Getting Started with Electronics

Hello,

I have a background of making (woodworking, plaster, 3D prints, etc.) but am just now starting to explore the electronics side of things.

I am hoping to make a version of a light up game that I saw recently (an array of pucks, 2 pucks light up 2 different colors, whoever touches their puck first gets a point, new pucks light up).

I had a few general questions to make sure that I am going down the right paths to learn and buy the things I will need. Would love any input on whether things are feasible or not.

-Strip of addressable LEDs, cut into 3s or 6s and then wired up between pucks. Can addressable LEDs be separated this way?

-1 sensor per puck to detect taps (perhaps just a light sensing LED to detect if something has covered the puck?)

-Jumper wires between each puck and the controller. Do these need to be a certain gauge?

-Controller for the LEDs and scoring (Arduino?).

-3D printed housing for each puck. I have 3D modeling experience (Fusion, SolidWorks, and Sketchup) so I’m not concerned about designing and printing the parts.

-Coding for the controller (Python?).

If you’re using Arduino, you do not need python. Arduino IDE is based in C++. Arduino’s programming language is much easier than python. Regarding the jumper wire, you do not need to worry about gauge in your case. Standard jumper wires will work.

And regarding cutting and separating the LEDs, I think this may be helpful:

https://tigoe.github.io/LightProjects/a … -leds.html