RGB Light Panel

thingiverse

WiFi enabled RGB light panel provides visually appealing illumination. A WiFi enabled controller powers this illumination system using common place SMD5050 RGB light strips. This project was initially designed to be a cost-effective sensory lighting solution for individuals with Autism, but it also serves as an attractive home or office accent light. Other potential uses include night lights, alarm systems, and general lighting solutions. The 3D printed frame provides a track for the LEDs to slide through and aligns them with the Light Guide Panel (LGP), which diffuses the LED light. A mirror layer reflects any light emitted from behind the panel, while an opaque layer creates a solid light source appearance. Bill Of Materials includes: 1 x Printed frame (frame, joiner, and corner pieces) 1 x Strip of LEDs, preferably RGB 5050SMD – NON-WATERPROOF (circa. 1M in length) 1 x 3mm mirror acrylic (A3/A4 can be purchased off the shelf on eBay) 1 x 5mm clear acrylic, requiring laser/router etching 1 x 3mm opaque acrylic, used as a diffuser Principal: Etching Etching of the light guide panel has been estimated without scientific calculations. However, testing shows that the current pattern provides full and consistent lighting up to an A3 size panel (not tried larger). The etching was performed on a 40W laser cutter with full power at 50% speed. A surface roughing effect is desired rather than a hole. The WiFi controller is based on the ESP8266, but other RGB kits are available with infrared, RF, and WiFi solutions. As long as the LEDs are 5mm wide and the strip is 10mm wide, this design should work with any of these kits. If assistance is needed in sourcing parts, please leave a comment. Sizes Two sizes have been tested: A4 (210 x 297 mm) - 4 x 128mm frame lengths - 2 x 170mm frame lengths - 4 Joiners (can get away with 2) - 4 Corners A3 (297 x 420 mm) - 10 x 128mm frame lengths - 6 Joiners - 4 Corners Files All .STL files have been uploaded individually, as well as a full set for each size (A4 / A3). The acrylic etching has also been uploaded as a .DXF file; if another format is required, please ask. TODO: - Work out the best way to wall mount the panel. - Set up GitHub with board design files and software. Print Settings Printer: BQ Hephestos Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: 0.3mm Infill: 0% Notes: - Printed all parts with 0% infill, but used 2 perimeters (0.4mm nozzle) at a 0.3mm layer height. - Not experienced any issues with the tall parts, but some users may find it useful to add a raft for them. - Takes roughly 7 / 8 hours to complete the entire frame at once. Post-Printing Step 1: Etch the 5mm Acrylic Step 2: Feed the LED strip through the frame pieces, ensuring they are all in the same orientation (note: not symmetrical) Step 3: Sandwich the 3mm mirror and 5mm clear acrylic (with dots etched) with the dot side facing away from the mirror piece. Slide the frame parts on, including the diffuser. Step 4: Place the joiner pieces over the joints Step 5: Add the corner pieces, breaking out the LED strip connecting wire to the back if necessary Step 6 (Optional): Glue the pieces together for better strength Step 7: Plug it in and enjoy! Custom Section: WiFi Controller The WiFi controller is based on an ESP8266 and ON Semiconductor NTD20N06LT4G mosfets. The ESP8266 is programmed through the popular Arduino platform, supporting control through an MQTT connection of the self-hosted web interface. Many other devices can perform this function; if more details are needed, please leave a comment.