There has been some progress…
A snapshot taken of the main technical compartment somewhere in the midle of getting some wiring work done
Eight months.. wow! Quite some time has passed since I've decided to switch my more or less working 512 RGB LED coffee table to the newer Rainbowduino V3 controllers to drive those LEDs. At this point I couldn't really anticipate that getting a working firmware for my needs up and running would be that time consuming. Luckily I was able to solve this problem nearly two month ago so that it was time again to focus on the table and get the remaining hardware tasks sorted out. If you want to find out what has happened the last two months concerning my coffee table project than feel free to continue reading this blog post 
Finally! A working streaming firmware for my Rainbowduino V3 controllers
Two Rainbowduino V3 controllers running the 'rainbowduino-v3-streaming-firmware'
It took a while but I've finally managed to get the firmware of my new Rainbowduino V3 controllers to a state that I can use them as part of my 512 RGB LED coffee table project. I've learnt a lot of new things about interrupt handling of AVR micro controllers that I didn't want to learn at all and I went trough quite some frustrating weeks where I was very close to just throw those controllers into the trash. But luckily I've managed to get the firmware flying at the end. If you want to find out what obstacles I had to fight with, how it all works at the end and where you can find the Rainbowduino V3 firmware including the matching Java API than feel free to continue reading this blog post
The first test assembly of my 512 RGB LED coffee table
The 512 RGB LED coffee table after its first test assembly
After being busy for almost one year with constructing my RGB LED coffee table it has finally happened: The almost complete table assembled in its full beauty! Wow! Pretty impressive to see everything together working for the first time. Okay, some hardware isn't fully done yet, the software is in an early prototype stage and still some bugs have to be fixed until I'll move to table from my shop to the living room. Nevertheless I'd like to share this moment and the current state of my project with you.
A closer look at the RGB LED coffee table internals
8x8 RGB LED arrays closeup
Since my last post about the audio system installation of my 512 RGB LED Coffee Table project I've spent my time finalizing the table internals needed to operate the eight LED arrays inside the coffee table. This includes the power supply, the micro controllers used to operate the basic table functions, the Mini-ITX PC that generates and distributes the to be shown images to the eight LED arrays as well as the needed wiring between the individual components and the front panels used to operate the table.
Things you shouldn’t do #3: Cut 19-inch amplifiers and subwoofer crossovers in half
The coffee tables sound system in the original and installed state
Quite some time has passed by since my last blog post about my 512 RGB LED Coffee Table project so that it's about time to give you a brief update what has happened the last ~8 weeks. Mid of September my carpenter was done with constructing the coffee table so that I could finally start to integrate all the electronic components and the needed wiring into it. Thanks again to especially Gunnar Schwinn from http://www.massivholz-moebel-schreinerei.de/ which did a great job in bringing my ideas to life and giving valuable feedback. As soon as the coffee table arrived at my place I focused on the sound system since the installation of it is rather a standalone task beside the installation of the RGB LEDs.
Soldering 512 RGB Leds: Pure fun… Not!
Eight 8x8 RGB LED arrays each driven by a Rainbowduino Controller
Finally! After hours spend with fitting LEDs into reflectors, preparing cables, cutting shrink tubing pieces and soldering everything together to 8x8 LED arrays: It is done! And I'll never ever do it again this way. As I already stated in my first blog post about my 512 RGB LED Coffee Table project I was a bit too optimistic in the planing phase regarding the wiring effort needed to get all LEDs working.
Howto waste your spare time: Build a 512 RGB LED coffee table
512 RGB LED Coffee Table
"Wait.. What?! Are you serious?" "Yes, I am!" "Why do you want to do that?!" That's actually a very interesting question - and it's the usual response I do get if I explain what it's about those weird pictures I post on Facebook about prototyping loudspeakers or drilling 2,560 holes into plywood boards. Also people don't quite understand why I've spent hours and hours with constructing a 3D model of a coffee table. This is a first attempt trying to explain myself why I'm spending my free time for this project since more than 6 months now.