It has been a long several weeks since we got Artie’s Neopixel Eye and Fault Indicator LEDs working back in Fiat Lux.  In that time I ran into a significant issue.

As I mentioned in that post, the Servo library (which I use for my motor driver throttles) and Neopixels are not really compatible on the same Arduino … the former requires interrupts for timing purposes, and the latter requires disabling interrupts for the same reason.  The solution we implemented was the Adafruit Tico Servo library, which trades off flexibility and quantity of servo connections for use of the Arduino built-in Timer to eliminate the need for interrupts.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that there had been discussion of a neopixel Fault indicator for Artie, and I’d also started on integrating his neopixel eye effects.  Both features are now working, so let’s take a look…

Back in Insert Humorous Solo-pun Title Here, Test Artie was shown with one wheel, two not-yet connected motors, and two swivel casters.  A month on, how do things fare?

So, what about the AD Project?  Artie Deco, BBL_BBQ, etc.?   Have they been abandoned?

Nah.  Let’s catch up.

Last time I posted (just over a year ago … ugh), it wasn’t about the AD Project, but about an enclosure for my printer.

This post will summarize what’s been going on with that and a few miscellaneous projects I’ve engaged since last time.  I’ll make a post later on that catches up with the AD Project.

When owners of the Wanhao Duplicator i3 (or its relatives, like my Monoprice Maker Select) want to build a DIY enclosure, a popular method is to start with an IKEA Lack end table.  Add a base, some combination of sidewalls/doors, and a bit of optional PTFE tubing to guide your filament inside, and you have a decent enclosure.

Has it really already been five months since the last post?  Ugh.  Well, nothing unusual for my weblog.

I’ll start with a bit of a catchup on what’s been going on in the meantime…

As I’ve previously mentioned, the AD Project was started in order to build R/C droids drones to take to Dragon Con, so that I could at least pretend to be a member of the R2 Builder’s Club.

So how did things shake out?

This post will discuss that very topic, and there are lots of photos.  (Many Bothans died to bring you this information.  We’re still not sure how.)

Previously, on Dyne3D…

… I posted about the start of The AD Project, where I am creating an animatronic vacuum cleaner because of reasons.

In Episode IV: A New Drone, Episode V: The Vampire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Redeye, I went into some detail on how I intend to accomplish it.

But, wait.

 

There has been an Awakening …

 

… Have you felt it?

 

Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, the last Battlestar …

No, wait.  Wrong universe.

When last we left our intrepid hero (back in Episode V: The Vampire Strikes Back), he’d gone on at length about Artie Deco’s internal framework, motor choices, and so forth.

In this post, we will have a look at the electronics, programming, and exterior details.  Getting all of this finished with only a week or so remaining will probably involve lots of sleepless nights and most likely some crying.  (Thus the title.)