been asking are things i just haven't been able to understand. if you have any recommended links that you think would be helpful for me to view before i continue asking questions id appreciate it. I've been afraid to get into this stuff for a long time but this is something that i want to learn and understand before i proceed. I know what I'm asking you seems very common knowledge but as a beginner... this stuff is extremely intimidating
LEDs, Neopixles or a combination of the two? I've seen the Thomas Daft Punk Helmet in-action. I understand it has a front screen and side screens, but I imagine a helmet can have front, sides, back. It sounds fun, and building it will be an adventure.
Not if you read/learn as best you can.
No just red LEDs and side bars, I'm specifically trying to do the discovery era helmet which doesn't involve Neopixels or different colors other than red LEDs and certain assorted colored LEDs for the side bars of the visor
I do plan on getting an RGB LED that allows me to you use green and yellow, but that's for later when I decide to do the guy Manuel's helmet
I understand you want a "visor" like appearance, but I doubt there is a commercial, flexible, red, 8x32, LED matrix. The usually 8x8 matrix are flat and mounted on a MAX7219 board. At some point, you need to look at your options. You are "wanting" to solder 256 LEDs to four MAX7214, or 256 diodes and then power it.
Or, you can program 8x32 Neopixels to be RED, the flexible board can fit the curve around the helmet visor, program it with one wire and power it with two wires.
Lots of 8-neopixel sticks, vertically mounted, can form a perfect curve.
Flip every other one, and you have very short wiring too.
yes, you are correct that was my bad for not explaining that well, i took a few weeks to learn more before I continued this conversation. Essentially I want to get the max but remove the built in matrix and extend the LED's to basically build or replicate the matrix using the connectors/ pins on the boards.
So it'll be the Arduino nano connected to 4 of the MAX7219 connected to each other and each of the MAX7219 would be connected to its own grid of an 8x8 setup to make the full 8x32 text scrolling visor.
Wokwi has a sketch with cascaded MAX7219...
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Have a look at MD_Parola and I think Arduino Cookbook covered the MAX7219.
Quite old now but might be relevant.