A few years ago, [Marc] had access to a really big, very expensive 3D printer. Daft Punk helmets were – and still are – extremely cool builds, so with a bit of modeling, [Marc] and his friend [Alex] put together a model and printed out a Daft Punk [Thomas] helmet with the intention of turning it into the keystone of a great costume. A few things got in the way, and the [Thomas] helmet was left on a shelf for a few years. Fast forward to a few months ago and [Marc] took up the project again. The result is a 3D printed Daft Punk helmet loaded up with 320 WS2811 LEDs.
The 3D printed helmet was modeled well and printed in polycarbonate, but with any extrusion-based printer, there will be ridges and layers to sand, fill, prime and paint. This task was delegated to another friend, [Shaggy], while [Marc] got busy on the electronics.
The LEDs for the visor and ‘earmuffs’ are WS2811 LEDs, but not the SMD versions we’re so used to seeing. These are 8mm through-hole LEDs mounted in a lasercut piece of acrylic. Control of the LEDs is done with a Teensy 3.1 with [Paul Stoffregen]’s OctoWS2811 library. With the matrix wired up, batteries installed, WiFi capability added, and the helmet painted (not chromed; that will probably happen later, though), [Marc] had a copy of the [Thomas] helmet controllable through an iPhone.
If you’d like to check out more of [Marc]’s work, we posted something on his RGB LED suit and pneumatic Star Trek doors a few years ago.
Video below.
I’m also printing myself a pair of these, been spending hundreds of hours 3d printing, applying Bondo, sanding, bondo, sanding, glazing putty, sanding, bondo, sanding, glazing putty, sanding, wet sanding, glazing, wet sanding.
I’m still not satisfied with it enough to paint yet, your helmets look beautiful. I hope to have mine as pretty when I’m done. I’m guessing the fans are because that LED matrix gets hot?
I was thinking of using my FatShark FPV goggles in the Thomas helmet to allow me to see with the matrix of LEDs being in the way/blinding. Planning to put the camera at the mouth.
seizure risk…
If only Daft Punk put as much creativity into their music as they do into their helmets and stupid show. Makes me wish Coldcut had risen to the top of that pile. I’ve never figured out the draw for the common person other than their music being common.
Hello!
I just read your post and watched the video you had made… Your work is seriously incredible. I am going to be needing a Daft Punk helmet for this upcoming Halloween and I would really like to talk to you about your helmet; I have been spending a lot of time googling helmets and yours is by far the best. My main goal is to be able to figure out how to do the awesome LED display such as your own. I’m not sure if you would sell your helmet, but even if I could get some tips that would be amazing.