Projects / POV LED Spinner
POV LED Spinner
Build a persistence-of-vision (POV) LED spinner: geared-motor two-sided birch rotor in a closed enclosure, Hall-synced Arduino LED columns, patterns in the air. Learn POV, timing vs RPM, and rotational balance. Birch/PETG rotor only—balanced plywood structure at RPM.
Digital guide + cut files + BOM + code · Parts sourced separately · Ages 8–14 with adult help
Pack contents
- Two-sided rotor, hub and 300 × 300 enclosure SVGs
- Balance + sync patterns guide
- First-principles: POV, frame timing, balance
- Glyph firmware with Hall sync, 32–37 Hz refresh, overspeed warning
- Verified BOM (~$66–101 hardware)
Typical hardware cost
Default structure is laser-cut birch plywood with real fasteners and hobby electronics you can source—honest BOM, not mystery modules.
- ~$66–101 in typical parts (makerspace cut toward the low end; mail-order toward the high end)
- Digital pack price ≠ hardware
The $9 pack is the digital guide + cut files + BOM + lessons + code, plus printable Builder's Corner build journal pages. Hardware is sourced separately — see Where to get kit materials. Buy with Stripe is live below.
Questions? Email us at lance.haney@gmail.com.
Pricing
- Home / Personal license $9
- Classroom license $35 — 1 teacher, up to 30 studentsOne $35 Classroom license covers one group of up to 30 students. Each additional group needs another license.
- Build materials available at cost + 10% — email for a quote
Learning outcomes
- Explain persistence of vision
- Relate RPM to column refresh timing
- Display a simple glyph via timed LEDs
- Balance a rotor; recognize dangerous imbalance