Lithophane Lamp Holder

thingiverse

Last November, I stumbled upon an intriguing thread on Reddit showcasing lithophanes and decided to create some unique Christmas gifts for my family by making lithophane lamps. However, after browsing through existing designs, I couldn't find one that aligned perfectly with my vision, prompting me to embark on a significant design project - creating one from scratch. This undertaking consumed far more time than anticipated (both in designing and printing phases), yet I successfully completed two lamps before Christmas. Each lamp required approximately 94 hours of total printing time. The holder was printed using a 0.4mm nozzle at 0.2mm layer height with Hatchbox Black PLA, while the lithophanes were printed in Overture White PLA with a 0.4mm nozzle at 0.12mm layer height. The entire project was carried out on my Ender 3. This lamp represents version 2 of my design, and I've included my original lid and base within the Fusion 360 file for reference. Initially, the base featured all four posts attached, which took an excessively long time to print (in addition to significant wobbling towards the top, resulting in a less-than-desirable outcome). In contrast, version 2 is more straightforward to print, with the posts printing sideways for added strength and accuracy - they can even be printed in a different color if preferred. The largest components are the posts at approximately 175mm, while the base and lid measure around 135x135mm. To create each photo's aspect ratio of 9x16, I loaded them into lithophane maker site's flat lithophane maker tool with cropping disabled, which produced lithophanes measuring 100mm x 164.09mm x 7.5mm. Regardless of the settings used for generating the lithophane, this lamp is designed to accommodate those dimensions. Alternatively, you can enable cropping and set the height to 164.09. To assemble the lamp, simply print one base, one lid, and four posts. Insert the posts through the base so that the "feet" protrude from the bottom. I applied some glue on top of each foot for added adhesion to the underside of the base. Subsequently, install your lamp mount, slide in the lithophanes, and secure the lid. Minimal supports should be required, specifically for the screwholes on the underside of the base. I utilized M3x14mm screws held in place by a nut on the opposite side (you may need longer screws if your lamp mount is thicker). The magnets used are 6x2mm, and you can find them here. If needed, I've included my Fusion 360 file to modify the magnet bays. I've also incorporated my remix of the TVÄRS socket mount by leonardlee into this design. All I've done is add a notch to avoid dismantling the lamp socket itself. Please note that I'm not an electrician and preferred to keep things uncomplicated. This lamp was designed with a 0.1mm tolerance in mind, although I don't possess the necessary Fusion 360 expertise to remake it with a 0.2mm tolerance without starting from scratch. Hopefully, this will still work for most of you. If you have any questions or need assistance with this project, please don't hesitate to reach out. I had an absolute blast designing and printing it.