Blog

Just thought I’d do an FAQ covering some questions about build process, etc.

General

• Why did you create the Astropixels?
  Initially to just have a go at designing PCBs. I did the first PSIs and got them manufactured by JLCPCB and realised how easy it was and also just how cheap I could make them if ordering in bulk. So I did the rest of the dome light boards, using the ReelTwo library and the Astropixels were born. It was also a way to give people an upgrade that is both better and cheaper than the common teecees lights that are using very old tech. You can see a comparison of them here.
• How long did it take?
  It took me a couple of months and a number of failed attempts to get the first batch made that I sold to some beta testers in the UK. I then started ramping up the production numbers, with a few tweaks to the design until about a year later I had what is now the current version.
• Why so cheap?
  I get a lot of people asking this, and the answer is that I’m doing this for the love of the club. I’ve taken a lot from other members over the years with all the information and parts that they willingly share so I thought it was time to return the favour for the new people in the club. I don’t aim to make any money from this, so apart from making sure I’ve enough spares and that I’m not out of pocket I will keep the price as cheap as possible.

Construction/Design Choices

• Why JLCPCB?
  Quite simply, they’re the cheapest I’ve found. And as an added bonus they have their own EasyEDA web based software with an easy path to export into their PCB manufacturing side. Plus they’re coupled with LCSC who are their component supplier. This means its a one stop shop and extremely easy to go from design to production.
• Why do you use the cable lengths you do?
  These are common sizes that I can easily buy in bulk. The lengths are designed for a standard dome with the control board mounted on the back of the RLD. I looked at the various lengths and came up with the most efficient use of the standard ones available. This is why some use extension leads. Getting batches of custom made lengths would probably drive up the cost of the Astropixels quite a bit.
• Are the files available for me to make my own?
  At the moment, no. But then they are generally just strings of ws2812 LEDs so not the hardest thing to replicate. Also the benefit is in the bulk purchasing. If you were to get a single set manufactured it would easily be about £200. Of course you may want to hand solder them, but if you can do that you can also design the boards.
• Why the ESP32?
  I’ve been messing with Arduinos for over a decade now, and in the last few years I’ve switched to mainly ESP32 boards because the WiFi on them makes IoT devices easy to make, plus they have a lot more processing power. The development boards I use are very easy to find (must be 30pin versions for the Astropixels) and I use them in all sorts of projects.

Purchasing/Shipping

• Can I just send you the money rather than going through your store?
  Short answer is no. Using the store lets me keep track of things and makes sure that I don’t miss an order or similar. It also allows me to see the numbers sold and predict when I need to order the next batch. Plus I also then know how much I need to give to charity.
• Before I pay, do you still sell them?
  If there is stock in the store, then I have sets more or less ready to ship. At the very least I have enough tested boards ready to be packed up. As per builders club rules, I cannot take pre payments or anything like that. I can only accept money when I have the items in hand.
• Why can I only buy one set at once?
  Initially it was because I was only doing smaller runs and wanted to make sure as many people got them as possible. Now I’ve aways got stock I’m very wary of people buying multiple sets with the intention of building droids for sale (this is against club rules). If you want more than one set, feel free to drop me a line. If you don’t communicate with me, I’ll cancel any extra orders.
• Do you ship to <x>?
  I will ship anywhere that the Royal Mail allow. However, not all places may be set up on the store so if you can’t select your address, drop me a line and I’ll add it.
• Can I have a tracking number?
  Initially, no orders were sent with tracking numbers. However I am adding the option to more and more locations. Make sure to select the tracked option when ordering.
• I’ve just got a customs charge?
  This is down to your own country and I have no control over it. Any package going overseas from the UK will have a customs form on the back stating the price of the contents. On entering your country they may charge you import fees. This is just something to bear in mind when ordering.
• Can you put a lower price on the customs form to save me money?
  No, this is illegal.
• Which charity do you donate to and why?
  One of the things I love about the community is the charity work done, so when I put the Astropixels up for sale I decided that £10 from each purchase would go to the Droidbuilders UK chosen charity. Currently as of September 2024 that is Make a Wish, but we’ve supported many other causes over the years such as MNDA, Calm, and Meningitis Now.

Support

• I’ve a faulty board, can you help?
  Of course! Drop me a line and we can try some basic trouble shooting. If it turns out there is a faulty part I will get a replacement out to you asap.
• Can I integrate the Astropixels with <x>?
  There are lots of options for integration with various control systems. However, I can’t possibly know everything about them. There is documentation on how to send commands to the Astropixels to trigger effects but it is up to you to figure it out. Some people have worked with common systems such as the Marcduino and there is lots of documentation on the internet on how to do it. I ship the Astropixels with the most basic of code as that is what the vast majority of people want. There is an AstroPixelsPlus firmware available that another club member has written that extends the functionality. At the end of the day, I’m providing some hardware for as cheap as possible. There are lots of capabilities that can be added. Of course you’re welcome to message me and I’ll certainly try to help.
• I’m building a scale R2 (bigger/smaller), can you sell me lights for them?
  Unfortunately, no. Theres a lot of work and money that goes into developing the boards and I simply do not have the time. There is a reason my own projects are not finished!
• Can you sell me some lights with different colours and/or startup text?
  The sets are usually already boxed up and ready to ship when stock is on the store, so I don’t offer any custom programming options. However there are instructions on this site on how to customise your Astropixels. Its fairly easy and I recommend anyone building a droid be familiar with basic Arduino programming anyway.
• Have you a video or diagram to show how to put these together?
  Nope, I don’t like to do videos or anything like that, and have not managed to make a diagram that I’m happy with. But if someone wants to make one then I’ll happily share that. I do also suck at documentation, and I know I need to improve on that somewhat. This is an ongoing project (and part of the reason I’m writing this FAQ)