How to Build 8x8x8 LED Cube

An 8x8x8 LED cube is a visual treat with 3D effects and patterns.It works on the concept of Persistence of Vision, a feature of the human eye which tricks our brain in to thinking that an object is present permanently at a place if it appear about 60 times in a second.

Since an 8x8x8 LED Cube consists of, well 8x8x8 = 512 LEDs, we cannot control all these 512 LEDs at once. What we can do is control 64 LEDs at a time at an extremely fast rate and trick our brain as if we were controlling all the 512 LEDs.

First thanks to Nextpcb for sponsor This project

This project is sponsored and supported by Nextpcb

This LED Cube will light up any party.

Your friends will be mesmerized by its hypnotic effect as lights dazzle and dance in brilliant patterns.

This cube gives of a warm glow that is pleasant to the eye and will entertain people of all ages.

Though it might be quite a commitment to build, the effort will be worth the wait.

Surprise your friends and family with this incredible art piece, as it will be sure to turn heads.

Don't skip this wonderful electronics project because it offers invaluable opportunities for electronic construction and Arduino coding.

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Supplies

• LEDs (5mm) – 512
• 100Ω Resistors
• 2N2222 NPN Transistors –
• 74HC574 Octal D Flip-flop –
• 120-pin IC Socket –
• 816-pin IC Socket –
• 1Power ON LED –
• 15V Power Supply
• Male Headers
• Female Headers
• Connectors with Headers
• Connecting Wires

Tools

• Stripper
• Soldering Iron
• Solder Helping Hands
• Wire
• Cutters/Strippers
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Vice

Video

The following video shows how to build 8x8x8 LED Cube.

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Test the LEDs

As I’ve already mentioned earlier, we need 512 LEDs. The first step is to test all the 512 LEDs. You can use a 3V Lithium Cell to test the individual LED.

This step is very important because once you begin soldering the LEDs, it will be difficult to remove them.

They will need to be stable and bright. This step will show you how to separate the faulty ones from the usable ones.

Difference Between Diffused and Transparent LED

Bend All LED

Start by bending the shorter leg (the cathode) at a 90 degree angle.

Building the Layers

Next step is to create the layers. Each layer is made up of 8×8 LED Matrix consisting of 64 LEDs. In order to build the layers, take a Sunboard and make holes at a distance of 2.5CM. Place the LEDs and start soldering all the cathodes together.

Create an 8x8x8 template so you can create the layers.

You will need a MDF board and you will need to drill holes into the MDF wood board to space the LEDs 1/2" apart.

Create Layers

In order to increase the strength of the layer, solder few connecting wires between LEDs.

In addition to acting as support bars, these wires will also short all the cathodes of that particular layer.

Now, test the LEDs once again as replacing a faulty LED will be somewhat easy at this stage.

Once everything is done, put aside the completed layer and continue making seven other layers.

Stacking Up Vertical Layers

After completing eight layers, we will now proceed with stacking those layers vertically. After completing eight layers, we will now proceed with stacking those layers vertically.

Take a MDF board and mark 64 holes to insert poles for 64 Anode Terminals.

Start soldering layer by layer and use any object like a ruler or even a piece of MDF board to separate the layers.

Finished structure after stacking all the eight layers, will look something like this.

Circuit Diagram

Click here for circuit diagram (Click Here)

Assemble the Circuit

We have designed circuit for this Project:

74HC574 IC’s that get connected to the Anode rows of the LED cube, Arduino Nano, transistors and power supply components.74HC574 IC’s that get connected to the Anode rows of the LED cube, Arduino Nano, transistors and power supply components.

Thank You NextPCB:

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Final Build and Programming

The final build of the 8x8x8 LED Cube is shown in the image below.

The structure is very strong and all the electronics including the power supply are concealed inside the base

The code is developed based on the work of “chr” from Instructables.

There are many codes available in the internet that you can use.

CODE

It took nearly 20 working hours to build the 8x8x8 LED Cube (testing LEDs, bending and cutting the LEDs, making 8 LED Layers each consisting of 64 LEDs, straightening wire for adding tensile strength, stacking those layers vertically, designing PCB, etching PCB, soldering components on the PCB, connecting LED Cube to the PCB, dumping the code and testing the output).