Illuminated Street Number (Solar Powered)

thingiverse

Using a solar-powered garden light as a starting point, designers can create custom street number holders and shadow makers using 3D printing technology. By incorporating reversed numbers, such as '30,' deep into the design, the plastic becomes incredibly thin and can be illuminated by LED lights from behind. The LED leads had to be extended in order to position the LED further back and evenly illuminate the numerals. The garden light will charge the battery during the day, which in turn powers the illumination of the street number at night. With a focus on durability, designers aimed for optimal print settings: a 0.4mm resolution and 30% infill. Dimensions of the custom garden lights were carefully calculated to fit the existing light setup, measuring 54mm in diameter by 25mm in height. OpenSCAD was utilized to design this custom creation, and users can access both .scad and .stl files online. Those with experience using openSCAD on Linux systems can create their own version of this model or modify it to fit specific house numbers. For those seeking a Halloween-themed version, designers suggest replacing the number '30' with a carved pumpkin or bat shape. Color-changing LEDs offer an added dimension, allowing users to experiment and create various looks. Designers note that traditional switch components are unnecessary in many cases, as the lights can be powered directly from the solar-powered system. Finally, suggestions for enhancements include using more environmentally friendly materials than PLA plastic.