Some hackers make functional things that you can’t allow to be seen in polite company. Others make beautiful things that could come from a high-end store. [Marija] falls into the second category and her interactive LED coffee table would probably fetch quite a bit on the retail market. You can see a video of the awesome-looking table, below.
It isn’t just the glass, MDF, and pine construction. There’s also a Bluetooth interface to a custom Android application from [Dejan], who collaborated on the project. However, if you aren’t comfortable with the woodworking, [Marija’s] instructions are very detailed with great pictures so this might be a good starter project.
On the electronics side, there are addressable LEDs (WS2812Bs), a Bluetooth module, IR proximity sensors, and an Arduino. The proximity sensors needed a little hacking so the sensor can mount in a way that it can detect things through the glass top.
This is one of those projects that really points out how some relatively simple components can combine with software and mechanical construction to really create an eye-popping result. We were really impressed with the documentation, too, and if you are unsure about how to do the woodworking or the electronics, you’ll find a great guide with helpful pictures.
Now, if you don’t hang out with polite company, but only other hackers, you’ll probably opt for an EPROM table. If you get hooked on lighting up tables, you can move on to the mega LED desk after you finish this project, although that’s more of a metal project.
@Marija – looks like you know your way around a table saw, so you’re probably familiar with these – but just in case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dado_set
yeah but look at the size of the dados she cut, roughly only 4-5 passes with the thinner kerf 1/8″ blade. a dado set means taking time to change the blade out, setup the shims and blades and chippers, not using her crosscut sled (which brings other issues like the cuts not being as square unless you take a lot more time making a sled just for the dado stack, which also means a custom sled for each possible dado width or live with tearout) and the stupid cost of dado sets that don’t suck and actually leave a flat bottom on the cut…
I can’t believe that it takes less time to make multiple 1/8″ cuts than it would take to switch in a dado set.
Dado sets are not available in all regions. In Europe for example they are rare, and most saws don’t have long enough axles to mount one. :-/
I thought the dados went extinct ?
Agreed, IR orientation is key to “see” objects through the glass.
https://hackaday.com/2017/01/31/an-awesome-interactive-led-table/
https://youtu.be/OdJgoZ6M1Aw – just sayin’ :-)
Nice finishing touch !