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Yay, we made it! 2018 here we come. Back in November, Limor had this idea to make a New Years themed project. I worked on the CAD and mechanical design while Dave Astels worked on the code.
Using Circuit Python in this project was an excellent decision as it allowed us to make adjustments quickly so we could fine tune the ball drop with synchronized audio.
The Adafruit Feather ecosystem is heavy in this project. The Tripler FeatherWing manages boards nicely and you get extra pins and power rails. Easy to swap in and out different boards.
I was able to 3D print big dual extruded domes, thanks to our new Ultimaker S5. This cuts down the print time from 21 hours to just 8hrs for a single dome by using a bigger nozzle and layerheight.
2020 aluminum extrusion works wells as a framing for builds because its strong and lightweight. With 3D printed roller wheels and ball bearings it can be made into a slider with a linear railing system.
Be sure to check out the learn guide for code, cad files and full assembly documentation.
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: CircuitPython 2025 Wraps, Focus on Using Python, Open Source and More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
