Arduino Paraffin Oil / Water Dot Matrix Display

This was a demo project for the Maker Faire Hannover 2016. The project was inspired by the work of the artist Julius Popp.

We are using a transparent hose, 2 peristaltic pumps and an Arduino Uno with motor shield to build a simple display. The pumps pressing a pattern of water and red paraffin oil in the hose. In the end a text will be visible.

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- wooden panel

- 10m transparent hose (diameter 3mm)

- 2 peristaltic pumps with stepper motor

- Arduino Uno

- motor shield

- closed vessel

- cable straps

- 12V power supply

- t-junction for hose

- 5 control buttons

- optional Arduibox enclosure

The pumps pressing a pattern of water and red paraffin oil in the hose. In the end a text will be visible.

The reservoir was an old vessel for instant tee. Paraffin oil is easier as water and will swim on the top. You have to place 3 lead-ups to the vessel with different length of hose inside:

• to the bottom for the water pump
• to the middle for the paraffin pump
• to the top for the reflow

Stick the Arduino Uno and the motor shield into the arduibox protoboard. It's useful to mount the arduibox and a 12V power supply together to a din rail. Connect 5 push buttons to the A0 - A4 pins of the Arduino.

Drill 2 holes in the wooden panel and mount the pumps in this holes. Connect the hose as in the picture above. You have to connect the cables of the parafin pump to stepper out put 1 of the shield and the water pump to stepper output 2.