How to Build a Custom NeoPixel Matrix
But 1000 5mm NeoPixels from AliExpress (click here)
Using the template (click here), design your faceplate and cut it on a CNC machine. Note that you'll need to clone this repository, then navigate to the "~/readme/Custom NeoPixel Matrix" folder. From there you can open the "faceplate template.dxf" in your favorite CAD editor.
Install the NeoPixels. Through trial and error, I came up with a system that works pretty well, You can put in 10 pixels in about 20 minutes, once you get past the learning curve. These pics should help get you started:
I found that installing the LED's one row at a time, worked pretty well. I also stopped and tested each row to make sure I hadn't made a mistake. Invariably I would forget to connect either the +voltage or ground circuit. Note that every other row is opposite. The pixels I bought had two short leads and two long leads. In the first photo, I have the short leads on the left, so the previous and next row will have the short leads on the right. I installed a 22 mfd capacitor ever 50 pixels or so, but no resistors, so I can't run them at full brightness (255) or else they will over heat and burn out.
Also, I would start out pulling the middle two leads down, as shown in the first and second photo, which are the same, just from different angles.
Photo 1
Photo 2
In this third and fourth, and fifth photos you can see that I was crossing the data out lead from the left LED with the data in lead from the right LED, then touching the crossing point with a bit of solder, then cutting of the excess leads. This was the most time consuming part as I had to do them one at a time, or else the leads would get in the way of each other. Also, I found that pulling the leads back to a 45 degree angle really helped keep me straight and helped with keeping the leads of of the way of the ground leads in the next step.
photo 3
photo 4
photo 5
In the sixth and seventh photos, you can see the top bridge I made using the ground leds, bending each one in an L shape across the top to meet the next ground lead in the row. Also in this photo, you can see the line of positive rail that I made using the positive leads, by bending them in an L shape as well.
photo 6
photo 7
This eighth photo is just to give you an idea of how think the webbing is. The LED's are laying on the table next to a standar bread board and the lead webbing is not much taller than the breadboard. Also, you can see the two capacitors, which could also be laying flat rather than standing up like they are in this photo.
Photo 8
Photo's 9, 10, and 11 are the finished product.
Photo 9
Photo 10
Photo 11
Finally, a short video demo: demo video