Mill your LED's!!!

[theAnonymous1]

I was in need of a LED for a project and all I had on hand was various colors of 5mm LED's. The size of the LED didn't please my eye and I also didn't like how it threw off a focused beam of light.

Here was my solution......

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An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

Its very fast and easy to do. All I used was a cordless drill and a file. The LED lense material is easy to mill and also very strong. You can make it pretty thin without worrying about it breaking off.

I'm probably not the first person to think of this, but I havn't seen it done before.

 

[inuyasha44320]

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i wish i had thought of that!
i think ill try that

 

[carlsonmark]

Can you get a photo of that from an isometric view, please? Looks awesome from the side!

 

[theAnonymous1]

Hope this is what you mean....

 

[carlsonmark]

Yes, that is what I meant. Looks good from that angle too.

I know at least one person who has done that before, but I hadn't seen it until now.

 

[theAnonymous1]

Here is a pic of the amp I used it on. I had to pad it down with a 2k resistor, having all that light collecting in the small tip made a blinding sight.

The AMP3 based amp is a birthday present for my my lil' bro in the marines. Hope he likes it.

 

[cpemma]

I know at least one person who has done that before, but I hadn't seen it until now.

I flattened the top of a 3mm blue LED on my T-amp mod to kill the concentrated glare from in front, worked quite well. The dome shape is the main "lens" that determines beam angle on LEDs.

A guy called macroman at Bit-Tech drills holes into LEDs and fits a length of fibre-optic cable for a tiny point of light on such things as control knobs...he must have the touch of a midwife. That was first published Jan 1, 2002 so maybe pioneering.

btw, you can buy LEDs like the top one, "lighthouse" case down to about 2mm dia, though not in blue or white AFAIK.

 

[BWRX]

Very cool! It looks to be a very good way to turn the clear lens LEDs into something much more diffuse.

 

[theAnonymous1]

Yes, the diffused look was ultimately what I was going for. I could have just sanded the end, but I also wanted something smaller than 5mm.

I know you can buy diffused LED's of different sizes, but this forum is about DIY!!! Not to mention I have about a bazillion 5mm clear LED's.

 

[rcavictim]

You guys know of course that LED is an acronym. It stands for light emitting dot .

 

[theAnonymous1]

L .E .D = Light Emitting Diode

......Of all shapes and sizes.

 

[anatech]

LOL !

Good one Rob!

-Chris

 

[jrdmedford]

Ever thought about Dental School ?

Superb job!

I'd say you're ready to do a crown preparation next.

You might even like the extra detail steps involved in casting
the positive impression and melting the gold with a torch.

-- Jim

 

[theAnonymous1]

This is to show my love for DIY Audio.

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Man, I don't think its normal to be up at 3:30am doing this kind of stuff....hehehe.

 

[pinkmouse]

Awwww!

 

[Jan Dupont]

Nice

 

[AndrewT]

Hi Anon,
Nice ideas, custom LEDs (or dots).

BUT, your copper face plate is even nicer. A beauty

IMO. copper is much more attractive than brass.

 

[Pano]

I've been grinding down the ends of LEDs for a more diffused light and better fit.
Also painting them with silver nail polish to change the look.
Never done anything as fancy as a little pink heart. Sweet!

The plastic smells like acrylic. Is it?

 

[sivan_and]

Apply for a patent

 

[setmenu]

Hey, I like where this is going, LED Art.
Who is going to to be the first to carve a Statue of Liberty then?
Could start a little art gallery to feature peoples efforts.



Mark