Designed and Assembled by MakeRoom from our Wellington HQ!
Hex Pods is a hands-on soldering and electronics kit made up of six interconnected hexagonal LED modules. Each pod contains 12 individually addressable LEDs, giving you 72 lights to animate, customise and arrange into your own layout. Check out the video above to see it in action...
At the heart of the system is an ESP32 controller with built-in Wi-Fi and a microphone. Once your Hex Pods are assembled, connect with your phone to choose different effects, colours and palettes, adjust animation speed and create sound-reactive patterns that respond to music and noise around you.
Because the pods connect together in different orientations, you can experiment with the shape of your finished sculpture and change the way animations move across it. Effects include flowing colour waves, perimeter chases, fire, waterfall patterns, sparkles and more.
The kit is designed to be approachable to build. All of the soldered components are through-hole, so there is no fiddly SMD soldering required. You’ll solder the electronics yourself, connect the pods together and build a finished project that is both a striking light sculpture and a great introduction to addressable LEDs, microcontrollers and digital electronics.
You’re also supported all the way through the build. The kit comes with comprehensive online instructions, available as both a step-by-step instructional video and a detailed pictorial guide, so you can work through the project in the way that suits you best. We also include sections on finding and fixing faults.
Features include:
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6 modular hexagonal LED pods
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72 individually addressable LEDs
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All through-hole soldering — no SMD soldering required
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ESP32 microcontroller
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Built-in microphone for sound-reactive effects
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Wi-Fi control from your phone
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Multiple animations and colour palettes
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Adjustable speed, brightness and audio response
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Physical buttons for changing presets and brightness
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Reconfigurable pod layout
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USB powered
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Comprehensive online instructions (Instructional Video and Pictorial Build Guide)
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Designed to be soldered and assembled by you with a 4-5hr build time
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT
- Soldering Iron
- Solder
- Side Cutters
- Needle nosed pliers
- Phillips Screwdriver
- USB Power Supply (USB Type-A 1 Amp Minimum)
When you buy from MakeRoom Wellington, you’re supporting local after-school STEM Clubs, Holiday Programmes, and Adult Classes. Your purchase helps us keep inspiring Kiwi makers of all ages.
