Audi Lighted Logo

Continuing my tradition of trying to get rich by releasing free products, here is another design I created. Detailed instructions are not contained in this writeup.  However, if enough requests are received, I can make some instructions that even Homer Simpson could follow.

This is a quick model I made to use the remainder of an LED lighted strip and a WLED controller.  Depending on your wiring style you can get some pretty nice looking effects with this logo and the use of an NodeMCU controller.

The model is in two formats.  One for those who have a large format printer and can print the entire model as one unit and the other format is broken into two parts.  If printing two separate parts use the glue of your choice to bond them together.

Each loop in the logo has a hole which can be used to pass the wiring from one loop to the other, connecting the segments of LED strip lights.

Print Setup:

• Material:  PLA (colored for the top layer, clear for the walls)
• Quality:  .12mm
• Temp:  200°C
• Bed:   67°C
• Print Speed:  50mm/s, first layer at 20mm/s
• Walls: 3
• Supports:  None
• Infill:  
  • 100% for clear walls 
  • 20-50% for top surface
  • Use support blockers to modify infill based on layer height

Parts

LED Strip

Aclorol WS2812B 144 Pixels Individually Addressable RGB LED Strip 5V, 3.3ft Programmable WS2812B WS2812 1M 144 LEDs Dream Color Strip Lighting

https://a.co/d/aswPgY3

I used a less dense version of LED strip lights in my own project. However, I’ve used the ones linked here and they provide smoother animation due to their increased LED density. I have no recommendation of one brand over another.  The only real requirement is that they be ProgrammableWS2812B or WS2812 style lights. These lights can be cut and spliced together over gaps as needed by simply soldering on connection wires between segments.  As with all LED Strip lights that are programmable and being used with a NodeMCU controller, splicing power to each segment is needed in longer applications.  This project will not require any additional power due to its short length.

LED Power Supply

ALITOVE 5V 3A 15W AC 100V~240V to DC Power Supply Adapter Converter 5.5X 2.5mm 5.5x2.1mm Plug for WS2812B WS2811 WS2801 SK6812 LED

<img class="image_resized" style="width:42.87%;" src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/272866/rich_content/089388f9-2ca4-4530-ae12-4afef0e4dee4/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22cdb2c853-5c7e-44cc-80c9-0b18892fa718%22%2C%22w%22%3A1196%2C%22h%22%3A1228%7D" alt="A picture containing electronics

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https://a.co/d/7emno9J

Any common 5VDC power supply will work so long as it provides enough wattage for the number of LEDs you’re powering.  This is the unit I used, and it has been in my office, powering my lights 5 days a week for the past year.  It is on for approximately 12 hours a day and has worked flawlessly.

NodeMCU Controller

KeeYees 3pcs ESP8266 ESP-12E Development Board WiFi WLAN Wireless Module CP2102 for NodeMCU for ESP-12E for Arduino

<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/272866/rich_content/db26b3ad-17d0-4049-8cfc-73fe72a9a379/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22b56eef63-e4ad-4e4c-8785-0d1666e57a9b%22%2C%22w%22%3A828%2C%22h%22%3A794%7D" alt="A picture containing text, electronics, circuit

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https://a.co/d/0seFCnx

Again, I’m not recommending a specific brand of NodeMCU, but rather one that will support the running of WLED.  These just so happened to work well in 6 different projects I’ve done.  The box that I have designed is based on these controllers and their dimensions.

LED Splice Wire

RGBZONE 10M 22AWG 3PIN LED Light Strip Cable Cord, Extension Cable Line Wire for WS2812b WS2811 Dream Color Led Strip Lights

<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/272866/rich_content/5f6feb40-068a-4581-a193-782f21a5b001/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%222cac9a81-6ac5-483c-9ea9-e98b20d3bba2%22%2C%22w%22%3A450%2C%22h%22%3A491%7D" alt="Icon

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https://a.co/d/6zARbn9

I had other wire laying around that was used.  I would recommend any 3 wire LED Strip Wire that you can find. The one linked here is an example only. You’ll need a section of this wire to join each individual segment that will be glued into the loops.  Solder each end (a total of 6 solder joints) of the splice and it will allow you have one continuous strip light.  It may be possible to widen out the holes between the loops to accommodate a continuous LED strip as well.  I chose the option of splicing because I wanted a specific order and pattern style.

WLED

WLED is an amazing program that was written by Aircookie (and many other contributors) that is used to control addressable LED lights.  The capabilities that the WLED program has is astounding.  When I first started making lighted logos, I used the following links to start getting a handle on how this all works and what parts I would need.

Basic use of WLED, the NodeMCU, and some excellent LED project guidance:

https://youtu.be/tXvtxwK3jRk

Great beginner projects and a solid method on the basics of using a controller and LED strip lights:

https://tynick.com/blog/11-03-2019/getting-started-with-wled-on-esp8266/

GIT Hub WLED Project:

https://github.com/Aircoookie/WLED/releases

WLED home page.  Contains great information and instructions on the use of the software:

https://kno.wled.ge/

If there’s interest in how this project was assembled and wired, please post up a comment and let me know.  I make instructional content for my “paid” life so I’m not a stranger to it. While working from home is something that continues to destroy the remaining soul I have left, if it helps people out there accomplish their project then it’s worth it.  Good luck and I hope to see you guys making some lighted logos!