DIY 120mm Case Fan POV display.

[h3%5kr3w]

So I have had this idea since getting an arduino that I want to make a pov (point of view) display from a case fan. I have an old 120mm fan that still works but lost it's glitter (blue lights burnt out) a while back. While it\\\'s not going to be too hard to do, I am really baffled as to how to get the connections to work from the moving fan to the arduino.

Here is an example of what I want to emulate, but I want it completely programmable and ultimately use it as an actual display. Dunno what for yet. Maybe a server for the scrolling information.

I was also thinking about making it a sealed design whereby taking lexan and closing in the fan, taking off the propeller (so the motor doesn't have all that stress on it) and putting a chest strap on it to make any tshirt a pov enabled display :) (this is my ultimate goal here)

So I am going to at least keep one peice of the propeller in tact to drill the holes for the leds (easy enough for a holder of sorts) but I need to figure out a kind of skid plate connection to get power to the leds. Any ideas on that are appreciative. was thinking of taking a piece of lexan (really thin) cutting grooves into it in a circular pattern and placing thin layers of wire within it for the connections since that way the + terminals of the leds can just ride in the grooves like a record but I know this isn't all that accurate nor stable.

Here\\\'s pix of what I am working with here:

[h3%5kr3w]

Ok, so here it is (not really, moreover just a REALLY unpolished version of what I am going to do!)

stuff used:

Arduino

Tape

3x AA batteries

4x green LEDS

Cardboard

120mm Fan

Wire

BEER!

int ledPin1 =  13;
int ledPin2 =  12;
int ledPin3 =  11;
int ledPin4 =  10;
int f = 5;
void setup()   {                
  // initialize the digital pin as an output:
  pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT);     
  pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT);     
  pinMode(ledPin3, OUTPUT);     
  pinMode(ledPin4, OUTPUT);     
     
}

void loop()                     
{
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);//space
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);
  delay(207);               
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH); //H
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, HIGH);
  delay(f);               
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);//H
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);
  delay(f);               
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);//H
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, HIGH);
  delay(f);
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);//space
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);
  delay(f);
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);//I
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, HIGH);
  delay(f);
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);//space
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);
  delay(f);
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);//!
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, HIGH);

}