I have gone through what is available on GitHub from [tomazas], [yarivkeinan], and [grigorig] which seem to be the only tools available for working with these kits. I have worked out how to reprogram the MCU via the STC-ISP application (which only seems to support uploading .hex files), as well as controling and making animations in the DotMatrixJavaapp (from [tomazas]). The DotMatrixJava app doesn't have any method for saving your animations as anything other than a "3DAnimation Record" (*.dat) file. While this is just a text file containing the HEX values, it is no good for programming the MCU with as it is only the animation values and nothing else. On the Python based "stcgal" app from [grigorig], I can not figure how to use this at all.
Is there anything on these inter-webs to help a beginner program custom animations for these cubes?
Please feel free to comment, ANY help is appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi @Irish! Are you trying to accomplish running animations without a computer? I bought a similar kit (iCubeSmart 8x8x8 on Amazon), and I'm stuck at the point where tomazas' project can control my Cube, but only an entire column at a time (lighting any individual LEDs causes the entire vertical column to light up).
I already was able to create a simple C# program to talk to the cube via Serial, but I am limited in my creativity until I get the cube fully working.
If you're familiar with Java or C#, then you could also program the cube that way.
@Sid Grover I happen to have a Chinese program from the manufacturer (not sure if you have the same product as mine) used to flash the .hex firmware onto the chip (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a62NuU_QtyUHD0oo4XSAAWj_dZoWQHCB). You should double-check the schematics and photos. What also helped me was setting the Min and Max Baud rate to 9600, making sure the cube had RX, TX, and Ground connected but NO 5V, pressing Download, and THEN powering the 5V connector. And yes, for my board too, I had to connect RX -> RX and TX -> TX.
My goal is to get this cube to work with tomazas firmware, and then build a music visualizer app that talks over Serial, among other things in C#.