Just right light for Lulzbot Mini

thingiverse

Aziz Light! Luvs me the Mini, but it doesn't come with lights. Cheap LED flashlights from Lowes or Home Depot do the job in a pinch, but I've got a better solution that's permanent. Twenty-four inches of LED strip lights front and back is way too much for me, though six warm analog LEDs in front are enough to give about 40 foot-candles at bed height - which seems reasonable. This clip fits snugly onto the top frame without drilling or extra hardware, angling the LED strip toward the bed/extruder so you get the light exactly where you need it and nowhere else. If it's not tight enough, just add some black electrical tape to make sure it's secure. I used two segments of this adhesive-backed strip (about 120 mA @ 12VDC) and printed in black to make them blend in. Here's a link: https://www.adafruit.com/products/357 Consider using some Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel - it doesn't break down over time due to heat generated by the LEDs. If your strip is shorter or longer, just adjust the Z-axis accordingly. Optional Hack (which will void your warranty) If you don't want another separate power supply and have the skills and confidence to modify the wiring without hurting yourself or your printer, there's a way to make this look neater. But if you're not 100% sure what you're doing, it's best to stick with an extra wall plug. The Mini uses a 24VDC power supply but these LED strips only tolerate 12VDC. For low amp draw applications like this, my go-to solution is a Traco TSR 1-24120 DC-DC buck converter - they're much more efficient and available from major suppliers like Newark. Here's the link: http://www.newark.com/tracopower/tsr-1-24120/dc-dc-converter-non-iso-pol-1/dp/51R5687?st=TSR%201-2412 The leads are close together, making them hard to solder. I decided to stick one of these buck converters to the inside of the case instead. Here's the link: https://www.adafruit.com/product/65 Update The connections to the LED strip are delicate - the mini_light3 file adds some strain relief. Printer Settings: Printer Brand: LulzBot Printer: Mini Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2mm Infill: 100% for PLA