When Ben turned 16, he purchased a 1998 GMC pickup…Ben was born in 1998 so this pickup is as old as he is. I thought it would be fun to install NeoPixels on the front of his truck. Since he was a student at GHS (Greenville High School) it only made since to replace the GMC logo with a GHS logo. I did 3 different versions for his truck, and when I started the 3rd one I decided I should chronicle the process.

The truck lights are run by an Arduino Mega 2560 with a Bluefruit BLE to control it from his smartphone via bluetooth. There are 80 NeoPixels in the parking lights, 144 across to top of the grill and 256 NeoPixels in the GHS logo for a grand total of 480 Neopixels on the front of his truck.

3D Printing the HS front part of the light housing. Because the logo is wider than my 3D Printer, it has to be printed in two parts.
3D Printing the front part of the light housing. Because the logo is wider than my 3D Printer, it has to be printed in two parts. Here I’m printing the H and S or right side of the logo.
Prior to gluing the front pieces together with plastic epoxy.
Prior to gluing the front pieces together with plastic epoxy.
After gluing together the two pieces, putty and sandpaper were used to create a smooth sanded surface.
After gluing together the two pieces, putty and sandpaper were used to create a smooth sanded surface.
The NeoPixel (from AdaFruit.com) 8x32 strip is glued into place.
The NeoPixel (from AdaFruit.com) 8×32 strip is glued into place.
Printing the back portion of the mount.
Printing the back portion of the mount.
All the parts before assembly.
All the parts before assembly. This would have been much easier if my printer was large enough.
Tape and paint (I forgot to take the picture until after I pulled off the tape)
Tape and paint (I forgot to take the picture until after I pulled off the tape)
Fill each of the letters with 1/4" of acrylic.
Fill each of the letters with 1/4″ of acrylic.
Attach nipples (hollow threaded tubes) to the back plate.
Attach nipples (hollow threaded tubes) to the back plate and over the plastic cylindrical pegs that were printed.
This is where it is to be installed.
This is where it is to be installed.

Here is a video I made for the vendor of the LCD screen I was using as a controller. It shows the system including the in-cab controller.

The complete project. Lights are controlled by BLE attached to a Mega Arduino controller board.
The complete project. Lights are controlled by BLE attached to a Mega Arduino controller board.
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