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Project Notes

#555 Beat Bot

A silly little @MaywaDenki-inspired critter using multiple 555 timers and a CD4017 to play and dance to a tune.

Build

Here’s a quick demo..

clip

Notes

Project #555 had to feature the 555 timer of course. I was inspired by the crazy creations of @MaywaDenki.

I borrowed a 555 timer music box idea for the basic sequencer:

  • a 555 timer provides the clock pulse
  • driving a CD4017 wich acts as the sequencer
  • with another 555 timer providing the modulated audio output
  • a pushbutton provides a trigger to short-circuit the sequence (although in the build for the demo clip I realised I’d used a normally-closed pushbutton by mistake, so the effect is inverted)

The synchonized hand-waving uses another monostable 555 timer to pulse a solenoid.

Construction

Breadboard

Schematic

Testing the basic tone sequencer on a breadboard:

BeatBot_bb_build

After circuit testing complete, I renderd the circuit on some protoboard for installation:

BeatBot_protoboard_layout

Installation, using a small box as the base of the project:

BeatBot_board_installation

Final construction:

BeatBot_build_rear BeatBot_build

Credits and References

About LEAP#555 555 TimerKinetics
Project Source on GitHub Project Gallery Return to the LEAP Catalog

This page is a web-friendly rendering of my project notes shared in the LEAP GitHub repository.

LEAP is just my personal collection of projects. Two main themes have emerged in recent years, sometimes combined:

  • electronics - usually involving an Arduino or other microprocessor in one way or another. Some are full-blown projects, while many are trivial breadboard experiments, intended to learn and explore something interesting
  • scale modelling - I caught the bug after deciding to build a Harrier during covid to demonstrate an electronic jet engine simulation. Let the fun begin..
To be honest, I haven't quite figured out if these two interests belong in the same GitHub repo or not. But for now - they are all here!

Projects are often inspired by things found wild on the net, or ideas from the many great electronics and scale modelling podcasts and YouTube channels. Feel free to borrow liberally, and if you spot any issues do let me know (or send a PR!). See the individual projects for credits where due.