RubiX Cube

(wrote this a while later)
Basically did work on the README and also updated my BOM!! This was a few days ago, so around now I should have all of my stuff shipped! Super excited.
Also reorganized my documentation so it looks cleaner and included many images and the process in the journal.md + readme of my Github!

CAD Modelling Finish + Starting PCB + Starting BOM
Hello! This was one of my longest recorded working sessions (I paused it a lot) and this is part 1/2 of my recordings.
First, I started working on the holes for the neopixel hole placement on CAD for each cube and copy pasted each sketch (had to adjust + extrude each face individually) after measuring so that the neopixels could slide into place and be visible, but also left enough room via a few chamfers so that the wires could go out to the electronics + so that possible the backs of the LEDs could be attached (via glue, tape?) and stay in place.
Next I worked on cleaning up the edges for easy printing. This included adding edges for the bottom rows so that I could later make a slider for acrylic walls.
Later, I diverted and went to work on the BOM; this made me realize (along with talking to a few people) that I should also make the schematic before I order the parts to solder with.
I began that after mostly completing the BOM, leaving a the cost of a few cost-dependent items for later.
The schematic includes around 54 neopixel LEDs that I’ll probably have to redo the footprints for, since they aren’t the exact ones that I’ll be working with. However, the ESP32 works as of now. I then went back to the CAD.
All that was left was to insert screw holes and slider columns for possible acrylic walls. I cut out a few holes according to a few Home Depot screws I found (four, one for each corner) and made them so that they would connect to the bottom walls. I then created the sliders with probably a larger tolerance than necessary (since I am not the one printing, just in case things go wrong).
I think I am going to submit my project early so I can continue schematic work later while waiting for parts to arrive!

CAD Modelling + More Research on Parts
This devlog is being created unfortunately a significant time after recording (maybe a day and night cause I thought the recording was lost then I was busy the entire day :C)
But basically I began with more research; I’m aiming to submit my project ASAP so I can quickly get the funding to build it, even if not fully complete! (All on my general recordings sheet, where I write down all of my ideas/general summaries/to-do lists corresponding to my project progress!)
The CAD began as well; I needed to take some measurements of the LEDs. I landed on a 5’‘x5’’ design before ultimately switching to a 6’‘x6’’ (for easier divisibility, and to make an awesome MEGA CUBE!!!)
I began with mapping out a 3x3 cube and extruding by 0.2 inches on both sides, before ultimately filleting each side by 0.2 so that each cube would have this kinda cool elevated design! I then started cutting out inserts for the LEDs and filleting the insides (to easily insert the LEDs)… but then I realized I did the conversions wrong (Imperial units am I right 💀) soo had to redo all of that… then researched 3D printing on JLCPCB… I’d need to choose a fast delivery option to get it in time :( I really hope I do! But I need to add supports ASAP, and lock in to ship as soon as able… thank you for reading and any feedback/tips are greatly appreciated!!

Part 1/2: CAD Drawings
Started the CAD drawings; however, so far, I only have the idea for the walls and unfortunately… I don’t think the locking mechanism is what I had in mind :( Every time I’ve drafted a ‘sliding and locking’ (basically it slides and locks into place so it doesn’t move up), after 30 minutes I look at it again and realize it won’t work as I’d like it to… so I turned to a few friends to ask their opinions.
I got the response that Idea 1 would work way better than 2 (2 was scrapped because I realized it wouldn’t lock) then I looked and revised 1.
However, a friend suggested I do an elongated dove tail joint.
So, I’ll try a CAD of both (if I have time) and see if which works better. So far, I still have to add measurements, revise the ideas, revise the whole drawing (sobs).. etc.
I’m very grateful for you guys helping me out with the ideas, thank you! I’ve learned a lot more about joints than I knew before!! (The fully black joint that has only a bit of red in the drawing is the newly revised idea1).
Short journal now yes, but part 2 hopefully will have a loooot more details.

Organizing my thoughts (and asking for help on slack) + working on the Wokwi + CAD
I think I’ve finally organized everything I need! I just need confirmation on these parts (that are the ones I’ll be using in the project) and I’ll be good!
also learned that I need a few more components… specifically a led shifter, capacitors (knew I’d need this, but didn’t (still don’t) know where to include it, I know somewhere in the xiao battery circuit), and buck/booster converters!
Unfortunately… I accidentally recorded like 30+ minutes cause I took a call and forgot to pause but didn’t want this lookout to go to waste, so to make up I did 30 mins of cad then 30 mins in, I started another lookout ! As always, feedback is 10000% appreciated :)
I’m so happy to see this project coming more and more closer together…
Also, will make this project wayy better, I just need the basics for Outpost then I’ll do everything way more professionally (for instance, learning/making an actual PCB instead of my current plan)
Speaking of which!
I think I’ll be building a PCB via perfboard/perma proto-board… after Outpost, I’ll definitely work on replacing this with an actual printed PCB made in KiCad!!

Research (3)
This is probably the end of my planning, I hope?
After talking to multiple people who are wayyy more experience than me in this field, I realized I need a few things!

1. LED Component
2. ESP32 Component
3. Battery Component
   For the hardware!
   I’ll be using Wowki to map out a potential PCB instead of just using a breadboard- mainly because I don’t have an available one.
   I also need to speed up my process! I have these tasks to do that I’ve written down ASAP:
   Resubmit blinkyWrite notes on LED setup (circuits)Find addressable leds i could useCreate CAD asapMake the breadboard via a virtual breadboard appAdjust CAD if necessarySubmit design!

• Create ESP32 plan ASAP
• Create CAD ASAP
• Figure out battery situation (might be the most difficult part of this)
• Adjust CAD if needed
• Translate my test breadboard to a PCB in KiCad
  My plan however for Outpost is to also bring a breadboard, juuust incase the PCB doesn’t end up working; huge hopes it does!!

As always, any feedback is VERY appreciated!!
I also have the possibility to ask for acrylic sheets, so I might make a slider for it in the CAD!
Oh, and one more note: I’ll probably use a 5v lipo battery! I wrote that this would be the most difficult part because I’m unsure if I need any capacitors anywhere or how I would even make it work… best I know is V=IR 😭. I’m sure I’ll get it!
Time to work on the ESP32 Module!
As always, any feedback/suggestions/guidance is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to everyone I’ve pestered about this project! Truly an honour to learn all of these insane things from you guys, hardware is super cool! Especially since I’m on a time crunch. I need this done ASAP, probably in…2 days sob

(2) Research!
After chatting to a few more people, I’ve come up with a lot of general notes.
A lot of these notes include:

• What I might need
• How some things might work, like MCUs on a PCB
• Issues that I might face, like wiring
• Questions that I have that were either clarified within the notes (or not, which I’ll do research on tomorrow!
• And finally, a summarized list of the hardware I might need
  This list is somewhat inaccurate I realize after chatting to more people about what I could potentially do with the LEDs.
  I know I definitely have to get a breadboard and esp32 asap to test the project before creating an actual custom PCB (if time hopefully allows; may need to expedite shipping :( )
  Tomorrow I’ll start a few notes on the LEDs and make a general diagram of what I need, then CAD everything.
  So far, the list is as follows:

• [] CAD
• [] Addressable LEDs (Need to expand on this; in correspondence to the battery and how it connects to the microcontroller)
• [] ESP32/Other MCU (After asking someone I don’t think a Pico 2 could handle this; however, I think it could be used for other features that could potentially expand this project later
• [] Re-chargeable battery (coin batteries probably are too low of a voltage (not powerful enough) to work :( )
  As for software:
• [] Find a way to map the LEDs (more on this tomorrow)
• [] Shuffles for the Rubiks cube (database hopefully)
• [] Controller (via web app or if time allows, a physical controller (?))
  Extras include:
• [] Possible acrylic casing?
• [] Research Adafruit and try to possibly reverse-engineer a few builds.

If anyone has any feedback or thoughts, lmk! I’d appreciate it :D

Research!
I did a lot of research today and ultimately came up with two ideas, after asking around in the outpost slack and KiCad discord (thank you guys sm :D ) aaand after checking, my whiteboard did not save… but I do have my work recorded on a lookout somewhere which I’ll definitely post a screenshot of if I find it later.
Anyway, the image attached has my planning doc. These are my thoughts as a researched the cube and how I would even approach it.
Ultimately, I came up with two solutions:
Solution 1: a CAD rubik’s cube with holes in each of the 54 cubes (for the leds) that wouldn’t move; either

• 1 : It would be controlled via a switch or turning the cube (difficult with wires; looked into slip rings and that probably wouldn’t work)
• 2 : A coded controller (a random software controller OR, if there’s the allotted time for it, an actual physical controller!) that registers user moves and responds thru the LEDs!!

Solution 2: A 4x4 display (or any square screen) and I would need 6 of them for each cube side. The cube wouldn’t turn, rather (the displays would also be touchscreen) the user would slide up or swipe on a row (I would program a 3x3 cube display for each side) and that would move the cube w/moving animations! Everything, just like in idea 1, would use an algorithm! Problem is, this would be a bit costly and wayyyy out of my expertise-zone (not like this project wasn’t already 😭) but also undoable in 13 days for Outpost.

I really liked Idea 1 and I decided to go with that, mainly for time constraints + expertise constraints.
Since I’m on a huuge time crunch, my idea is as follows:

• Quickly create the CAD + PCB for the cube or use a brain (make the layout) + create a BOM
• Submit ASAP to get funding in order to order parts ASAP!
• Work on the software in the meantime, practice/learn where I’ll map everything so that it works fully and I’m able to build it as soon as it arrives!
• See if the blinky board I recently built for Stasis arrives ASAP so that I can use the soldering kit from there (practice on the blinky board) before the actual component!
• Hopefully chill with a cool RubiX Cube Project!

Thank you for reading :) Any, and I mean ANY suggestions will be looked over! I need all the knowledge I can get :) Thank you to everyone who provided information, you’re the best!