[{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/670/original/PXL_20250311_180902734.jpg?1741716989","metadata":{"caption":"Playing the mednafen snes emulator on a Pi5 with piomatter and an \"active 3\" matrix interface. Framerate is higher when you can connect to multiple LED displays in parallel."}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eI wanted to assemble four of those 64x64mm RGB matrix panels. However, my 3D printer is limited to about 250x205mm, and the panels are 256x256mm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt required a little creativity, but I devised a single print of about 249x136mm such that by printing two and flipping one of them over, it becomes a bracket that can hold the four panels together.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have a feeling that the injection molded bodies of these panels may change from time to time, potentially moving the screw \u0026amp; post positions. My 4 panels were purchased around February 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"product","content":"https://www.adafruit.com/product/5362","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"product","content":"https://www.adafruit.com/product/4685","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eI developed the part in \u003ca href=\"https://openscad.org/\"\u003eOpenSCAD\u003c/a\u003e, Free (GPL) 3D modeling software available on Linux, Mac, \u0026amp; Windows. To create a 3D printable STL file, open the SCAD file, press F5 to \"render\" it to triangles, and then F7 to export to STL.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/669/original/quad64_2mm.png?1741706517","metadata":{"caption":""}},{"element_type":"embed","content":"https://gist.github.com/jepler/c513a6d3489f55a426cbb16216cc809d"},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eOpenSCAD is a programming language and it let me quickly create the patterns of holes for the screws \u0026amp; alignment posts, then replicate these features, and finally perform a CSG \"intersection\" operation to cut the object in half to fit on the print bed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want a thicker bracket you can change the \"\u003ccode\u003eheight=3\u003c/code\u003e\" argument in the \u003ccode\u003elinear_extrude\u003c/code\u003e call in \u003ccode\u003emodule body\u003c/code\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI printed in natural PLA with a layer height of 0.3mm (\"draft quality\") on a Prusa i3 mk3s.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eOnce you've printed two pieces, you're ready to assemble. You'll need a bunch of M3 screws (16, 4 per panel).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLay the panels out on your work surface, noting the orientation of the arrows. If you're using a \"serpentine\" arrangment then you want the \"top row\" of arrows to point right, and the \"bottom row\" of arrows to point left, like so:\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"code","content":"[Driver] → [Panel 1] → [Panel 2]\n                           ↓\n           [Panel 4] ← [Panel 3]","metadata":{"language":"auto","linenums":false}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eIf you're using an \"Active 3\" board or similar with more than one 16-pin connector, then you want two rows both pointing right:\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"code","content":"[Driver] → [Panel 1.1] → [Panel 1.2]\n         ↘\n           [Panel 2.1] → [Panel 2.2]","metadata":{"language":"auto","linenums":false}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eNow, across the left two panels, lay the first 3D print with the print bed side down. Add screws along the left 4 holes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the right two panels, lay the second 3D print with the print bed side UP. Add screws along the right 4 holes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlide the two pairs of panels together, aligning the remaining screw holes. Add screws in the 8 holes in the overlap area.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou're done! Or at any rate, you're ready to plug in your cable's data and power connections.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/671/original/PXL_20250311_174826537.jpg?1741717145","metadata":{"caption":""}}]