Yiwen Wu
Engineer · Designer · Baker · Traveler
Project Homepage
Electrical System
Software System
Silent Disco Mechanical System
Final Art
The main body of the art is made out of laser cut Duron sheets. The enclosure for the spinning LED assembly and the sign are made out of laser cut Acrylic with reflective mirror film. 2 IR transmissive black Acrylic plaques are used for the IR sensors. Studio headphones and a WAV trigger are used for music. For best visual effects, the art should operate in a dark room. The final art assembly is 13.5" wide x 12" deep x 16" high.
All electrical components are enclosed in the base of the main body.
Spinning LED and Motor Assembly
The assembly is made out of laser cut Acrylic sheets and machined Acrylic blocks. A small inner motor (up to 2600 rpm) is used to directly spin the 3 spinning LEDs, and an outer motor (up to 500rpm) is used to spin the inner motor LED assembly. All wires for power and communication come from the two holes in the base plate of the assembly.
Brushes are used to provide electrical connection to the spinning LEDs through a rotating shaft. The center shaft is wrapped with copper foil on both ends. Each of the 3 LEDs is soldered to a resistor then to the copper foil on both ends. Two brushes made out of LED leads of 2 extra LEDs wrap around the copper foil on both ends. +5V power is connected to the top brush and ground is connected to the bottom brush. Only the top motor is in use, and the bottom motor is for weight balance.
A slip ring is used to provide electrical connection to the inner motor LED assembly through a rotating shaft.
Start Button and Indicator Plaques
Acrylic sheet is laser cut and etched with indicator symbols for the start button. The acrylic symbol plaques are then glued to the main body. Green LEDs are attached inside the main body right below the acrylic plaques to light up the plaques for indication purpose. The start button is screwed into the main body.
