While you can get an LED matrix in any size or shape, the really cool looking ones that are perfect for low-res displays all have diffusors. When they come from a nameless Chinese factory, these diffusors are thin sheets of plastic set into an extruded plastic frame. Since [Jana] has a 3D printer, she figured a custom diffusor was just a few bits of filament and a SCAD file away.
The basis for this custom LED diffusor was a LoL Shield given to [Jana] by the creator at the recent 31C3 conference. This shield is really only just 126 LEDs, multiplexed and in an Arduino form factor, and that many LEDs were just too bright and indistinct next to each other. The plan for a 3D printed diffusor was hatched.
After taking a few measurements, a pair of OpenSCAD files were whipped up and printed out. Assembly consisted of pressing 126 tiny little white diffusors into a frame, but once everything was attached to the matrix, the results were worth it.
Check out the video below for the before and after, demonstrating what a few bits of plastic can do to a LED matrix.
“Assembly consisted of pressing 126 tiny little white diffusors into a frame,”
Looks like a great job for dual extrusion heads!
or possibly a redesign to make a “sheet” of diffusers and a backplate of dividers?
Also a very good idea, but i personally liked the black Framing
or possibly fill the printed grid with some soft or paste material (think acrylic) afterwards?
Print or mill a recessed grid in suitable translucent medium. Pour a mix of resin and black die in, and finally sand the cured lot flush until the clear plastic parts show properly. As an alternative you can probably print the black grid and pour the clear diffusing resin instead, and sanding both sides should give you pretty much the same result. bonus points for printing a grid to prevent light bleed on adjacent pixels
In English, we spell that “diffuser”…
In English, both are acceptable. Obviously I chose the least common spelling to troll the English majors in the audience.
lol
wiki: Diffuser (optics), a device that diffuses or spreads out or scatters light in some manner
Now the big question is does this “diffuser” actually help to diffuse in this project or actually prevents it?
Actually the -er suffix refers to the thing while the -or suffix refers to the person using the thing. For example a weldor is a person who uses a welder to weld.
Never call a member of the United States Navy a sailer. You’re calling that sailor a wind driven boat.
My Farnsworth Fusor disagrees.
im a bitch
im a lovor
im a child
im a mothor
im a sinnor
im a saint
What does im mean?
im is irish for butter.
Ah thanks bob, now the poem makes sense, it’s about buttering people.
Needs an ‘im a senator’ though, also ends in or