The LithoLight

thingiverse

This is my LithoLight. PS: If you are here for the avatar litho, I've included that as well, but I may make a separate Thingiverse link - I used Hatchbox Mint PLA for that. IMPORTANT UPDATE 12/19/18: I have once again redesigned the LithoLight to accommodate a press-fitted side switch (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B2S5QYN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), making it easier to assemble and use. IMPORTANT UPDATE 12/19/18: I have also improved the instructions to make them clearer and more concise, so you can easily follow along and create your own LithoLight. FULL INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Download your lithophane from the previously mentioned website. 2. Merge it in your slicer with the "New_HC_LithoLight_Mount" file. Just drag the lithophane (standing up) to the mount, and position it so that it intersects the model, while lining up the curved edges as seen in the picture. 3. While that is printing, disassemble the nightlight by pulling off the diffuser, unscrewing the screw in the back, cutting the sticker at the bottom, unscrewing the ring on the top, and pulling it apart. Save the circuit board. 4. Next, find the daylight sensor on the circuit board. It's a little red pad with two wires are soldered to two pads on front-center. Drop two little blobs of solder on it's connections, so that the original solder melts and pull it off while it's melted. 5. Then grab your switch. Solder your wire to two pins next to each other, leaving an unused one on the left or right. 6. Next you are going to solder the wire to the same connections (pads) that you pulled the daylight sensor from earlier. It doesn't exactly matter which goes on which side. 7. Now this is very IMPORTANT, make sure there are no pieces of wire or metal touching anything else, especially the wall socket prongs that are soldered through the circuit board. 8. Take some hot glue or tape and wrap or glue everything up, so nothing is touching anything it's supposed to, as well as supporting the weight from your soldering joints. 9. Next, print the enclosure. These are the "front" and "back" files. 10. Once those are printed, take your circuit board and push the prongs through the holes in the "back". Make sure the LED bulb is facing up. 11. Now take your switch and push it through the hole in the front, so that it is reasonably flush with the edge. 12. Everything should snap together now fairly easily. Again, make sure that everything is taped or glued so that when you close it, no wires or metal are going to touch anything else and short the board. 13. Use the screw from before and push it through the hole in the back. When you tighten the screw, push hard against it so that it threads through the plastic. 14. Now slide on your lithophane and push it all the way so the edges of the mount are flush with the back. 15. Plug it into the wall and turn it on! If it's not working, open it back up and make sure your soldering connections are good, nothing is loose, and nothing is touching anything it's not supposed to be touching. EZ MODE INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Perform steps 1 & 2 in the above instructions. 2. Slide the diffuser off the nightlight. (the plastic cover thing) 3. Put black or non-translucent tape over the daylight sensor window on the front of the nightlight. 4. Slide on the lithophane w/ mount. 5. Plug into wall and enjoy. Some things you might want to try: 1. Bigger lithophanes. 2. Different colored/multicolor LEDs. 3. Lower/Higher resistors (be careful). 4. LED Strips. 5. Swap out the circuit board for an Arduino with a battery? 6. Use just a battery, boost converter w/ micro USB, resistor, and LED. Make it powered via micro USB 5v. 7. Anything your heart desires!