Freeform 555-timer-based breathing diode bug

I have been watching those amazing freeform creations by people like @MohitBhoite and @jipraus for some time. I examined many entries for the recent Circuit Sculpture Contest on hackaday.com and have been thinking, that I would love to build something like that, but I had been convinced that my skills are not good enough.

But skills can be trained and learned. So I finally ordered a few brass rods and tried my first freeform sculpture. Here’s the result.

Circuit

The circuit is based on this one (it’s possible to find this schematic all over the internet). My version is powered by 5v, uses only a 100Ω current limiting resistor for two yellow LEDs. Also, the R1 resistor is 20KΩ in my case. I used transistor BC337.

Build log

Breadboard prototype. I started with blue LEDs but they have a too high voltage drop and the effect wasn't that nice.

All the parts needed, only the brass rod is missing.

Almost all functional connections are done. Only the current limiting resistor for LEDs and LEDs themselves are missing. Notice how the positive leg of the capacitor connects the pin 6 to the base of the transistor.

Bottom view. Pin 8 (VCC) is connected directly to the pin 4 which is connected to the collector of the transistor - that's our power line. The negative leg from7 the capacitor goes directly to the pin 1 and will be connected to the GND on the USB breakout later. You can also see that the pin 2 is connected directly to the transistor's base and pin 3 is connected using a resistor.

Putting together a body from 0.8 mm brass rods.

Connected to ground and VCC. Only LEDs are missing.

And another shot - this time disconnected.

Do you like it? You can comment on Reddit or share on Twitter.

Next plans

I want to build a few more small things in order to get better at this. Once I improve my skills and learn some tricks, I would like to build my shift register-based Larson scanner in this style.