Numbers 0 to 9

[Gasman66]

I have searched the forms for an answer and must not be asking the right search terms or what I am looking for is not included.  I want to display number characters, two at a time - example 59 using 12mm RGB bullet LEDs.  I do not need them to scroll or move.  I want a group of LEDs (is this a matrix ?) that can be programmed to display the numbers 0 - 9,  two numbers at a time in either a single block of 35 LEDs or two separate groups of 15.  Currently planning for each character to be 3 LEDs wide by 5 LEDs tall.   The displayed numbers will be timed to correspond with a boat shape.  

I would appreciate some help either finding information in the forums or directions of how to accomplish.

[Jeremiah Ackermann]

You would create a matrix prop and then use the text motion effect to render the two digits you want. The problem is your resolution is way too small for this simple approach.

 

If you want to stick to only a 3x5 matrix, you would be better off defining motion effect rows for each row and column of your matrix and manually lighting up each pixel. The readability is questionable still with that resolution.

But you could segment the pixels and diffuse their light. Search for images of seven segment fonts to know what I am referring to. If you made your prop like this, I would do a custom prop shape in your preview that uses either 7 pixels or maybe 14 if you do two pixels per segment. Define custom motion effect rows for each segment and then light them up manually with a color motion effect for the segments needed.

[TheDucks]

Just make a pair of 7 segment displays (remember those old RED LED numbers?) About 5 bullets per 'segment'  Upright. 3 for the flat   ratio

Here is a doodle I did years ago without the clock Colon dots. (the first Minute digit was mounted upside  down to make the upper half of the colon)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f2Q6I-kD0_cqn7BCqp0v00Jm8Lld8gsV/view?usp=drive_link

[ItsMeBobO]

Can you explain the connection to "boat shape"?   Is the boat also illuminated by or comprised of pixels?       Will your prop be tightly constrained by space because it is part of a larger sign?         What distance to guests will this sign be placed?      These numbers could be very hard to read at this tiny resolution.   Instead of 12mm bullet, an elongated form factor with a diffusor cover might improve readability.     Cool doodle TheDucks!

[TheDucks]

1 hour ago, ItsMeBobO said:

     Cool doodle TheDucks!

My original plan was to make these out of rectangles (before the Colon idea). The pattern was so No wire splices were needed AND be scalable for each digit

4 @ 7- segment and you can have a count down clock

[Gasman66]

Thanks to all who have responded.

To answer some of the questions - 

1.  I have attached a drawing with the boat dimensions and a second with the layout of 275 nodes.  The original boat shape I made about 25 years ago of 3/8" plywood.  I drilled the perimeter to fit traditional incandescent lights.  These shapes are delaminating and need to be replaced. I want to use a coroplast form with 12mm bullets.  

2. I agree the 3 x 5 is small and would be hard to read/view.  The space available makes it a challenge to use more LEDs for each number.  I had not considered using LED segments.  I have no experience with them to know if they can be integrated to work with the bullet LEDs.  I plan to use a Pixie 4 controller.

3.  The boat hull color (red, green, blue, yellow, ect,)  is tied to the sail number.   I want to have the hull color and the sail number change together.  There are nine hull colors to display.

4.  I would appreciate information on the led segments or other ideas and how to integrate them with the bullets.

 

[TheDucks]

1 hour ago, Gasman66 said:

 

4.  I would appreciate information on the led segments or other ideas and how to integrate them with the bullets.

 

Smart / Pixel Rectangle RGB LED Waterproof Module - 12v 2811 - 6 Inch Spacing (holidaycoro.com) 

They are just another Smart node (each rectangle is 1 node with 3 die).   they are just a WS2811 RGB ribbon section (cut at every cut point), mounted in a plastic carrier and inter-connected, sealed.  You can even mix with bullets in the same string

[Gasman66]

Thanks again to all.

I am going to try the modules from Holidaycoro.  Since I can treat them like a bullet it sounds the simplest to way.  The idea given by Jeremiah sounds like a good solution but I don't have the experience to pull that off.  

 

[Jeremiah Ackermann]

Those modules are certainly the easiest to deal with.

The only benefit with a diffuser concept is if you didn't want hot spots and a more consistent glow. I was thinking it would be like this candy cane example. The font diffuser is custom cut coro and the back is coro or pixel mesh cut to size.  You would likely need dividers like this candy cane so segments don't bleed together.

https://www.holidaycoro.com/RGB-Coro-Cane-Cane-for-Pixels-p/260.htm

[Gasman66]

The diffuser is a good idea.  I used PCV pipe with RGB light strips to make leaping arches and that plastic is a good diffuser.  I will look for some coro that will work as a diffuser.  I have some concern the ribbing in the coro will cause an odd look.  Possibly the plastic lens of a florescent light might work.

On your original suggestion - do you happen to have an example sequence I could use to modify or recreate for my application ?

Thanks,

Jim

[k6ccc]

PVC pipe attenuates the light a lot and does a pretty substantial color shift.

PEX works far better.  Sharkbite is the HomeDepot brand name.

 

[Gasman66]

k6ccc

I did try the PEX and the PVC.  The PVC worked the best for my application.  

Thanks for your reply.

[Jeremiah Ackermann]

On 8/14/2024 at 7:52 PM, Gasman66 said:

On your original suggestion - do you happen to have an example sequence I could use to modify or recreate for my application ?

I don't have one on hand, but I can build a simple example preview and sequence that demonstrates what I am thinking sometime tonight. The concept would be very similar to RGB singing face props.

Edited August 16 by Jeremiah Ackermann

[Gasman66]

Jeremiah,

That would be greatly appreciated.  

I have ordered three coro forms and nodes from Gilbert Engineering and the LED modules from Holidaycoro.  Looking forward to receiving these and building out the idea.  I hope to have these ready for Christmas.

Thanks for your help.

Jim

[Jeremiah Ackermann]

@Gasman66,

Sorry it took me so long to get back, I severely underestimated how busy I would be last weekend. Here is a sequence using two props (one for each digit) to count up to 19 and then shows 59. The preview should import with the sequence. I used the custom prop type and assigned one HC module for each segment (14 total). I am fairly certain each module is just a single pixel even though it appears as three. This was replicated in the prop definition by repeating the pixel number. Ten motion effect rows were defined (0-9) to render a digit accordingly.

SevenSegmentTest.loredit


Also, the prop copied what @TheDucks did for physical wiring. Here is the link to that wiring diagram https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f2Q6I-kD0_cqn7BCqp0v00Jm8Lld8gsV/view?usp=drive_link.

Edited August 20 by Jeremiah Ackermann

[Gasman66]

Jeremiah,

No worries at all.  I must apologize as well.  I have been busy and did not get back to the forum until today. The good news is there is plenty of time before Christmas.

Thank you so much for you help.  I will download and run this sequence this weekend. 

Jim 

[Gasman66]

Jeremiah,

I was able to download the sequence and the preview.  I tried to run the sequence but was not able to get pixels to light until I change the channels from DMX to LOR.  The sequence and the preview ran but only some pixels illuminate.  Unfortunately the number of pixels the lit did not correspond to the preview.  Example for the number 1 only three of six pixels lit, number 8 only seven pixels lit and so forth with the other numerals.   I tried drilling down into the custom properties of several of the numerals and to see if I could not figure out the placement of the pixels.  No luck.

I hope you might be able to shed some light on what I do not know.  I suspect changing the channels from DMX to LOR has changed the playback for the numerals.  I know nothing about DMX to understand how that format works.  Are there other changes that I need to make when switching from DMX ?  

[Jeremiah Ackermann]

15 minutes ago, Gasman66 said:

Are there other changes that I need to make when switching from DMX ? 

Very likely, as I don't know what controller you are using (I assume a Pixie if you switched to LOR) and how you have it wired. Once you switch to LOR, you need to make sure the right unit id and channels are set. I had each number on its own DMX universe starting at channel 1. In the LOR world, the easiest translation is two different unit ids (each output on a Pixie is different unit ids) that both start at circuit 1. You could easily combine both numbers to a single unit id. The second digit would just need to be updated to have the same unit id and the correct starting channel.

 

[gsmith37064]

@Jeremiah Ackermann @Gasman66

It has nothing to do with the controller. What is happening is the preview for the prop is created as 111,222,333,444,555,666,777,888, etc

This is why you only see some pixels light up if you are using the motion rows. Look at them... they are missing most of the pixels.

Renumber the prop in the editor... 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 and so on

You are currently only using 7 pixels total. You should be using 21 pixels.

But let me ask this... are you using DUMB RGB or Smart RGB?

Edited Wednesday at 01:18 AM by gsmith37064

[Jeremiah Ackermann]

29 minutes ago, Gasman66 said:

Unfortunately the number of pixels the lit did not correspond to the preview.  Example for the number 1 only three of six pixels lit, number 8 only seven pixels lit and so forth with the other numerals.

Can you provide a picture of your prop? The prop I setup assumes 7 pixels (or 7 of those HC pixel modules as I think each module is one pixel but looks like 3... if that is wrong, then you need to adjust the prop).