Project Lightsaber

thingiverse

Welcome to Project Lightsaber - my take on creating a lightsaber construction kit that's a cut above the rest. This project is unique in its approach, using a piece of 1 inch PVC tubing as the foundation for the saber. I discovered that by taking this route, the 3D printed pieces can be significantly thinner (less material used, faster printing) and the PVC tube adds both strength and weight to the finished product. The entire set of parts (and I'll be adding more) either slip over the PVC like a sleeve or fit snugly over the ends (e.g. the end cap and emitter bits). The PVC tubing itself is a common item that can be easily found at any hardware store in the USA. The "1 inch" designation refers to the inside diameter (~ 26mm) and an outside diameter of ~ 33.5mm, which is what my pieces are designed to fit over. To minimize the need for supports during printing, I've made sure to design the parts with minimal overhangs. However, sometimes it's unavoidable; using the "tree support" option in Cura has proven to be a great solution when needed. Additionally, some pieces (like the emitters) are designed to print as two separate parts that snap together. The idea is to allow users to mix and match different pieces to create their own unique lightsaber prop. With a bit of creativity and paint, I'm confident you'll be thrilled with the result and the overall feel of it. I've found that about 8 inches of PVC is all you need for a single saber that combines a pommel, grip, switch, and emitter. There are also pommel "caps" available to customize the look further. If you have any ideas for additional parts or would like to share examples of what you've created using this kit, please leave your comments below. I'd love to see what you come up with!