HowTo: pxlBlck – Build your own pxlBlck_Pot

To build the pxlBlck_Pot you need the following components.

• 3D printed base
• 3D printed lid
• 4x threaded M3 inserts
• 4x M3x6 countersunk head screws
• 6×32 LED panel on flexible PCB
• ESP8266
• 5x approx. 15 cm long cable
• Paper strips approx. 80x300mm

For this you need five wires of approx. 15cm length and the LED panel.

Two lines can be of the same color, as these are used to supply the panel with energy.

First remove the connection cables that have already been soldered on.

Then you can solder the middle connection cable back on. However, you turn it beforehand so that the line leads upwards directly from the LED panel.

Close-up of the soldered supply cable in the middle of the LED panel.

You can now strip the prepared wire pieces and tin them with some solder. This makes it easier to solder them to the LED panel later.

Now you can solder the lines to the left side of the LED panel. Here you will find three contacts. In addition to the 5V and GND input, there is also the DIN connection, which will later be used to send the data to the LED panel.

Close-up view of the soldered lines.

Left: DIN connection

Middle: GND

Right: 5V

Now repeat this for the right side of the LED panel with the other pieces of wire. Of course, you only connect the lines for GND and 5V here. It is very helpful if you keep the assignment of the color to the respective connection identical to the connection on the left side of the LED panel.

Your LED panel should look like this when soldered.

For this you need the following parts.

• the 3d printed housing of the pxlBlck_Pot
• the prepared LED panel
• a strip of paper measuring 300x80mm

Now push the paper strip approx. One cm into the opening provided in the base as shown.

Another view of the inserted paper strip.

Now you can slide the LED panel into the base as shown.

The strip of paper shown here was unfortunately a bit too short. Therefore it does not cover the entire width of the LED matrix. Of course, you are welcome to use a paper strip that extends across the entire width.

Another view of the partially inserted LED panel.

Another view of the partially inserted LED panel.

Another view of the partially inserted LED panel.

Now you can slowly push the paper strip and the LED panel completely into the base.

Another view of the inserted LED panel.

The LED panel must be pushed into the base "up to the stop".

Tweezers or another thin tool can be very helpful.

Another view.

View of the LED panel pushed in as far as it will go.

View of the LED panel pushed in until it stops

To do this, you should now connect the connection lines for the 5V connection (here the red and orange lines) and …

...solder them.

Another view of the combined 5V connection.

You now repeat the same for the lines of the GND connection.

Solder these together again after you have put them together.

Another view of the combined supply lines.

Now to tidy up the individual lines...

…you can put them together with cable ties.

For this you need the ESP8266 and the prepared base of the pxlBlck_Pot including the inserted LED panel.

Now put some hot glue in the recess on the bottom of the case...

... and put the ESP8266 into it.

The ESP8266 should sit securely in it and not be able to fall out.

Now it's time to prepare for connecting the lines.

To do this, first tin-plate the following contacts with some solder.

• D6
• G=GND
• 5V

Close-up view of the prepared contacts.

Now you can connect the lines to the ESP8266 as shown. The lines are connected as follows:

Close-up view of the soldered lines.

Another view of the soldered lines.

To do this, you first have to insert the thread inserts with which the cover is later screwed to the base. For this you need four thread inserts for M3 screws.

To do this, insert the threaded inserts into the base with a soldering iron, as shown.

Repeat for the remaining three holes in the base.

View of the inserted thread insert.

View of the inserted thread insert.

View of the inserted thread insert.

View of the inserted thread insert.

For this you need the following parts.

• the prepared base including built-in ESP8266 and LED panel
• four M3x8 screws
• a USB cable with a micro USB connector
• the 3d printed lid

Now plug the USB cable into the ESP8266 as shown.

Then you can put the lid on as shown.

Make sure that the screws are congruent with the thread inserts below.

Then you can screw the lid to the base using the M3x8 screws.

close up

Your pxlBlck_Pot should then look like this when it is completely screwed.

Another view.

Another view.