Infinity mirrors have been gaining in popularity recently, thanks in no small part to the availability of low-cost RGB LED strips to line them with. Generally such pieces are limited to wall art, or the occasional table build, which is what makes these infinity mirror drink coasters from [MnMakerMan] so unique.
Built from an ATtiny85 and a WS2812B LED strip nestled into a 3D printed enclosure, these coasters are relatively cheap and easy to assemble should you want to run a few off before the holiday party season. [MnMakerMan] mentions the LEDs can consume a decent amount of energy, so he’s included a module to allow recharging of the internal 3.7 V 1500 mAh battery over USB.
Of course, a couple of PLA pieces and a custom PCB doesn’t make an infinity mirror. To achieve the desired effect, he’s created a stack consisting of a 4″ glass mirror, a 1/8″ thick plexiglass disc, and one-way mirror tint film. The WS2812B strip mounted along the circumference lights up the void between the two surfaces, and produces a respectable sense of depth that can be seen in the video after the break.
This isn’t the first high-tech piece of surface protection we’ve seen around these parts, as some very nice wirelessly charged supercapacitor coasters were entered into the 2019 Hackaday Prize. Of course, if you’re of the opinion that coasters should remain as cheap as possible, we’ve seen a number of automated attempts to add some flair to the classic paperboard discs.
great
Astounding
Spectacular
Splendiferous
Superb
Well if an infinity coaster means my drink will never run out I’ll take a dozen!
Instead of USB charging how about like Paneras does with their pucks? Little pins on the bottom that mate to pads on the top of the next one. Stack them to charge. The pins could be the feet of the coaster.
Just use wireless charging, also putting the electronics in the core and using a cylinder instead of a disc would shave off some height.
Unintentional million-dollar idea: replace pucks in restaurants with infinity-mirror versions of same.
This isn’t a coaster, this is a pedestal. That thing is entirely too thick to be a “coaster”. Nice job, but try a little harder to lose some inches in the height of the thing.
Make a round e-bike battery holder with one of those on the back, appropriately animated by the motor RPM.