A lot of people email me asking what materials to use for building cyr wheels (also known as a roue cyr, rouè cyr, or simple wheel). I like “thick” wheels (also known as a “fat... [read more]

I’m using a 6amp 120V on/off switch. I might be running up to 16 amps through it. We’ll see if this works.. The switch is fished through with wire and fishing line.

I learned some more things about casting the EpoxaCast 690. On one of the last pieces it was really opaque: I called Smooth-On the next day and asked about it. They didn’t know, so I... [read more]

Here’s some notes on casting…maying for myself when I go back to do this again and try to remember what I was doing. First, to get the curve, I would cut the LEDs every 6... [read more]

Each time I wire up a new piece I test it to make sure I didn’t mess something up. Here is a test of 4 pieces, rainbow pattern: I did one section covered in the... [read more]

I have a 5 piece wheel, and I have a “top” side for reference, and the numbers go from one to five in a counter clockwise direction. This is piece 1 to 2, with the... [read more]

Here’s some of my progress and notes on making my new cyr wheel. This is partially so I can look back and remember what I did if I have to take it apart for some... [read more]

I’m having trouble with the WS2811 / WS2812 strip and the first pixel dying or burning out. First off, I thought I ordered the WS2812B strips, which are supposed to be reverse voltage safe. However,... [read more]

I’ve had to re-remember a lot of old math that I haven’t used since probably sophomore year in high school; my jr year and beyond was all calculus…which is past what I’m doing here (so... [read more]

I’m still working on my LED cyr wheel. I’m creating a desktop application to edit patterns, and eventually simulate POV (persistence of vision). For now, it just runs the pattern in a mock-display. I simply... [read more]

Taj 2 Not as nice as light as the last picture (which was taken later, closer to sunset). But still interesting.

Taj Mahal I took a three week vacation to see India and visit my girlfriend, Costanza. She does PhD research work in Assam, a north east part of India. The Taj Mahal in Agra is... [read more]

I got my LEDs today! I did some basic testing, and they seem okay. That’s awesome..I saved like half the cost of buying them from a US supplier. The new wheel is bent; I used... [read more]

Here’s my planned wire diagram (it will probably change a bit) It may only make sense to me. I’m wonder if the LEDs that are furthest from the power source will be equally bright. This... [read more]

I was going to use molex micro fix connectors; they can carry up to 5amps…but I think that isn’t enough, as the wheel could draw 10+ amps. So, I ordered some Molex Mini Jr connectors.... [read more]

In one of my last posts, I discussed power draw. In theory, 360 LEDs on each side of the wheel (720 total) might draw a ton of power (20+amps) based on the specification for the... [read more]

11.1v 1200mah Lipo battery compared to a 9.6v 1400mah NiMH 8-cell pack: And the rainbow pattern on my LEDs:

I wear out brake pads faster than normal since I don’t have regenerative breaking or a normal “ICE” engine to slow me down. I replaced my first set of pads really quickly, but the second... [read more]

I bought the Turnigy Accucell 6 charger to charge LiPO cells for my LED cyr wheel. It has already failed! I charged one cell with it, and started discharging it. The display went to all... [read more]

Teensy/Hardware control LEDs! I got my Teensy 3.1 board and started playing with the digital LED strips I got. I was having a heck of a time getting any sample code to work. I finally... [read more]

I completed the jig, centered it on the wheel and then screwed the jig to the wooden sliders: I took the jig off, and cut out the center hole to be bigger than 1/2″ (I... [read more]

First, I got my HH-66 Vinyl Cement mentioned in the adhesives post. I tested gluing a piece of wheel together, and it works somewhat..although it takes a long time to dry and doesn’t do any... [read more]

I finally completed all the trim and paint in my master bathroom remodel! It looks awesome! I am happy with every bit of it. Some of the final pictures below: Left side of the sink... [read more]

So, I want to use Ecto (and probably other blog tools, like MarsEdit) to upload Sketchup .skp files, but it was always giving “invalid file type”. I poked around in WordPress, and here is what... [read more]

Here’s a sketch up design I did of a jig to cut a groove in the PVC tubing for the LEDs. A router will be attached in the center; it will (hopefully) be used to... [read more]

Here is a running parts list of what I’m buying for my new LED Cyr Wheel v2: LEDs/Microprocessor: 10 – $3.20 – COM-08982 – Electrolytic Decoupling Capacitors – 1000uF/25V ($0.32 ea.) 2 – $39.90 –... [read more]

I just ordered some metal from a local place to make another cyr wheel / roue cyr; it used to be Metal Supermarkets but now is Guerrilla Metals. I ordered 2 20′ pieces of 1.5″... [read more]