LASER CUT LIGHT BOXES - SCOPES Digital Fabrication
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Lesson Details

Subjects
Arts, Engineering, Science
Age Ranges
11-14, 14-18, 5-8
Fab Tools
electronics, 2D design software, Laser cutter
Standards
4.MD.A1, 2.MD.A1, 2.MD.A4, Fab-Safety.1, Fab-Electronics.1, Fab-Modeling.1, Fab-Fabrication.1, Fab-Design.1
Author
CITC Fab Lab

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Author

CITC Fab Lab
CITC Fab Lab
Informal educator
We are Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s Fabrication Lab. We are based out of Anchorage Alaska serving Alaska Native and American Indian students based in the Anchorage school district. We teach design, building, and fabrication with a cultural emphasis. Our different… Read More

Summary

Create your own personalized light box that includes LED strands and DC power supply. The image, LED light colors and display box dimensions are up to you!! 

Time: 16 hours if designing images, cutting and soldering

 

What You'll Need

Tools:

Computer – Corel or Adobe Illustrator

Soldering Iron

Laser Engraver

 

Contents:

12 Volt DC Power Supply

DC Power Jack

  Power Switch

12 Volt LED Strip (approx. 17.75” long)

2 (or 3) colored wires

    Laser cut box template ( attached file for 5x5x1.5 box or http://www.makercase.com/)

Materials: 

Wire Strippers

Solder

    Flux

    Wire cutters

    Hot glue gun

    Glue sticks

    Painters Tape

Plywood (Acrylic, Cardboard, etc.)

Lesson Materials

The Instructions

Beginning Your Design/ Modifying Your Box Template

Designing and Cutting out your Box.

Step 1:

Create a design for the front of your light box. Design it using either Corel or Illustrator. If this task seems to challenging or you don’t have enough time, simply find an image you enjoy on the web. Add the vector image to the center of the lid of your light box.

 

Adding the cut outs for hardware:

If you do not use the file (Attached file – 5x5x1.5 box.cdr) make sure you include the power adaptor jack cut out and power switch cut out.

Dimensions are as follows: 0.36” X 0.42” (power adaptor jack) and 0.41” X 0.23” (power switch). This is a great oppurtunity to have students measure the items and get accurate measurements.

 

Step 2: Cut out your light box

If you need help with the vector and/or raster settings, let an instructor know. Use the settings for your specific laser and material.

 

Step 3: Building the Box

Place sides together first. Use painters tape to hold the sides in place while gluing the box together.

 

Make sure you think about where you want your power adaptor jack and switch to be on the box. Hint: The keyhole on the back of the box is to hang the light box on the wall. Once you’ve found the perfect layout for you, go ahead and glue all the sides together.

DO NOT glue both of the covers… leave one side open in order to solder wires. 

 

Step 4: Installing the power adapter and switch

Install the power adaptor jack by inserting it from the inside of the box to the outside of the box. Glue it in place. Insert the power switch from the outside of the box to the inside. Ensure that the metal leads for the power adaptor jack are facing up. You will find that soldering wires to the leads are much easier in this position.