Several months ago I started a project to build a Binary Clock, using a Laser Cut enclosure. The plan was to use Ponoko’s laser cutting service. Looking through the materials available, I decided to use Bamboo. Knowing I was going to build a Bamboo enclosure for a Binary clock, helped me come to the name BinBoo. Even though I call it a Binary Clock, it is actually a BCD clock…
There are still a few issues to work out, but I am very happy with v1.
Putting music signal into the Analog Input of an Arduino can be pretty boring. That is, unless you use a totally awesome chip like the MSGEQ7. This simple Spectrum Analyzer driven with an Arduino only takes a handful of parts. I used these incredibly awesome protoboards from Adafruit for the first time. The protoboard alone gives a fit and finish even before it starts!
Mixed Signal Integration has a cool little chip that has 7 built-in bandpass filters. Run an audio signal through it and you have an instant audio spectrum analyzer! This is a simple spectrum analyzer based on an Arduino. Each of the 5 LEDs represent a single section of the chip’s 7 sections of audio spectrum.
Status: Completed
Hackster.io Project Page: https://www.hackster.io/baldengineer/binboo
Github Code: https://github.com/baldengineer/BinBoo
Binary + Bamboo = BinBoo. This project is my first attempt at making a laser-cut enclosure. Ponoko was used to cut the project which holds itself together. The LEDs are driven by an Arduino-based clock that incorporates a RTC1307, FTDI chip, ATmega328, and TLC5940.
The control board is up and running, with some re-work. Shown next to the working LEDs is my original inspiration. Last Christmas my brother gave me the ThinkGeek Binary watch. Since then I’ve been fascinated with binary clocks. Finally I had an idea that can help with other projects.
