3D Printing & DIY Electronics: Drone LED Net, Flexible Toys, Thermal Camera

Drone LED Net Project

• 🚀 Pedro prototyped drone attachments for an LED net, inspired by drone light displays, using a modified drone claw and Sparkle Motion Mini.
• 💡 The net is a one by one meter LED net with 400 LEDs (20x20), powered directly off the drone's USB port, reducing flight time from 30 to 15 minutes.
• 🛠️ TPU filament was used for the clips to ensure flexibility and heat resistance, attaching the net with fishing string to the drone arms.
• ⚡ WLED software is used for animations, with effects like 1D firework, and can be customized or switched to Circuit Python for custom bitmap images.
• ⚠️ The net weighs 430 grams (0.95 lbs), well within the Mavic's 2 lb payload limit, and requires careful takeoff and landing to avoid propeller entanglement.

Raspberry Pi Thermal Camera

• 🔬 A thermal imaging camera project is in prototyping, featuring a 3D printed case for a Raspberry Pi 4.
• 🧠 It integrates a Raspberry Pi camera module V3 and an MLX90640 thermal imaging sensor (32x24 IR camera).
• 💡 The goal is to use Python code to overlay the thermal image onto the standard camera image for a "thermal fusion" effect.
• 🔌 An ISPY STEM beret is used on the GPIO headers for easy, solder-free connection of STEMQT breakout boards.

Flexible 3D Printed Toys

• 🤖 The Flexi Toy Maker from Maker World was used to create a flexible Adabot toy from an SVG image.
• 🎨 The process involves marking the background, assigning colors (down to four for multi-material printing), and plotting hinges (thin, medium, or thick).
• ✨ A webGL simulation allows users to preview how the flexible parts and hinges will move before printing.
• ✅ The Adabot toy, printed with multi-color capabilities, demonstrated excellent flexibility in its limbs, neck, and ears.

Fidget Gear Rings & Community Makes

• ⚙️ A fidget gear ring was 3D printed, showcasing the printer's ability to create tiny, functional gears that spin freely with lubrication.
• 🎨 The ring was printed in multi-color using a Bambu printer, highlighting the detail possible even at small scales.
• 🤝 Community makes included a Kingdom Keyblade prop, a remix of a USB breakout case, a Pi badge case with screw holes, and a heat set insert press remix.