Lottery winners blog post

content/blog/2024/lottery-winner-daisies/index.md

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+---
+title: "Making Stage Props for the Lottery Winners"
+subtitle: ""
+date: 2024-06-23T07:40:38Z
+tags:
+    - CNC
+    - Electronics
+    - Pi Pico
+draft: false
+author: Kian Ryan
+author_email: kian@orangetentacle.co.uk
+listing_image: images/on_stage.jpg
+---
+
+Before Christmas, a group of musicians walked in to the space to talk about designing stage props for their upcoming UK tour.
+
+Up front I'm going to be honest, I had briefly heard of the [Lottery Winners](https://www.thelotterywinners.co.uk/) but 
+had no sense of how big the band had become.  [The Lottery Winners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lottery_Winners) are a local band made good, with a Number 1 album -
+ [Anxiety Replacement Therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety_Replacement_Therapy), and had performed last year at Glastonbury.  They're kind of a big deal.  They asked if we 
+could make some stage props for them, giant daisies to be lit with stage lights for their Manchester O2 Apollo gig.
+
+We had been doing work with the CNC recently and I've made a few pieces for stage previously so agreed to draft up some ideas.  
+While the band focused on their tour, we worked on designing the props, working with their lighting designer to come up 
+with a design compatible with the lights that would be used on stage.
+
+{{< image src="images/fusion_1.jpg" title="Model design in Fusion 360" width="400x" class="is-pulled-left" >}}
+
+{{< image src="images/test_fit.jpg" title="Test fit on head and lighting stand" width="400x" class="is-pulled-right" >}}
+
+Using Fusion 360, we designed a model to be cut on our Shapeoko XXL, and performed some test cuts on 5mm acrylic.  
+The outer shape was cut from 5mm opaque white 
+and the inner shape from 3mm opaque yellow.  They were bonded using Tensol 70. Using some generic angle brackets, we 
+tested the fit on the sample spot head and adjusted the design a bit, the band were happy with the design.
+
+{{< clearfix >}}
+
+{{< youtube UqzpV7Pt8ho >}}
+
+
+Then the band asked if we could design a portable lighting pack to use on their other tour dates.
+
+We needed a one-size fits all solution.  The same daisies would need to be used for all tour dates, so we needed a system 
+that would allow for switching between the portable packs, and the standing lamps.  We agreed to use the same mounting 
+hardware - a lighting stand and angle bracket, and switch out the lighting for a portable USB powered LED system.  We also 
+needed a system that could be easily charged on tour - regular LiPo battery packs USB charging were ideal, and could be 
+replaced on tour if needed.
+
+{{< image src="images/light_pack.jpg" title="Lighting Pack Light Ring and Mount" width="400x" class="is-pulled-left" >}}
+
+We used a [Plasma 2040 board from Pimoroni](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/plasma-2040?variant=39410354847827) combined with [these WS2812B RGB rings from Cool Components](https://coolcomponents.co.uk/products/241-led-172mm-complete-ring-ws2812b-5050-rgb-led-with-integrated-drivers-adafruit-neopixel-compatible).  We couldn't use all the rings, nor could we power all the LEDs at the same time, so with a bit of careful maths, we worked 
+out how many LEDs we could drive from the Plasma and the power supply.  3D printed housings in PETG were attached with magnets 
+to the back of a select number of the daisies, allowing the lighting packs to be attached and removed.
+
+Some simple Micropython allowed us to to design a few different lighting patterns controllable from the onboard buttons 
+of the Plasma 2040.  I'm quite pleased with the results.
+
+{{< clearfix >}}
+
+{{< youtube EGnIsF4EzsA >}}
+
+For final stage dressing, and to hide cabling, we made green wrap sleeves sleeves for the lighting stands with hook and loop 
+closings and an over the top loop to hang from the top of the stand.
+
+These were shipped in two batches, first batch to the band on tour, and then a final delivery to the band at the 
+O2 Apollo Manchester.  They very kindly offered us tickets to come and watch, and we made an evening to see the props and the band, 
+on stage.
+
+{{< clearfix >}}
+
+{{< image src="images/on_stage.jpg" title="Lottery Winners and Daisies on Stage in Manchester" class="middle" >}}
+
+Leigh Hackspace is open to commissions, and we're also keen on teaching people the skills to make for themselves.
+
+Our [Summer of Making](), has a range of skills that can help get you started, or if 
+you have a project in mind, please [come and talk to us](mailto:directors@leighhack.org).
+