lantern

thingiverse

This is a reworked version of a lantern I designed for a theatre props final project. A pack of batteries with a switch sits under the lid, powering down to a blower, multicolor LED, adafruit trinket, and a mosfet that regulates blower fan speed. Adjusting fan speed lets you fine-tune how you want the fabric flame to flicker, while the trinket allows you to select the color and LED flickering pattern. If you want to operate this off a lighting board, you can use an ESP8266 and control it via artnet. That was my original plan, but I ran out of time to implement it. You will need small neodymium magnets to slide into the bottom of the base and the door to hold it closed. Now, actors can open and close the door to blow out or light the flame without having fragile parts on set. The wood was printed with wood PLA, while the lid was made from aluminum PLA. The top was hand-sanded, then machine polished wet at a local lapidary club. The handle came from an old paint can. The windows are simply cheap plexiglass from the hardware store. The inside shows the heads of the case fan screws holding the blower fan in place. They are not visible from the audience but if you are concerned about them, leaving a little wood stain to dry on them will darken it up inexpensively. My design was printed on a Robo3D R1+. For the metallic material, I recommend using a hardened steel nozzle to prevent wear and tear. For the body, use a 0.6 or above nozzle if possible. The print will take less time, reduce the risk of clogs, and make a much stronger prop. The wiring and code used for this aren't being shared because, frankly, it's embarrassingly sloppy. If you use this anywhere, please give credit to your source. I worked hard on this project and am giving it away freely. I don't expect any compensation; just acknowledgement of my work would be appreciated.