LED Desk Lamp

myminifactory

Check out our Etsy for all of our amazing 3D printed creations! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CarryTheWhat This is a fully functional, solder-free mini lamp that snaps together with ease. To build it, you'll need a 3D printer and some basic materials like LEDs and conductive thread - here's where to find them: http://members.shaw.ca/ubik/thread/order.html It's still a work in progress, as I'm refining the design and deciding on the perfect LEDs. I used version v0.2 of the 3D-PCB library, which is optimized for the Makerbot Replicator. The lamp features an array of six LEDs that can be easily inserted into a snap-together "bulb," which fits snugly into the lamp shade. Some arm pieces have additional pegs to help run conductive thread down each side without overlapping. The base has been adapted to hold two AAA batteries and a toggle switch, making it easy to power up your new mini lamp. I designed this model in Blender using 3D-PCB openscad exports. Instructions: Print one of each file, except for the peg caps - you'll need plenty of those. Assemble the arm just like the snap-together version, then insert the LEDs into the bulb. Make sure to put the positive lead (the longer one) into the hole on the inside, so all the positive leads come together in the center and the negative leads emerge together on the sides. Once you've got your LEDs inserted, bend the excess thread into the nearby peg slots using tweezers for a neat fit. Cut two long lengths of conductive thread - a few feet should give you plenty of leeway for wrapping. For detailed instructions on how to wrap, check out this Instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Circuit-Boards-for-solder-free-printab/step3/Wrap-it-up/ First, wrap the positive peg on top of the bulb and insert a cap. Then wrap the negative pegs together to the remaining peg - insert the peg caps for a secure hold. Thread the two threads out of the bulb towards the arm. In my prototype, I ran the positive thread through the hole that snaps the arm to the shade and the negative thread out the top of the shade, but it doesn't really matter as long as they're not in the same hole. As you insert the lamp shade and snap the bulb into place, make sure to flex the arm structure in many directions to leave enough slack for a wide range of motion. When you reach the bottom of the arm, attach it to the base and wrap the excess threads to their respective battery terminals, leaving plenty of slack for flexibility. Cut two more lengths of thread - 12 inches should be sufficient. Run one from one battery terminal across the switch, tie a knot in the toggle, and run it to the other battery terminal. For detailed instructions, see this Instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Circuit-Boards-for-solder-free-printab/step3/Wrap-it-up/ And that's it! You've now built a beautiful 3D printed LED desk lamp. EDIT: I've uploaded a modified version of the peg cap design to prevent snapping, so you can print it on its side.