Desktop construction zone: engineer builds miniature blinking traffic barrels with PIC microcontrollers

Engineer Glen Akins has created a set of miniature blinking traffic barrels for the desktop, designed to bring the look of a construction zone to any workspace. The project combines 3D-printed enclosures with custom electronics that make the barrels flash in realistic patterns.

Akins paid close attention to the capabilities of his desktop 3D printer when designing the barrel. The model is split into several parts, avoiding steep overhangs so that each piece can be printed without support material. The author provided step-by-step documentation and screenshots of the Fusion design process, which may serve as a useful introduction for those interested in learning the software.

The electronics side of the project raised some eyebrows. Instead of the classic 555 timer chip, Akins chose a PIC12F1612 microcontroller to blink a single LED. He explained that the PIC offers more flexibility in fine-tuning the blinking pattern to achieve the desired look. The number of passive components on the PCB was also minimized to reduce costs for small-scale production.

Every design decision, from the overhang of the barrel's "handle" to the component count on the board, was carefully considered. Critics might argue that Akins over-engineered what is essentially a simple desk toy, but the author sees it as a way to keep his skills sharp. "There's no such thing as practicing too much," he notes in the write-up.

The project is documented in full detail, including the step-by-step process of designing the barrel in Fusion 360, the PCB layout, and the firmware for the PIC microcontroller. Akins also shared the files for those who want to build their own set of miniature traffic barrels.