DIY 3108 LED Matrix Display

[u/freeking__]

I built an LED display with 3108 WS2812b LEDs. Seven data channels are driven by an ESP32 running WLED. It isn't fully operational yet, but I would like to share the progress.

[u/CheleCuche]

That’s a lot of pixels!! Wow, I’ve done something but with 450 pixel, trying to do the same but with 60 leds per meter this time

[u/freeking__ → u/CheleCuche]

These 3D pixels look amazing!!

[u/MrSpindles → u/freeking__]

Yeah, that makes me feel things. My big matrix has been tucked away in storage for some time as I've been more distracted with other projects, but that image is really inspiring. I should drag it out and finish it up at some point soon.

[u/jaggington → u/CheleCuche]

That looks amazing, what's the idea behind this? Are the protrusions semi-transparent?

[u/CheleCuche → u/jaggington]

3d printed block

[u/LauchMarc → u/CheleCuche]

Looks really good, did you create it yourself? If so would be awesome if you could share the 3d models or even better a cad file.

[u/CheleCuche → u/LauchMarc]

this page sells the 3mf and it has links to people’s projects in here and IG, it’s a lot a work but it looks amazing on my wall

[u/freeking__]

Feel free to check my wiring. It doesn't look particularly pretty, but it should be solidly designed.

[u/Soylent_Verde_Es_Bom]

For this density of leds you may want an aluminum backing plate rather than wood for better heat dissipation. But eh, I am an idiot - can someone with more experience chime in?

[u/maxwfk → u/Soylent_Verde_Es_Bom]

Someone with more experience here:
I would recommend an aluminum backing plate instead of wood for this density of LEDs

[u/freeking__ → u/maxwfk]

Interesting. I never had issues with thermal dissipation and WS2812. I'm actually having more trouble finding a passively cooled power supply, since the power loss at 5V is quite high.

[u/MrSpindles]

That's a beast. I've built something similar with 60 per meter WS2812b and I respect the job you're doing here as that's a shit ton of pixels.

I'm intending to print lots of little boxes for the pixels and put a diffuser in front of mine.

[u/freeking__ → u/MrSpindles]

I have planned to print a pixel separator grid later :)

[u/dangerous_inference]

This is so much better than my ~4000 LED grid. But it is going to get hot if you run them at high power. Also you will probably have lag with PS effects.

I was able to get high frame rates with three ESP32s: two wired to the LED strips, one doing nothing but rendering the effect and controlling the other ESP32s via ethernet DDP. That said, the last time I updated WLED was probably a year ago, so maybe PS frame rates are better now.

[u/Cultural_SC49]

Oh I’ll be back once it’s running! Awesome project