Light Up Kaleidoscope

For my art project for my physical computing class, I decided to make a kaleidoscope. I had seen a version of this on the Adafruit learn guides page, and was inspired to create my own. I used two Pringles cans for the structure of the of the kaleidoscope and a Circuit Playground Bluefruit for the lights and sound. The example I had found used a different board, so I built the code from scratch, using techniques I have learned in this course. When the user turns the kaleidoscope in the left direction, it lights up in warm colors and plays a chime sound. A turn in the right direction causes it to light up in cool colors and play a laser sound. whereas a turn in the other direction causes the lights to be in cool colors.

• Large Pringles tube
• Small Pringles tube
• Aluminum foil
• Circuit Playground Bluefruit
• Scissors
• Paint
• Tape

I began my project by building the code on Mu for the kaleidoscope. I created colors for the CPB and arranged them in a way that I liked. I used the potentiometer to detect a movement, which would set of the colors. Then I downloaded some wav file sound effects that I thought would add a fun touch to the kaleidoscope.

After emptying both of the Pringles cans, I cut off the bottom of the larger tube. Then I cut four vertical slits into the smaller tube, starting from the top and cut in about and inch. The slits allow for easier insertion of the larger tube into the smaller. I cut a small hole in the bottom of the smaller tube so that the cord for the battery would fit. Next, I taped the CPB to the bottom of the short tube and connected it to the battery through the hole.

Aluminum foil is a good material that would reflect the light throughout the tube. I cut a piece of foil and arranged it in the large tube so that it had an overhang to extend to the smaller tube, then taped it.

For the final part of the project, I decorated the outside of the kaleidoscope. I used black paint for the background, and added some stars and dots for a night sky look.

Now you're done! Feel free to customize this as much as you want. You can decorate the outside, use different colors, and sound, or whatever else you want!