MAKE IT.
BUILD YOUR SOUND
AND LIGHT MACHINE
START>>
Time: An Afternoon Complexity: Medium Easy
1. BUILD AND TEST-PROGRAM THE PCB
The core of our electronics is the MiniPOV v3 kit. We’ll be referring to the kit’s website at ladyada.net/
make/minipov3.
1a. Follow the excellent instructions
on the MiniPOV website to solder
all the components to the included
printed circuit board (PCB) except the
following: LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4,
R5, R6. Go ahead and leave these
6 components out.
1b. Insert the 2 AA batteries into the
battery holder and switch on. The
microcontroller will run the MiniPOV
firmware, and the 4 stuffed LEDs
should light up.
1c. If the LEDs don’t light up, then
debug. Are the batteries in correctly?
Check the power connections. Check
for bad solder connections or solder
bridges (shorts between 2 pads).
Check that all LEDs, and D1, D2, and
D3, are not stuffed backwards. Now
we’ll change the MiniPOV’s firmware
so you can learn how to use the development tools and see how easy it is.
NOTE: In electronics-speak,
soldering a component
onto a PCB is called
“stuffing” it.
1d. Download and install the AVRDUDE software needed for your operating system. Links for the software
are on the MiniPOV website listed above, under “Download.” If you’re using a USB/serial adapter, also
download the USB/serial converter driver.
Make: 93
