The party starter using arduino

A desktop motorized musical disco ball. Β Great for holiday parties, impromptu dance-offs, and Tuesday afternoons. Β  Bling, Music, Arduino, and glitter covered styrofoam; thisΒ Instructable hasΒ got what you need to get your boogie on. Β Fires need help go get going, so do parties. Β  I recently moved from Hartford where my boys @HPSU(http://hartfordpartystarters.org/)Β would get it started every week. Β Now I live in boring Indiana, where there are no parties(Save church socials). Β With that in mind and the Party Season upon us, Lets make.

The party starter

I have a glitch in the code, so it stutters every once in a while. Β No biggy for me, Β I’ll fix it later. Β  I also would have showed myself dancing and partying in the video, but my clothes are matte and boring.

Step 1: Parts & Tools

Craft Parts

6″ Styrofoam sphere
“8x4x2 Styrofoam block (Not Pictured)
Alot of 1″ mirror pieces
Quite a few .25″ mirror pieces
Krylon Glitter Paint-Get the big can
Adhesive/glue/epoxy of choice-Hot glue worked the best for me(after trying others)
Velco Pads

Electronic Parts

Tools

Arduino IDE (I’m still rocking 21)
Solder Iron
Dremel
Glue Gun
Gloves/Face Mask/Eye Protection

Step 2: Underpainting The Ball

I wanted a base coat of reflective, shiny material so that anyplace where mirrors aren’t has some reflective quality. Β This ball used almost this entire mini can of spray paint. Β The holder for the ball was quickly made by twisting some coat hanger wire into a shape that’d hold the ball off the ground.

Step 3: Add the mirrors

Start with the center line and work your way out. Β Dab a bit of glue and place the tiles. Β Don’t worry too much about gaps, we are attaching square tiles to a circle after all. Β That’s why we painted it with sparkle paint.
I had to take a break for the night after the top section was completed. Β The glue I was using took FOREVER to dry. Β The next day I switch to the ol’ hot glue gun.

Step 4: Finish the Ball

Now that the mirrors are all set, Β We’ve got to use a clever way to attach it to the servo. Β  Velcro will be our mating material. Β I don’t want to ruin a servo and it’ll be handy for transportation to be able to remove the ball.

The party starter

Step 5: Make the Base

Start by marking off where you want the components to go on the foam block
Like all cutting, measure twice and cut once.
I used a Dremel to remove unwanted foam. Β There are foamcutters, you could use a lighter, smash and tear at it. Β Whatever your method, know that the servo must be tight so that all the torque and power isΒ transferred to the party ball. Β Β Also dremeling this foam turned it into a fake snow like substance, Lots of Fun, bad for the lungs-WEAR PROTECTION.
Go around, add a ton mirrors. Β Try not to burn yourself on the glue or cut yourself on the glass.

 

Fore more detail: The party starter

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