IKEA frame spacer for Lithophane

thingiverse

This is an adapter for this IKEA frame. This is a modified version of that one. http://www.instructables.com/id/Photo-Frame-Lithophane-Backlight/ Parts and supplies needed. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075K2HV1G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06X9S9T2L/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RMY8SME/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 High-temperature glue gun (very important) Solder and iron Rubbing alcohol Scotch tape One paper towel or napkin One piece of white paper Knife or razor blade Three-by-five printed lithophane - (RCLideOn guide to create lithophane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y63sVpeViXo&t=) Take everything out of the IKEA frame. Remove the plastic from the plexiglass. Reinsert it into the frame, put the paper border in the frame if you want it there. Insert the lithophane (bumpy side down) and bend the metal tabs down onto the lithophane. Hold it up to the light to make sure you have it in the right way. Print the adapter. You may want to scale it up a little if you want a more snug fit. Otherwise, it will work as is. There will be a small gap, but that gives you room to insert it once the hot glue is on it. Test fit the adapter first to make sure it will go in on top of the lithophane. Take the LED strip and pull out enough to go around the inside of the adapter with a little overlap. Clean the end of the LED strip if it has plastic coating on it. Get a spare piece of wire about an inch long from something lying around and tin the ends. Solder on the two wires to the LED strip. Take note which one is positive and which one is negative. Plug the power adapter into the socket that comes with it. Put the tinned positive wire in the red part of the connector, and the tinned negative wire into the black. Plug it into the wall to test that it lights up. Unplug from the wall once you are sure it is good. Leave the adapter plugged into the strip so you can gauge your spacing to start laying the LED strip into the frame adapter. Heat up your hot glue gun now and set it aside. Have enough glue sticks available to go around the entire outer edge of the frame adapter. Lay the socket onto the inner frame with the power adapter plugged into it. Plug the adapter back into the wall to make sure that nothing got disconnected during previous work. Unplug once you are sure it is working. Grab the frame with the lithophane in it and double-check the orientation. You will want the plug to sit at the bottom of the lithophane. So, test fit the frame adapter into the frame. Move quickly for this part because you want the glue not to cool off too much. Once you are aware of the orientation of the part, get your hot glue gun and squeeze out a bead of glue on the side that will be glued onto the back of lithophane. Then immediately/carefully drop the inner frame in and center it. At this point, you should be ready to put the back on the frame. Take the white piece of paper and rough cut it a little bit smaller than the backing plate. Put two pieces of tape on it and tape it down to the side facing the lithophane. This serves as a reflector/diffuser and makes the light shining through the lithophane brighter. Lay the backing plate onto the frame. Make a small loop in the power cord so it can come out of the frame straight down. Cut a little slit into the backing plate for the cord to come out, and test fit it until you are happy with it. (Moving quickly again) Once happy, run a heavy bead of hot glue around the edge of the frame adapter and stick the backing plate on with the cable aligned in the notch you made. Keep pressure on it until you are sure the glue has cooled enough to make a good tight bond. Plug in and enjoy! -Casey