Hello world!

I have searched for a LED cube I can build, but they all had this annoying base attached to it, so I decided to design one myself:

### From the idea...

First of all, it should be easy to control, so I decided to make a xyz-System, instead of something more complicated. To get this working, I needed some AND-Gates, I choose these, because they where the fastest I could find, but probably you could use every AND-Gate.

EXPANDED TECHNICAL DETAILS

Multiplexing with Logic Gates

Controlling 216 LEDs (6x6x6) with a single Arduino Micro requires efficient multiplexing.

• X-Y-Z Addressing: Instead of standard shift registers, this project uses sn74f08n AND gates to manage the matrix selection. This logic allows for high-speed switching without the propagation delays often found in serial daisy-chained ICs.
• Layer Control: The cube is divided into 6 horizontal layers (Z-axis) and a 36-LED grid (X-Y). By activating a specific layer through a transitor and selecting the column via the AND gates, the Arduino rapidly cycles through all layers to create a persistent image (Persistence of Vision).

Processing Staging & Interaction

The cube is paired with a Processing application which provides:

1. Live Preview: A 3D model on the PC screen that matches the physical cube's state.
2. Animation Editor: Frame-by-frame control of LED patterns.
3. Serial Communication: Data is packaged into byte arrays and sent over COVID to the Arduino, which decodes and displays the pattern on the physical grid in real-time.

Hardware Assembly

The cube is built without a traditional bulky base by utilizing a Custom PCB that serves as both the mounting structural plane and the wiring hub. Using Ethernet cables (Cat6a) provides a high density of shielded lines for the long connections from the controller to the LED planes.