Description: Flux Capacitor

I will be constructing a replica of the Flux Capacitor prop from Back to the Future. It will be the main element in my Marty McFly costume. The purpose of this prop is to promote delight with a touch of nostalgia.

Circuit Diagram

Tinkercad Link
I am trying to figure out my circuit diagram, but need some assistance. This is where I have gotten to so far.

To Do:
– Add push button to cycle through 2-3 different light sequences
– Update light sequences (elaboration in Arduino section below)

Arduino

Pseudocode:
1. Mechanical button input activated
2. 3 Yellow Neopixel LED strips slow chasing sequence (from outside to inside)
3. The mechanical button is pushed to initiate the next light sequence in the cycle
4. Three Yellow Neopixel LED strips fast chasing sequence (from outside to inside)
5. The mechanical button is pushed to initiate the next light sequence in the cycle
6. Three Yellow Neopixel LED strips, fast blinking
7. Mechanical button pushed to turn off (or can I make it so that holding button for a determined amount of time turns off)?

Materials/Parts

Hardware
– 3 Neopixels (8 LEDs per strip)
– Gemma (have)
– Breadboard Wires (have)
– USB battery pack (have)

Other Supplies
– Solder (have)
– Stranded Wire (have)
– Cardboard Box (similar shape, hinging)
– Spray paint (dark gray)
– Transparent film
– Clear vinyl tubing (determine interior diameter to fit Neopixel into)
– Large flat washers (try to find sold individually)
– Red lable tape
-Spark plug wires (kind of $$$, maybe find alt)
– Paint for spark plug (orange, yellow)

Tools
– Soldering Iron
– Wire Snips
– Wire Strippers
– Hot glue
– Super Glue (best kind?)
– Box Cutter
– Label Maker
– Drill
– 3D printer (optional if spark plugs don’t work out)

To-Do List

1. Complete circuit diagram
2. Figure out Arduino code
3. Purchase supplies after 1:1 meeting (Neopixels and finding correct box size are priority)
5. Map out box with 1:1 scale to ensure fit
4. Once circuit diagram has been finalized solder Neopixels to Gemma

Progress

Manya’s Flux Capacitor Pt 2

PROGRESS

• Working on Button Cycler code
• Bought supplies (transparent window, chain, tubing, hose, 3 NeoPixel strips)

TINKERCAD

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/hiz9I9xFeLC-flux-capacitor1?sharecode=cMn7V532x1lQbqBToTnFhIq-Ds7HJIDHxTYsmUuGKeo

Having some trouble simulating button cycling.

TO BUY/SOURCE

• Spark plugs or metal elbow fittings
• Yellow latex tubing
• Spray paint (look to see if PoD has gold)
• Confirm Tristan has label maker/red or gold labels

TO DO

BOX

• [ ] Create box dielines based on Neopixel size
• [ ] Make box out of chipboard (cut by hand if no laser cutter)
  • [ ] Figure out where to put button hole
• [ ] Create false bottom of box with holes cut out for wires, top surfaces is where components will attach, below false bottom is where hardware is housed
• [ ] Spray paint box/false bottom metallic (silver or gold)
• [ ] Attach transparent sheet to back of window on the front of the box

HARDWARE

• [ ] Solder wire to 3 NeoPixel strips
• [ ] Solder wires (from NeoPixel strips) to Gemma
• [ ] Solder tactile button to Gemma

ATTACHMENT

• [ ] Attach washers (spray paint gold) to surface
• [ ] Place/attach NeoPixel strips in clear tubing
• [ ] Attach spark plugs/tubes to washers
• [ ] Place Gemma and USB battery pack underneath false bottom
• [ ] Place button into hole on side of box

FINALIZE

• [ ] Attach false bottom to box via adhesive
• [ ] Figure out if I want to add latch to box
• [ ] Attach tubing to box exterior
• [ ] Attach chain/handle to box, potential spray paint gold (if I decide to paint box gold)

SOFTWARE

• [ ] Finalize Button Cycler code

QUESTIONS

• Should I create a flap on back of box to access hardware?
• How much wire do I need to attach NeoPixels on surface of false bottom to Gemma at bottom of box?

Manya’s Flux Capacitor Pt 3

PROGRESS

• Spray-painted components (washers, spark plugs, tubing,
• Laser-cut chipboard
• Sealed chipboard (PVA (light layer of white glue) + water (1:1 mix))
• Folded box into 3D form, used a mixture of adhesives (Tacky glue, Tombow Extreme Adhesive)
• Gold spray paint (3 coats)
• Soldered circuit (Gemma M0, stranded wire, tactile button, 3 Neopixels (RGBW Natural White, 8 LEDS)
• Tested circuit using Arduino Sample button cycler and strand test
• Finalized Arduino code and Tinkercad

TO DO

• Attach chain handle (still figuring this out)
• Attach wires/tubes to spark plugs
• Fix component adhesions (try hot glue)
• Final spray paint layer over attached parts
  
• Black nail polish over Neopixel components
• Test final Arduino code with final circuit
  
• Protect circuitry prior to inserting/attaching to box?
• Insert circuit into box (Neopixels into tubing)
• Attach circuitry and hardware to box (how does the button
  
• Attach screen to box window
• Make and attach label (thank you Tristan)

LEARNINGS

• Figure out how to order progress (spray paint components after adhering?)
• Test circuit while soldering in order to problem solve if things go wrong (this didn’t happen to me, but noted for future, thank you Wini)
• The insert should be smaller than the box it is intended to fit into (see dielines below), making it work this time

Description of ‘Mine-crafted life’

The severed Minecraft head is a prop for a halloween costume, acting like a trick or treat basket. Constructed from acrylic/polyethylene/polypropylene sheets, the head is painted with the signature pixelated aesthetic and features internal RGBW LED strips sandwiched between inner and outer walls. The primary function is to express four distinct “moods”—Angry (red light), Sad (blue light), Disgust (green light), and Happy (yellow light)—by dynamically shifting the color of the internal lighting. The basket includes a red handle and a “severed neck” base, with black paint for the eyes and mouth, ensuring both visual impact and a clear pathway for the light to shine through. The shades of the pixels are created by painting multiple coats of acrylic paint on the surface to help create a opaque and translucent light dispersal.

Intention of ‘Mine-crafted life’

The prop’s intention is to blend the nostalgia of my brother and my shared love for Minecraft with a playful Halloween fright. By presenting the instantly recognizable Creeper head in a dark context—a “severed neck” basket—it introduces a darkly humorous twist on a beloved game element. The dynamic, shifting NeoPixel lights (from “angry” red to “sad” blue) use in-game visuals to create an eerie, mood-depicting glow, transforming our childhood interests into a uniquely personal and subtly unsettling costume piece.

Arduino techniques to be used

Using the colorWipe or crossFade function in Arduino to help transition between the 4 RGBW colors in the NeoPixel.

Materials and parts

• Translucent white Acrylic/Polyethylene/Polypropylene sheet (As the main material for the basket, its handle and neck.) – I’m having a little trouble finding Polypropylene sheets in the translucency, size and thickness that would be suitable for the 12″ x 12″ size of the basket head. Here’s a few links of what I found:
  1. Polypropylene sheets (TAP plastics) –
  Tap Plastics link
  (This seems like a clear sheet, I was going for a white translucent sheet)
  
  2. Polypropylene sheets (Amazon) –
  Amazon Link
  (The size limitation is 12″ x12″, I might need a bigger size for making the handle and top frame to cover the walls. If I get this, I will have to join multiple pieces together)
  
  3. Polyethylene sheets HDPE Plastic Sheet Board (Amazon) –
  Amazon Link
  (I read that this material also has similar translucency and light dispersion properties as acrylic, but seems a little expensive for the size I want)
  
  4. Acrylic sheets (Canal Plastics) –
  Canal Plastics Link
  (This seems okay to me, alternatively I could get the acrylic from the VFL and be careful not to break it)
  
• RGBW LED Strips – I was planning on getting either 8 shorter strips or 2 long ones that can span the entire cube.
  
• Poly-fill – To disperse the light well in between the inner and outer walls of the cube.
  
• Adafruit Gemma board – If its possible to link 2 separate LEDs to one board, I intend on doing that, otherwise, I will get another Gemma board.
  
• Breadboard + Electrical wires
  
• USB Battery Pack
  
• Acrylic paint – To paint the pixels on the surface of the sheet and create tonality.
  
• Solder

Tools

• Laser cutter
• Soldering Iron
• Hot glue gun
• Wire strippers
• Wire snips
• X-acto knife

To-Do list

• Figure out number and specifications of LED strips needed
• Finalise circuit diagram
• Tinker with Arduino code to get my color-changing motion
• Finalize on material for the main structure
• Test light dispersion on small pieces of acrylic to see light and shadows with white paint
• Make 3D model for idea, to ease construction
• Illustrator file for laser cutting
  

Thank you!

Story

I had an 11th hour change of heart, and felt inspired to make something more challenging than my previous idea. I originally thought of making myself into a giant walking camera–the housing would be around my waist and I pictured a neopixel ring for the perimeter of the lens, with a few white LEDs acting as the flash to go off at timed intervals.

But then I had the idea to make a Visual Rain Stick. My thought is to have the LEDs travel down inside a hollowed out wood tube with chamfered edges, sparkling as they go, through sporadically placed drilled out holes. My goal is to create a visual embodiment of an audial product. I’m opting for warm white lights to compliment the wood (which I plan to finish in a rich, potentially darker tone), and to give it a more natural feel. For the light sequencing I’ll be utilizing the falling, wipe and twinkle animations in my Arduino code.

Parts List

Adafruit Mini Skinny NeoPixel LED Strip – Warm White 3000K – 60 LEDs/m – 1m long, Anker PowerCore 5,000mAh Portable Charger, 470Ω resistor, 1000µF capacitor, ~2″ x 36″ pinewood strip, Poly or paint to finish the wood.

Build Plan

Cut (2) 1″ x 40″ wood panels

Dado cut a 1/2″ channel in each

4″ dado cut at one end of each to accommodate the power bank (+ 4mm)

Drill holes along panels

Build circuit

Hot glue LED strip along dado

Glue wood halves together

Poly or paint to finish

Circuit

(Still in progress!)

• Include a description of your costume and its intention: 

My love for orange tabby cats drew me to the character Momo from the video game Stray. I believe he embodies the enduring spirit of a cat lover—a spirit that continues to love and be with cats no matter what. Inspired by this, I’m recreating his adorable monitor face for a costume, aiming for a look that is charming, heartwarming, and has a unique tropical feel.

• What Arduino technique(s) you are using

My next step is to program Arduino the interaction between buttons and an Adafruit NeoPixel LED.

• Include photos of your progress:

• Materials and parts you’re using (should be as complete a list as possible, with links to sources)

1. BTF-LIGHTING WS2812B RGB 5050SMD Individually Addressable Digital 16×16 256 Pixels 6.3in x 6.3in LED Matrix Flexible FPCB Dream Full Color Works with SP802E Controller Image Video Text Display DC5V
2. BTF-LIGHTING WS2812B IC RGB 5050SMD Pure Gold Individual Addressable LED Strip 16.4FT 300LED 60Pixel/m Flexible Full Color IP30 DC5V for DIY Chasing Color Project(No Adapter or Controller)
3. Cardboard
4. Acrylic board

• Write a to-do list of the remaining tasks required to finish your costume

1. Finishing coding
2. Creating Laser cutting files.
3. Laser cutting Momo’s head
4. Combination laser cutting components
5. Adding Arduino and LED .

1.Concept

I will make a “Bai Wuchang” costume: a white tall hat + cape + mask (with a long red tongue).
The mood is an eerie, ritual style from Chinese/Eastern culture.

During the parade at night, a cool-white breathing light will run along the hat brim and the inner edge of the cape, so from far away it looks like a silent underworld procession.
A faint red glow will come from the mask’s mouth.

I plan to use EVA foam inside the tall hat and at the tip of the long tongue to keep the shape.

2.Arduino part

I plan to use two long NeoPixel LED strips to make a white breathing effect, and one separate LED ring behind the mask for a red glow. (If it’s too expensive, I’ll remove the NeoPixel strip along the cape edge lol)

3.Next Steps (To-Do)

（1）Measure my shoulder width/length and head circumference.
（2）Draw flat pattern pieces for the tall hat, cape, and long tongue.
（3）Cut fabric along the pattern lines.
（4）Decide the circuit diagram and how everything connects to one power switch; plan the wire routing inside the hat/cape/mask.
（5）Cut the EVA foam pieces (hat lining, tongue tip/core).
（6）Choose the final mask material, then buy it.
（7）Make the mask shape: cut eye and mouth openings.
（8）Sew each part (hat, cape, tongue), then join the parts.
（9）Install the LED strips/ring and diffusers, secure wires, and test.
（10）Upload code, test breathing white and red glow, and do a fit check.

For my costume, I have decided to narrow down on Edward Scissorhand’s hands. Out of all my ideas, that spoke to me the most but is also the most recognizable piece from this costume. For my costume, I will be wearing a black goth sweater, black skirt, stockings and black combat boots. For the Scissorhands themselves, I have ordered black gloves. I was stuck ideating on what I want the scissors themselves to be made out of – my options were foam, chipboard or foil. After some research, I felt like foam could come off easily and would be heavy and foil could make the costume look too scrappy, so I decided to go with chipboard that will be painted over.

My intention with this costume is to spook people in some way but also to add humor. Edward, in the movie is severely misunderstood but I want to change the story from misunderstanding and rejection to togetherness and love. For the interactive part of this costume, when the scissorhands are still, a white light will shine, and when I “cut through the air” with them, red strips of light will show up. As recommended, for this costume, I will be making only one scissorhand so I can use my other hand at the parade.

At the moment, I have already received my gloves. I have found a stencil that I will use to cut out the scissorhands and have ordered a “goth” edward-like sweater.

Materials and Parts (taken from chatgpt)

✅ Costume Build: gloves, chipboard, paint, elastic, glue, tape
✅ Electronics Core: Arduino Nano, 5 flex sensors, 10kΩ resistors, 5 neopixel strips, 330Ω resistors
✅ Power System: power bank, USB cable
✅ Connections: breadboard, jumper wires, switch
✅ Finish: shrink tubing, decorative hardware

To- do List

1. Cut stencil and then chipboard according to Scissorhands shape.
2. Paint the scissorhands silver.
3. Use glue and tape to tape them onto the gloves.
4. Build the arduino circuit.
5. Find a way to incorporate circuit into the gloves.

Circuit Diagram

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/hwCNGWEKlpk-edward-scissorhands

Update – 10/21/2025

This week I worked on 3d printing and ordering more materials. Manya, Anusha and I placed an order on adafruit and I got 3 flex sensors that should be there for tomorrow’s class.

Big thank you to Jimmy also for teaching me solidworks and teaching me how to 3d print. We did however, have to put a pause to the printing process because I need clarity on how to connect the neopixels to the scissorhands .

Materials and Parts (taken from chatgpt)

✅ Costume Build: gloves (https://tinyurl.com/mwx8ranh), chipboard, paint, elastic, glue, tape
✅ Electronics Core: Arduino Nano, 1 flex sensor (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1070), 10kΩ resistors, 5 neopixel strips, 330Ω resistors
✅ Power System: power bank, USB cable
✅ Connections: breadboard, jumper wires, switch
✅ Finish: shrink tubing, decorative hardware

Remaining Tasks

1. 3D print scissorhands
2. Run code
3. Build circuit
4. Attach scissorhands to glove
5. Position circuit inside gloves and scissorhands.

Updated Tinkercad

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/f7w2GGomA7L-scissorhands-pt-2

Update – 10/28/2025

This week, I worked on 3d printing my scissorhands. I printed one to test it out. The rest are currently in the process of printing and will be done by tomorrow’s class.

I also soddered the flex sensor and one neopixel on but I’m waiting for the rest of the scissorhands to print to be able to measure the length of the wire. I also tried testing out the code and was able to make the neopixel white but need help with getting it to detect the flex and turn red.

During tomorrow’s class, I want to work on my code. I am also gonna finish the rest of the neopixel soddering and build the circuit.

Then, I am going to use E600 to glue everything together before Friday! And the flex sensor will be sewn on.

Thank you ✂️

A white ghost costume with cat ears and a tail. The face and body are covered—purely for fun as a Halloween costume. Kind of like a “corner little ghost” vibe.

I will sew LED strips onto the hem of the ghost costume and program the LED colors and flashing frequency. I want it to alternate between blue and white, then gradually shift into red.

Materials:

• White fabric.
• For the eyes, I’ll use translucent fabric, find some leftover red fabric that I might paint black (or possibly keep red, which could also look nice).
• Black fabric for the tail and a fish-bone plush.
• A headband or hat to attach the cat ears.
• LED strips, batteries, and a microcontroller board

To-do list:

• Solder the LED strip and set up the lighting effects.
• Cut the foam board into ear shapes and attach them to the headband or hat. Then, assemble the pieces with the white fabric.
• Cut and sew the eye area.
• Assemble the tail and LED strip.
• Embroider a fishbone pattern on the black fabric and sew the fishbone plush.
  

Circuit diagram

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cQIgQ42XmMttT54Uchr8u547O072Qw93?usp=share_link

Progress photos