Multicolor Gem

Have you ever seen a multicolored gem? How exciting do you think it will be if you see one…

In this instructables, we will go through making a electric multicolored gem that is made from cheaply available materials and controlled by an Arduino. Amazing, right! Let’s dig in.

Tools, Components & Materials

• Arduino uno (1) or any other arduino board
• USB (A-B) cable 
• RGB Module (1)
• 9V battery and connector
• Male to female Dupont wires
• Cardboard
• Transparent plastic/glass semi-sphere or semi-cylinder 
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Tape
• Glue

Software

• Arduino IDE (cab be downloaded from arduino.cc/download)

To start, the dimensions of the cuboid base that will house the arduino has to be marked on the cardboard. So, get a cardboard sheet, then using a ruler and pencil, mark out the dimensions given below:

• Length: 10 cm
• Height: 4 cm
• Width: 10 cm

After successfully marking out the dimensions, the next step is to cut out the marked area. So pick up the cardboard and use a scissors to cut out the area.

After the cardboard has been cut out, what is left is to fold it into the required shape. So, fold the cardboard along the edges. 

After, use tape to glue the edges, but leave one side open. The opened side is where the circuitry will be inserted through.

You end up having an open cuboid.

The circuit breadboard diagram is shown above. Therefore, pick up the components (wires, arduino, RGB module) and connect the circuit exactly as in the diagrams.

Use the RGB module, else if you are using an RGB LED, then use a 220 ohm resistor in series with each color segment pin.

Once done with the connections, connect the arduino using USB (A-B) cable, then download and upload the arduino code below to the arduino board. Upon successful upload, the RGB LED module will be glowing random colors.

You will need the arduino IDE here (it can be downloaded from arduino.cc/download).

The arduino code (ino) file has been attached below.

Also, make sure the circuit is working before moving to the next step.

After the code has worked with the circuit, next is to assemble the circuit into the box. Here, the 9V battery can be used to power the system.

At the top of the box, a small hole is needed to be drilled at the center. This hole is for the LED of the RGB module. Insert the LED until it shows up at the top of the box.

To finish up the multicolor gem, tape the open side of the box, then place and glue the transparent plastic/glass semi-sphere or semi-cylinder on top of the RGB LED.

And that’s it. You now have a multicolor gem that can glow zillions of colors.