TriPodLite(Basic)

thingiverse

The TriPodLite(Basic) consists of a base with a set screw, two MiniPivot connectors, a LiteBar, a 12vSocket, 6 EndCaps, 3 WireGuides, 4 lengths of 3/8" hardwood dowel, and a number of fasteners (two 5mm wing nuts, two 35mm M5 hex bolts, one 25mm M5 hex bolt and one M5 nut). What identifies this as the "basic" model is that it doesn't have a switch. You can upgrade this to a switched version by substituting a SwitchPort (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5888718) for the 12vSocket. A few comments about dowel. On the bright side it's cheap, reasonably sturdy and can be finished a number of ways. On the down side, it isn't dimensionally perfect; sometimes a little thick or thin and sometimes not perfectly round. For more consistent results metal tubing would work well. Most of the components of this lamp have already been posted on Thingiverse. Here's a list: 12vSocket https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5884749 MiniPivot https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5866393 LiteBar https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5868712 WireGuides https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5867030 The other parts which include the TriPodBase(Basic), the end caps and the knurled set screw cap are included here. As far as assembly is concerned it's pretty self explanatory. Two things that may not be obvious involve the set screw that controls the position of the vertical mast. The cap is a compression fit. The 25mm M5 bolt threads into it until it is seated on the top rim of the cap. At that point you need to line up the the hex head of the bolt with the hex recess of the cap and then tap it in. There is a hex recess in the base into which an M5 nut is inserted to receive the set screw. Also, the end caps are a compression fit and it is suggested that you chamfer the dowel for easier insertion. Also noteworthy is that in the configuration pictured ( using a strip of six 5050 SMD LED's), it's not very bright. That said you can use a larger LiteBar to improve the brightness. If it is to be used as a reading lamp, that would be recommended. There are 6, 9 and 12 led versions on the LiteBar url. The fun thing about this lamp is that it can be configured into a variety of interesting attitudes and by varying the lengths of the dowel it will accommodate a variety of task-specific configurations. The base, end caps and set screw cap can all be printed without support. Of the other components, only the LiteBar requires support.