Cubes and pyramids are wonderful primitive three-dimensional objects, but everyone knows that the real mystical power is in icosahedrons. Yes, the twenty-sided polyhedron does more than just ruin your saving throws in tabletop RPGs – it can also glow and look shiny in your loungeroom at home.
[janth]’s build relies on semitransparent acrylic mirrors for the infinity effect, lasercut into triangles to form the faces of the icosahedron. The frame is built out of 3D printed rails which slot on to the acrylic mirrors, and also hold the LED strips. [janth] chose high-density strips with 144 LEDs per meter for a more consistent effect, and added frosted acrylic diffusers to all the strips for a clean look with less hotspots from the individual LEDs.
An ESP32 runs the show, and the whole assembly is epoxied together for strength. The final effect is very future disco, and it’s probably against medical advice to stare at it for more than 5 minutes at a time.
The infinity effect is a popular one, and we’ve seen a beautiful cube build by [Heliox] in recent times. Of course, if you do manage to build an actual portal through time and space, and not just a lamp that looks like one, be sure to send us a tip. Video after the break.
Great now I need to make one. Where would I get properly cut glass to make this?
They used laser cut acrylic…
I don’t know if every town has them, but I’ve seen a glass/mirror shop before, a little off the beaten path.
Looks like an alien quantum computer from some sci-fi movie, nice.
Oooo, shiny. The cube from a few weeks ago had me interested (watched the whole build video even though I don’t speak French) but this one may have me ‘getting off the couch’ to actually make.
You’ve got a d6 and a d20. Complete the set!
I like it better with no diffuser (the cube). Those leds scanning up and down look very nice.
How many aliases does Benchoff use when writing for this site?
Lewin :)
I’m not sure I get the reference?
Ahh. Bring on those memories of vinyl record shops! Infinity mirrors, velvet black light posters and incense burning at the cash register.
Incense burning at the cash register, and “smoking accessories” “for legal tobacco use only” in the back.
You could make a rhombic dodecahedron on the same principles. I simulated things like this in a ray-tracer, and like the cube – but unlike the icosahedron – the rhombic dodecahedron tiles space, so when you look into it you see an infinite network.
https://www.deviantart.com/zh84/art/Rhombic-dodecahedral-honeycomb-770841538
http://kck.st/2DYgHpp A kit with 3d printed ribs LEDs and laser cut acrylic