concept: 3d print a dumpster, put LEDs in there to simulate fire. Bonus points: internet & use current events to drive intensity.
Dumpster:
- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:950602
- print all parts at 140% scale
- compensate -0.02mm "bin"
- use green PLA (Matter Fiber HTPLA is great) for bin, hinge, sleeves
- use black TPU for wheels & lids
- use piano wire for "bar" (hinge pin); bend one side
Tea lights:
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YJGQQ8K
- wad up a tissue in the bottom to hold the flame higher
Bonus:
- Particle Photon (fave IOT platform)
- APA102 or WS2811, high density, 10 LEDs
- 128x64 OLED display for stats
The intensity feed:
- IFTTT: if "user posts on twitter" then "publish an event to Particle". It's a public event, the data is entirely the contents of the tweet. The device subscribes to / receives that event and uses the number of characters to drive the intensity. Over time the fire dies down to a relatively low smolder.
- In the video below, the unit starts at minimum intensity and reacts as if to a 45-character tweet. Over the next ~48 minutes the intensity will die back to the lowest value (unless there's more tweeting).