Milwaukee M12 lantern/torch

thingiverse

This is a lantern-type flashlight for Milwaukee M12 battery. It's my first design made with Fusion 360, so the quality may not be perfect, but if you want to use it, go ahead: https://a360.co/2HuXXlo **BOM** To assemble it, you'll need: - 3D printed base - a material with high heat resistance (like ABS/PETG) is recommended. - 3D printed LED strip holder - a material with high heat resistance (like ABS/PETG) is recommended. - 3D printed shade - a transparent material with high heat resistance is needed. I used transparent PETG. - 150cm of 12V, self-adhesive, white LED strip - 2 pieces of [6.3mm spade male connectors](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/20pcs-lot-6-3mm-Copper-Male-Wire-Splice-Crimp-Terminal-L15-Spade-Connector-Free-Shipping-Russia/32655259302.html) - 1 piece of [21x15mm rocker on/off switch](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5pcs-KCD1-perforate-21-x-15-mm-6-pin-2-positions-boat-rocker-switch-ON-OFF/32729944207.html) - 35cm of wire - Soldering iron **Printing instruction** Important note: Depending on the power of the LED strip you plan to use, you may need to choose a material with high heat resistance for all parts. *Base* Print with the thread on the bottom. Support is required. Use pliers to remove support from the inside. Don't worry too much if it doesn't look nice, as the inside is not visible after assembly. I used 25% infill with 1mm shell. *LED strip holder* Print with the wide ring on the bottom. No support is needed. This part is not visible. *Shade* Print from a transparent material (I used transparent PETG) with the thread on the top. I used 100% infill (it's only used in a small area near the thread). Some support may be used to achieve nice round edge. **Assembly instruction** - Print all 3 parts (I've uploaded two versions of the shade, but only one is needed). Use pliers to remove support from the base part. - Make sure that the shade can be screwed to the base. You may need to screw/unscrew it a few times to make sure that all excess material is removed. - Make sure that the M12 battery can be put/removed from the base. - Solder two 15cm wires to one side of the LED strip. - Attach the LED strip to a 3D printed LED strip holder. Put both wires through a small hole on the bottom of the LED strip holder and start attaching the LED strip from the bottom in a spiral pattern (see photos). Wires should stick out from the inside of the cylinder. Use one of top grooves to hook the last part of the LED strip. - Solder the 5cm wire to the second terminal of the rocker on/off switch. - Solder the first 6.3mm male spade connector to the other end of the 5cm wire. - Solder the second 6.3mm male spade connector to the second wire attached to the LED strip. - Put the rocker on/off switch into the base into its final position. - Check which spade connector is + and which is -. - Put spade connectors in their final position inside the base. Use pliers to push them through holes. Try not to bend them. - Insert the M12 battery into the base, turn on the switch and check if LED strip is working correctly. - Put the cylinder with the LED strip inside the base, put wires inside the cylinder. - Screw the shade to the base. Congratulations, You should have a working lantern :) **Final note** M12 battery voltage goes from 12.6V to 8.4V. As there's no voltage/current regulation, the LED strip light is brighter on the fully charged battery and it gets dimmer when the battery discharges. But it still should give a lot of light. To fix this, one could use 24V LED strip with [DC-DC step-up converter](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-MT3608-DC-DC-Step-Up-Power-Apply-Module-Booster-Power-Module-MAX-output-28V-2A/32649245714.html). There should be plenty of space inside the LED strip holder to put such converter inside.