Pixel Matrix

[godman]

I want to build a horizontal pixel matrix and was hoping someone would be willing to share a design
 
I want to build a 12 string (50 pixels per string) horizontal matrix but can't quite figure out how to make a frame, I know most that use CCR's just attach to PVC but since i'm using pixels I'm not sure how to make a frame and keep them all aligned?
 
I purchased some of these http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/767.htm and built a PVC frame but to much sag, They are made for Pixel trees but I thought I would give it a shot but it didn't work
 
I saw these on the site as well but there is no info just yet so not sure if they will work or not?
http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/770.htm
 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Dennis Laff]

Check the guy that was on the christmas light show fight. J I think it's Johnson family light show on you tube he shows how he built a matric with pixels and pvc pipe

[Darryl Lambert]

Check the guy that was on the christmas light show fight. J I think it's Johnson family light show on you tube he shows how he built a matric with pixels and pvc pipe

His name is Matt Johnson

Edited February 13, 2015 by Darryl Lambert

[dmoore]

I want to build a horizontal pixel matrix and was hoping someone would be willing to share a design

I saw these on the site as well but there is no info just yet so not sure if they will work or not?

http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/770.htm

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

The new product above, item #770, will make producing a matrix using nodes very simple and without any drilling.  The product is a "net" that will be offered in different spacing and you will be able to pop in the nodes to the intersections within the net.  This will also be offered in wider spacing for draping an entire house, bushes, trees or other objects where you need a flexible "matrix".

[godman]

Thanks David, any idea when this product will be available?

[Matthew Hagene]

I built my horizontal pixel matrix out of 3/4” plywood and drilled holes on 1.5” centers.  It is has 36 rows of 100 pixels, but only used 20 rows this past year due to the 40 CCR (now 60 CCR) SuperStar license limit.  It has a 2” X 6” frame and has 1/4” plywood on the back that encloses the CCP controllers within the matrix frame.  It was a lot of work to build, but it’s the approach I took.

 

 

Photos

 

Drilling holes in the plywood. - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ul6jtcotoln6gow/Matrix1.jpg?dl=0

 

Front of matrix with a few rows of pixels installed. - https://www.dropbox.com/s/5r7z7dlsocf4axv/Matrix2.jpg?dl=0

 

Back of matrix. - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ydjpmqm7w5a9z53/Matrix3.jpg?dl=0

 

Back of matrix with pixels and controllers installed. - https://www.dropbox.com/s/wa5m951hw2s1cgm/Matrix4.jpg?dl=0

 

 

Videos

Light of Christmas - http://youtu.be/c3tAL2bSQpQ

 

Jingle Bell Rock - http://youtu.be/AN1AD6vAXKo  This sequence was purchased from Brian Bruderer (http://www.superstarlights.com/) and modified to fit my matrix.

 

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - http://youtu.be/a_umTl8LLF0

 

Blue Christmas - http://youtu.be/YX-__HcDkbU

 

Linus and Lucy - http://youtu.be/ssBojq-_IaE

[godman]

WOW! Looks great!

 

That looks like allot of work, how did you keep the holes aligned while drilling the plywood?

 

You have lots of $$ tied up in that using the LOR CCB's.

 

Great Job!

[Matthew Hagene]

Aligning the holes actually wasn’t that difficult.  I printed the pattern for the holes on a large format printer and then laid the pattern on top of the sign.  I used a small punch to mark the center of each hole and then took the pattern off and drilled the holes.  I used a drill guide to make sure I held the drill straight while drilling (link below).  It wasn’t difficult, just very, very time consuming.

 

Yea, there’s a fair amount invested in the LOR CCPs.

 

Drill Guide

http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tools-Drill-Guide-and-Chuck-36-37/100349264

[Ron Boyd]

I am in the middle of building a 12 x 24 matrix using David's Pixnode Strips: 

 

http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/767.htm&click=670

 

The strips are fantastic. Perfect spacing and only 1 tool needed, a pair of cutter to cut the excess zip ties after using. 

 

I still have to paint the PVC and EMT and get everything attached, so I don't have any pictures yet. 

[sax]

So I am assuming an emt frame?

I am looking at this exact setup but was concerned about the frame bending or warping. So I have been waiting for some of his other forthcoming products to compare.

What size emt and pvc are you using?

Thanks for any info...

[Ron Boyd]

1/2" EMT and 1 1/2" PVC

 

PVC is just a frame to hold the EMT in place. The EMT will hold the strips with the pixels.

 

If godman doesn't mind in his thread, I'll take a couple of pictures in the next day or so and show what I have so far.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Ron Boyd

[godman]

@ Ron, Pictures would be great!

 

Are you making a horizontal matrix?. I used the same strips for my horizontal matrix but couldn't keep them from sagging in the middle. However I was just using 3/4" schedule 40 PVC. Would love to see how you made yours.  I'm making n a 50 pixel 12 string matrix, about 12' in length as I spaced the 50 pixels 3" apart

[Ron Boyd]

I whipped up a quick drawing before I left work today: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8cjfdlz0j9drif5/Matrix%20Drawing.pdf?dl=0

I didn't draw all 24 strips in but you can get a good idea how it's being built.

 

The EMT is held in by drilling a hole and having ~1" inside the PVC. Once it's glued together, it won't come out. The outer frame is the gray conduit and will be painted red and white like a candy cane. The EMT will be painted Black to match the strips.

 

My matrix will be 12 up then 12 down etc. I'll be using an E6804 to run 6 sections from each output, 72 pixels per output. I know the 6804 is overkill for this, but 2 Universe E1.31 controllers are as of now, not available, that I know of. I could use 2 TinyPix controllers from David at Holiday Coro, but to run E1.31, I need to have a bridge. I'll already have at least 2 bridges in the show this year and the Pixel Extenders. Plus they will only run, as of now WS2811 and GECE pixels. The ones I'm using for the matrix are WS2801.

 

Anyway, I thought a drawing could give a bit of insight way before I will have it built and painted. Once it's done though, I'll post pictures. The Matrix for this year will be on 2" centers. That may not be dense enough though. If it is not to my liking, I'll add more next year to get better density.

 

Hope this helps a bit. When I get a little further along in the build, I'll get some pictures of the actual matrix.

[Vince4xmas]

Holiday Coro has some pixel mounting boards and frames.

[godman]

The ones at Holiday Coro are not available yet.

[thebaronn]

Are you using bullet or square pixels?

If you are using square pixels, may I suggest coro? It is light, will hold it shape well, and you really do not "need" a frame. In 2012 I built a large matrix using square nodes. It had 5 panels 48 pixels high and 16 pixels wide. I sandwiched the top of the coro between two pieces of wood using 3 wood screws. The holes were 2" apart and all I did was press the square pixels into the coro, that was it (no glue).

Here are some pics: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.513802198651185.121228.323555271009213&type=3

If you are using bullet pixels, I would go with Mathew's plywood Idea. The depth of the plywood will give added stability. Bullets do not hold their spot too well in coro.

[godman]

I'm using the bullet style, I contacted David at Holiday Coro and he is coming out with a mesh type matrix that will allow a number of different spacings. Hopefully it will be out soon so I can see if it works for my application, otherwise the coro may be the way to go.

[godman]

@thebaronn How did you create the template so that all the holes aligned up in the coro?

[thebaronn]

@thebaronn How did you create the template so that all the holes aligned up in the coro?

I'm the laziest guy ever. I stacked the coro on top of each other on top of some plywood, then put 1" peg board on the top of coro and clamped them together. Drilled every other hole I will admit, there are a few extra holes here and there. Its like highway hypnosis, just drilling hypnosis!

The only thing I worry about with the mesh is this: I assume it is even thinner than coro? So it may have the same issues as coro? What keeps the pixel always perpendicular to the mesh (point directly out to the audience)? What keeps them from moving every which way?

But the mesh does sound awesome for square pixels!

You know, you don't have to be limited to square matrix! You can mix it up!

 

Whatever you do, good luck! Keep us posted on the mesh!

[dmoore]

We have now released the PixNode Net's which can be found here:

 

http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/775.htm

 

Video of them in action:  https://youtu.be/OX3_SSMhdak

 

These work with all standard 12mm nodes/squares including the LOR CCP's.  We'll just completed 3" spacing runs and 1", 2" and 5" spacing will be out soon in both black and clear.  These work well for a variety of projects including net lights for bushes, covering entire houses and roofs in pixels, wrapping coloums and tree trunks and of course, standard matrix panels.  The up side to these over coro (and we love coro) is that it is light weight, flexible and easy to roll up and store in the off-season.  Plus, they are not much more than most people spend to purchase a single sheet of coro without the holes.