Tea.Bag3

[rodrosenberg]

Initial post for the "Tea.Bag-3" Case mod. (the name is tea.bag[cubed] but no superscript here)



This case mod is a very complex electronically lit and software controlled 3x3x3 cube much like a small hand held puzzle game that was very popular in the 1980's.
The six sided cube will sit on a end point exposing all 6 sides to the view each of the 54 elements will be lit by RGB Led's.
Control will come from the high end gaming system contained inside the cube with a custom application that interfaces with the lighting controllers.

A big part of this project is the team that I've assembled to work on this complex case mod Team Members include [TB]HumanShield,[TB]4K1R4, [TB]D4RK N1NJ4 ,[TB]Robes, [TB]Squared and me ( [TB]Rod )
Every member will be very key in completing this project challenges in this project include 200+ RGB LED's 54 individually controlled circuits at least 12 custom milled pieces of aluminum. We will continue to post more updates as the project develops here are a couple of the sketches from our 3D artist 4K1R4.



http://lh4.ggpht.com/rodrosenberg/SMin96Bo8dI/AAAAAAAABGg/yjxb2xd2GdM/s800/dc5fzdwm_9dqwgstdb_b.jpg



http://lh4.ggpht.com/rodrosenberg/SMin91MMNyI/AAAAAAAABGo/lkXPrTiYnuU/s800/dc5fzdwm_10f9bfwzdq_b.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/rodrosenberg/SNhm8J3fpZI/AAAAAAAABI8/-00C53DPTFg/s800/cubeonstandwithframe.jpg


http://lh6.ggpht.com/rodrosenberg/SNka6XazbdI/AAAAAAAABJc/j3ah0c5o560/s800/teabag3%20motherboardview.jpg

This Project was started 6 Months ago I thought I would add it to the worklogs at TBCS

Team Tea.Bag

[rodrosenberg]

Some youtube videos of our work...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCiHNOkCgMc

eCiHNOkCgMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RyDrh9WeJE&feature=email

7RyDrh9WeJE

http://www.youtube.com/v/KAefjNYa5-U

KAefjNYa5-U

Rod

[SXRguyinMA]

This Things Neat :up:

[theshoeshineman]

How cheap can you get RGB LED's?

I wanted to get some to use on a case I'm building but they cost $6 each here (in australia) and for a dozen leds I'm looking at $72 which is damn expensive!

[The boy 4rm oz]

I like the CADs, can't wait for more.

[rodrosenberg]

How cheap can you get RGB LED's?

I wanted to get some to use on a case I'm building but they cost $6 each
here (in australia) and for a dozen leds I'm looking at $72 which is damn expensive!

I got the first batch for testing off Ebay check the link below
http://cgi.ebay.com/50pcs-Diffused-5mm-4-Pin-Common-Anode-RGB-LED-8-000mcd_W0QQitemZ250338297319QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_ Electronic_Components?hash=item250338297319&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A131 8|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

The I had to order the main batch direct from china to get 100 degree viewing angle those cost .53 cents each (US Dollar) plus shipping!


If you need something to control them check this controller out...it freaking rocks you can control 10 RGB LED's or 32 regular LED's with some simple programming or use some more automated interfaces it kicks ass!!

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=239&zenid=c23af7ce260d0ac7c5d8cb1f9c1cfa60

[rodrosenberg]

I like the CADs, can't wait for more.

a huge credit to 4K1R4 for his masterful drawing in google sketchup!!

we should have some video of milling the side panels soon!

[theshoeshineman]

Thanks for the info on the leds!! Much appreciated +rep

[Drum Thumper]

SgtM and I both get our LEDs in bulk from http://www.ledshoppe.com. Cheap prices, and relatively fast shipping, considering that they are being shipped from Hong Kong.

[theshoeshineman]

Well I just ordered 50 x 8,000mcd RGB LED's for $28aud including shipping. That works out to 56cents an RGB LED and they are a lot brighter than the ones I can get from Jaycar.

Will probably grab that output controller aswell.

[rodrosenberg]

Well I just ordered 50 x 8,000mcd RGB LED's for $28aud including shipping. That works out to 56cents an RGB LED and they are a lot brighter than the ones I can get from Jaycar.

Will probably grab that output controller aswell.

Do you have a work log yet I can't wait to see what your doing with RGB LED's!!!

Rod

[theshoeshineman]

Actually, I had pretty much scrapped the idea due to the cost of building it all but today the idea has just come to life again thanks to you! The basic look of the case is very similar to what this guy had done here with this panel. http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-LED-Computer-Mod/

He has 3 different coloured leds on each side of a panel which he switches between them via a switch. I was going to do the same except using RGB LED's and controlling them all via a custom written program.

The case was called Fire and Ice. In fire mode each LED would slowly fade between hot colours such as red-orange-yellow creating a lava effect on the case. In Ice mode it would do the same thing except with "cool" colours.

Not sure how many leds I'd need with 8,000 MCD LED's ... Just need to find some translucent acrylic now and do some tests to see how much they light up the panel.

[rodrosenberg]

Very cool!! if you do use the LEDWIZ and need some help programming it with VB6 and the OCX control let me know I would be glad to pass on what I have learned :)

Rod

[rodrosenberg]

Here are some great photos of humanshield doing a little soldering the snow has slowed the progress but we should have some sweet metal parts coming up soon!

http://picasaweb.google.com/tekfanatic/SolderingLEDPCB?authkey=Q0Sx_SxgxXs&feat=directlink#


Rod

[rodrosenberg]

Finally another update!!! We ([TB]D4rkN1nj4) milled the first side panel for the cube today!!!

Here is the Mill
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_JvC_f7RI/AAAAAAAAB80/2CEtXg2QMWo/s800/P1000247.JPG

The tools
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_J1bOKLbI/AAAAAAAAB9k/pbwDSfhi5P8/s800/P1000253.JPG

The holes even lineup!!!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_J9vbLi5I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/007K5xTbfR8/s800/P1000263.JPG


Here is the mill ready to drill
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_J4-C46JI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/WusvrX93ar4/s800/P1000258.JPG



Little bit of finish work...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_KPZYWyXI/AAAAAAAACA0/4w0rmDz4EiI/s800/P1000275.JPG

[TB]D4rkN1nj4 Happy to be finished...
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_KQwDHd-I/AAAAAAAACBM/CYmDj21vbsU/s800/P1000278.JPG

The finished product
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SX_KT1P4OMI/AAAAAAAACB8/c5RmILprtgc/s800/P1000283.JPG

We hope to add the PCB's and do a little testing at DamnLAN this weekend...


Rod

[The boy 4rm oz]

Sweet mill dude. Looks awesome.

[DonT-FeaR]

nice mill bro

[rodrosenberg]

Well this weekend at DamnLAN, we got to do a bit of work on the Mod. Before I say anything else I must say all of us had a great time!! Huge thanks to Bug and Fossil for putting this one on. It was great to hang out with some friends and game on a small scale :)


With the panel finished and the PCB's ready to go we had a chance to put both together as a "dry fit" test

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SYfU6pEpqsI/AAAAAAAACFA/-g2qnkseY1Y/s800/IMG_7697.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SYfU5abFPsI/AAAAAAAACEg/UCT_AM6v-t0/s800/IMG_7693.JPG
G33K B33R FTW!!!!!

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SYfU7IU_azI/AAAAAAAACFY/laVyCF1ZVBQ/s800/IMG_7700.JPG
Must be a good mod D4rkn1nj4 is smiling like he has a girlfriend...LOLZ

[DonT-FeaR]

rofl nice pannel

[The boy 4rm oz]

Now that looks sweet.

[rodrosenberg]

Moving on to the plastic diffusers

4k1r4 and HumanShield took a trip to Tap Plastics in Seattle and picked up the 5" x 5" panels for each element of the cube. Once we install these I'll upload more photos

Rod

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SaLqZEYigeI/AAAAAAAACLI/FR7L87uIoGo/s400/Tom%20at%20Tap%20Plastics.jpg

[XcOM]

looking sweet dude

[DonT-FeaR]

lol nice pic mate good advertisement for them

[The boy 4rm oz]

I wish we had a healthy suply of goodquality plexi where I live. I used to get mine from school but I have finished there now lol.

[DonT-FeaR]

lol... bunnings is next best option i think eh jase? im getting as much as i can from school lol

[The boy 4rm oz]

Yeah but I don't wanna go down town lol. I have a pretty good quality plexi manufacturer/glazier near my Grandma, he gives me off cuts for free sometimes.

[rodrosenberg]

I highly recommend Tap Plastics they have locations all over the west coast and will ship anywhere. Epoxy, cloth, cast acryli,c sheeting, films anything plastic related.

Rod

[DonT-FeaR]

oh... probably to expensive

link? anyway :P

[rodrosenberg]

Here is the link we found prices to be very good.

http://www.tapplastics.com/

If you get a chance and are on the west coast stop in and check them out.

Rod

[DonT-FeaR]

lol thanks but im from Australia :) and ur not?

[dak1b]

teabag...what a name lol

[rodrosenberg]

Can you say MODDERS MESH!!!

This is a 4' x 10' roll of 63% it will be used on the corners of the cube!!!



http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/ScmmS9ONN9I/AAAAAAAACQo/pfykVsJ3fLg/s400/IMAGE_085.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/ScmmSpN6hII/AAAAAAAACQg/jSXfM1OyQTw/s400/IMAGE_084.jpg

[The boy 4rm oz]

That is some nice looking mesh, looks very strong.

[DonT-FeaR]

wow... where... and how much?

thats heaps!!!

[rodrosenberg]

I got it from this site: http://www.mcnichols.com/

it was about 120.00 for the 4'x10' sheet

If you need a lot of it this works if not you can get the same stuff from MNPCTECH.com in 12" x 12" or 12" x 24"

Rod

[Mark_Hardware]

teabag...what a name lol

Lmao my thoughts too. I hear teabag and I think:think:
I think it's a nice lookin build so far and I curious to see how it turns out:)

[DonT-FeaR]

yeah looking sweet... thanks for the info :)

[rodrosenberg]

Got some work done this week and weekend Ninja finished the other 5 panels on Thursday and Friday. Today for Easter Sunday we all got together and did a lot of metal work and some assembly.

Pictures Below

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMR4d12uI/AAAAAAAACV8/VEZcp2pY4l4/s400/IMG_8295.JPG
Ninja Cleaning up the "L" bracket parts


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMSTvZkCI/AAAAAAAACWM/njWQkO_Muic/s400/IMG_8306.JPG
Cleaning up the sharp edges on the pockets

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMTDpEE_I/AAAAAAAACWk/7W6SSEuB9do/s400/IMG_8321.JPG
Clean the edge of every hole on each side of the 5 new panels

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMTRvdUJI/AAAAAAAACWs/3DJtg8O_j8Y/s400/IMG_8332.JPG
Drilling holes in the "L" brackets

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMT5-cl8I/AAAAAAAACW0/D2tl-PRjm5E/s400/IMG_8333.JPG
A couple panels bolted!


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMUvtgqgI/AAAAAAAACXc/KFkFbM7jYWA/s400/IMG_8346.JPG
Ninja holding the cube!!! OMG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMUxtSuDI/AAAAAAAACXM/EuUXZyUdWJQ/s400/IMG_8353.JPG
tightening up some bolts

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iq5QKfmLs7o/SeLMVDTJWPI/AAAAAAAACXk/FlMViu_q6BQ/s400/IMG_8363.JPG
The cube!!!


We will begin adding the electronics and building the base right away!!!


Rod

[OvRiDe]

Sweet!!! I am looking forward to seeing this one come together.. so GET THE LEAD OUT! and entertain me!

:P

[theshoeshineman]

Cubes looking great! A lot bigger than what I initially thought it would be!

[The boy 4rm oz]

That is looking really amazing, really cool work.

[Frenkie]

Indeed, its humungous! I like it !

[DonT-FeaR]

yeah thats bigger than i thought.. cool good work team :P

[darthperil]

That is going to be on Awesome Mod when finished, can't wait!!