Pixelstorm - The Arduino LED Shield - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: maxpixel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 01, 2014, 12:38:31 pm
content: Hello Guys,A very good friend and myself started our first indiegogocampaign for an Arduino Pixel Shield called PIXELSTORM.We tried to pack as many LEDs on this shield an we arrivedat incredible 54 WS2812b LEDs. We are also offering adiffuser for better light effects and an easy to uselibrary, which will be open source.If you are interested just visit our indiegogo siteand perhaps even share to your friends:https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pixelstorm-the-arduino-led-shield/x/6819456If you have any suggestions for improvements or someadditional features just post below.Greetings,Maximilian Karl

author: CanadianAvenger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2014, 11:39:44 pm
content: Other than having one more row and column, how is it any better than the one from Adafruit?http://www.adafruit.com/products/1430

author: LaryLee
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 02, 2014, 07:37:25 am
content: QuoteWhat do you expect more from a led shield?Also there is a perk for a diy kit

author: miceuz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2014, 10:31:23 am
content: 6 * 9 * 0.06A = 3.24A -- you can't run all of it at full brightness from USB alone.How are you powering the shield?

author: MikeKnebe
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 02, 2014, 11:58:50 am
content: Hi,actually we measured 2.8A, when all LEDs are on.All samples in the video, and all included software examples draw unter 500mA current. If more current is needed, you can hook up an external power supply (see the two pins on the bottom left corner)

author: MLXXXp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2014, 01:29:37 pm
content: You should consider modifying the board to shorten the left and right edges, so you can butt two or more end to end and have consistent spacing between the LEDs.If not in the design already, there should be an easy way to chain the data out from the last LED to the data in of the first LED on another board.

author: MikeKnebe
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 02, 2014, 01:37:50 pm
content: @MLXXXpvery good idea, thank you, we will consider this in the final layou and software.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2014, 02:39:16 pm
content: Why does this need to be crowdfunded? Just start making your boards and put them on eBay.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2014, 02:48:54 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on April 06, 2014, 02:39:16 pmEconomies of scale.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 06, 2014, 06:07:34 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on April 06, 2014, 02:48:54 pmYou don't really need economies of scale if you don't need a lot of widgets to sell. The vast vast majority of everything on crowdfunding sites is for sales. People aren't CF'ing because they need the backing to make it happen, it's just a sales thing.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2014, 06:32:58 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on April 06, 2014, 06:07:34 pmYou only need to sell 100 to make a noticeable difference in manufacturing costs. But to make 100 using your own money and hoping that they sell is frankly foolish. Crowdfunding means you can get the cost down and you can afford to build them, while knowing for sure that they've sold.You don't necessarily need to be talking thousands of units for it to make sense.But as you say, it is also a good way to reach people, without having to set up a storefront, etc.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2014, 06:51:04 pm
content: Well, let's hear the OP's reasons instead of inventing them for him.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2014, 06:51:59 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on April 06, 2014, 06:51:04 pmWell of course, though it sounds like you have some irrational feelings already on the subject.Come on OP, don't leave us hanging!

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 07, 2014, 01:37:08 am
content: Quote from: 8086 on April 06, 2014, 06:32:58 pmWell, I think making 100 of something with one's own money is one of the fundamentals of business... and people shouldn't be worried about if something will sell because before embarking on any business, they should have done their market research and know what the demand is and what price point the market will support. Then it is not a risk, but a calculated risk and an investment that one can expect an ROI from.The problem with IGG/KS is that people have an idea, they don't really know how to commercialize it and the prospect of getting the money up front is enticing. But when they crowdfund, they are often in a position where they have sold a lot of something in a one-time deal, and the question then becomes where do they go afterwards. So many crowdfunded projects that were really just a sales tool end up languishing and/or going nowhere because they weren't really using the power of mass backing to launch an idea, but rather just looking for an infusion of $$ from sales.I don't see this one as being any different, but maybe there is something about it that actually makes sense that it be crowdfunded, but they haven't explained it in their video, if so.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2014, 06:46:12 pm
content: QuoteYou wrote that like it's a capital offense.Sometimes people do have bright ideas, and sometimes those same people are pretty crap as businessmen or marketers. So you think they should just drown all their ideas at birth because they can't fully commercialise them? They arenot qualifiedto take money, maybe?Isn't it cool that one can invest in a crowd sourced project and get something back which may be one of the only ones in existence? So what? Surely is it better to get that, with no further development, than to never get what might be a cool idea.And you never know, maybe someone out to make money (the scum!) will see it and realise he can help commercialze it properly.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2014, 06:52:25 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on April 07, 2014, 01:37:08 amWhy? The 'traditional' way isn't always the best way. Keeping your risk as low as possible is a fundamental of business. Customers preordering and paying up front reduces your risk and guarantees you won't overstock.Quote from: Corporate666 on April 07, 2014, 01:37:08 amSo it is a risk. It's more of a risk to put thousands of your own money into something that may or may not sell (market research or no market research) than it is to take preorders and the money up front.

author: maxpixel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2014, 02:33:03 pm
content: Alright then: Why did we choose to crowd fund this project?It's because we don't want to invest these 2500€ into somethingthat might not work. Don't get me wrong, it's not like we thinkthat nobody buys our shield, we just don't wanna take the risk.And thats what Croudfunding is for, it's basically for minimizingrisk. In my opinion.Quote from: 8086 on April 06, 2014, 02:48:54 pmThats right, but its also not the only reason for crowdfunding. CF'ing is sometimes usedfor doing easy market analysis. Just put your idea up, and test if somebody wants it. Again:minimized risk.