V3.1
V3.1
The main evolution between V3.0 and V3.1 was upgrades to the electronics package. This included the addition of a dedicated sound fx board from Adafruit, an upgraded voltage regulator to the large current needed for the LED strip, a more powerful speaker, and an amplifier to accommodate the new speaker.
The main evolution between V3.0 and V3.1 was upgrades to the electronics package. This included the addition of a dedicated sound fx board from Adafruit, an upgraded voltage regulator to the large current needed for the LED strip, a more powerful speaker, and an amplifier to accommodate the new speaker.
Again, the electronics have an 3D printed shell to insulate them from the metal body.
Again, the electronics have an 3D printed shell to insulate them from the metal body.
The redesign of the electronics package meant a need to redesign the hilt. Additionally, I decided the custom dual-action switch was overcomplicated, and unnecessary. It was replaced with a off the shelf RGB momentary switch. Additionally, the kyber crystal and it's mounting were redesigned. The crystal was made smaller, simply as an aesthetic decision. The hilt was also redesign for aesthetics. The mounting was changed to a static fixture for simplicity.
The redesign of the electronics package meant a need to redesign the hilt. Additionally, I decided the custom dual-action switch was overcomplicated, and unnecessary. It was replaced with a off the shelf RGB momentary switch. Additionally, the kyber crystal and it's mounting were redesigned. The crystal was made smaller, simply as an aesthetic decision. The hilt was also redesign for aesthetics. The mounting was changed to a static fixture for simplicity.
Construction began with the electronics package, as any issues encountered with the electronics would necessitate a redesign of the entire hilt. The entire setup was initially wired on a breadboard to test all components and troubleshoot any problems. This was the first time any of the electrical design had been tested real world. These tests reveled that a 5V regulator was not needed for the lights, but instead was needed for the Arduino as the battery voltage was below what the Arduino's built in regulator could handle. Once the system was functional, all components were mounted to the 3D printed shelf and wired, as seen in the image below. Upon doing so, it was found that this design did not properly account for the space needed for wiring. Therefore, a redesign of the electronics package was needed. This redesign required more space, and necessitated a redesign of the hilt. This redesign is the V3.2 iteration.
Construction began with the electronics package, as any issues encountered with the electronics would necessitate a redesign of the entire hilt. The entire setup was initially wired on a breadboard to test all components and troubleshoot any problems. This was the first time any of the electrical design had been tested real world. These tests reveled that a 5V regulator was not needed for the lights, but instead was needed for the Arduino as the battery voltage was below what the Arduino's built in regulator could handle. Once the system was functional, all components were mounted to the 3D printed shelf and wired, as seen in the image below. Upon doing so, it was found that this design did not properly account for the space needed for wiring. Therefore, a redesign of the electronics package was needed. This redesign required more space, and necessitated a redesign of the hilt. This redesign is the V3.2 iteration.
