Sand Art Display-2

This Sand Art Display is an updated version from the original display published on https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Sand-Art-Display/

It has a new Liquid Cristal Display to make the selection of patterns much easier.
Use the UP/DOWN buttons to scroll through the list and press GO to start a pattern.
To stop the ball from rolling the STOP button can be used.

Imagine a Japanese Zen garden built into a glass-covered picture frame.

Below the frame are electronics and robotics, creating geometric patterns and images in the sand. The effect is enchanting and magical, it is really Zen-like to see ever-changing patterns and images slowly appear in the sand. A Sand Art Display is a modern version of this traditional Zen sand garden. It is a drawing machine that creates mandala-like patterns in the sand. The operation of this display is as follows: under the glass top is a thin layer of sand, under the sand a twin-engine robot moves a strong magnet to steer a steel ball through the sand. The robot is controlled by an Arduino mini computer playing a pattern program, similar to the way a music player plays MP3 songs. The table calibrates itself when plugged in and after this calibration a number of pre-programmed patterns can be selected using the push buttons.

The materials and the tools are listed in the detailed construction manual you can download in step 1. This manual describes step-by-step how to make the housing, the X- and Y carriages, the sand holder, the electronic part and the wiring for this mesmerizing display.

In the construction manual you will find the complete step-by-step instruction to build this display.

Copy the Arduino sketch into the Arduino IDE and upload it to your Sand Art Display-2.
All patterns are defined in subroutines and more patterns can be added.