TRON: Legacy Desktop Display

Updated 30 May 2022

Bill of Materials

Part list:

Printing the parts

Parts to Print

These pieces were all printed using a Prusa MK3+ with MMU using PLA+. There are several pieces used to make up this model including:

  1. Disc
    1. Main Body (including the bottom)
    2. Outer rim (including the bottom)
    3. Inner Rim (including the bottom)
    4. Inner Ring
  2. Display Base
    1. Base with logo (multiple parts)
    2. Display stand
    3. Backplate
    4. Disc mount

Preparing your files

  • The main body and Disc mount should be printed with support from the plate only and no brim.
  • The Disc main body should be printed at 0.10mm detail.
  • All of the rest of the parts can be printed at 0.20mm quality.
  • No brim is needed or supports for any other parts.
  • An MMU is required for the main base with the logo. I used a Prusa MMU2S for the main base with the logo where I used translucent PLA+ for the transparent bits and black for the rest. Set infill to at least 50% where 100% is preferable for this piece alone.
  • If you’re using Prusa Slicer, load it as a single object with multiple parts, then specify which parts are black and which parts are translucent.
  • I used clear PLA so I can still customise the colours after using LEDs.

Clean off the supports

Be careful when removing the supports from the main body and disc mount as these parts are quite small and can break if handled roughly. I use an X-Acto knife to help remove the supports and clean up the prints.

Initial Assembly

Disc

You will need to attach the outer ring and inner rim to the main body of the disc. Be mindful that it has both a bottom half and top half and you want the blank section in each half of the main body to line up.

The Inner rim also has a top and bottom where you want the flatter part to be glued to the main body.

  • In this order, take the main body bottom (that includes a hole for the wires) and glue the outer rim and inner rim to it. Use super glue sparingly or it will leave a white residue over your model as it dries,
  • Glue the inner rim (c-shape) to the main body,
  • Set this aside to dry,
  • Align the top outer rim with the bottom outer rim (glued bottom half),
  • Glue the top main body to the outer rim then the inner rim to the top main body,
  • Set this second half aside to dry,

Base

  • Glue the Main Base with the logo to the stand,
  • Glue the disc mount to the main base,
  • Lastly, glue the inner ring to the bottom half of the disc,
  • Wait until all of this dries properly and leave it elevated where it has enough ventilation to dry properly.

NB. We will only combine the two disc halves after fixing the light strip inside the bottom half of the disc

Electronics

There are very few electronics required for this project as we will power the display using a micro USB cable on your pc or USB power bank of your choice. 

Circuit Diagram

  • Connect the 5V pins on both strips to the USB PIN on the microcontroller to draw power from the USB port directly,
  • Both strips can have their GND pins connected to the same GND pin in the controller,
  • The Din on the disc strip is connected to PIN3
  • The Din on the base strip is connected to PIN4
  • Lastly, PIN1~ is connected to a single wire to connect to the grub nut laterThis wiring diagram shows how to connect your Trinket M0 to your LED strips

Program the Microcontroller

The code for the lighting effects has been prepared in CircuitPython.

The easiest way to get it working is to copy the file labeled main.py and overwrite the file on the microcontroller. It will automatically reset after the file is saved.

To take your coding up a level, download the CircuitPython Mu editor.

Open main.py on the microcontroller then paste the code in the file provided (main.py) and overwrite the code on the microcontroller.

  • Most of the PINs are intuitively labeled
  • There are effects functions defined, that are later called (used).
  • Instead of rewriting a whole section of code every time you want to run an effect, the code is defined up front in a function such as “animate_gradient_fill” so that this can just be called later when you need it.
  • All the magic happens under code “while True”
  • I use an approach to define a variable labeled “y”,
  • When the circuit is first powered, y == 0, the base lights up slowly and each pixel on the disc lights up 1 by 1,
  • When this is done, y = 2 and the strobe effect is then run. 
  • Every time you touch the grub screw, the code increments y by 1 and waits 0.5 seconds to remove your finger or it will just keep adding to y, and the next effect is run.
  • Lastly, if y == 13, all the lights are turned off and touching it again, y resets to 1.

The next step

I make and sell these and also had a client ask me to make a white version where I printed black behind the white for an awesome effect

Since I started on this mini display, I’ve sliced up the large model and also managed to complete a large version with some extra personal touches.

I’ll look forward to further experimenting with the lighting effects where I’m also finishing off a large black and white disc will go perfectly with the TRON Legacy baton build that I’ve also finished:

If you need some more detail on the steps in this guide, the video below has a full walkthrough of the build process:

Video Walkthrough

To level up this piece, I’m finishing off a life-size disc that I will complete both a black and white version to go along with the batons I’ve already done.

This gives me so much more space to better diffuse the light so it doesn’t pixellate as it does in the small display and I have both separate LED strip running on the outside compared to the inside.

I’m working on adding awesome lighting effects as well and all of these are contained inside the disc and powered by a LiPo battery.

To finish, I’m considering a wall mount stand that will complement the light effects with sound effects as well.

You can view my current progress here:

When you plug it in (USB) it runs a power-up sequence then has a random pulse effect where you can switch between pulse and static light effect using a capacitive touch grub screw. It also cycles between different colours.

Attachment - Project Files (.zip file)

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