I think I want to make a wall light from my site's logo

[DaJe]

While thinking about my own laptop that I plan on building, I got the thought of putting a logo onto the laptop, to show I did it all myself. I thought I could use my site's logo. Then I had the thought, how about I make something bigger with it. At first I was thinking of just forming it out of aluminum. But then I got a better idea. I think what I'll do it make it out of colored, semi-opaque acrylic, and then have it light up.



This is the logo


http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/insurrection.jpg




I was thinking maybe what I'd do, rather than just cutting each side and adhering them together, I could first build a mold from aluminum, apply heat, and form the acrylic around to get the shape. And then I could mak the back of it all out of aluminum. I have no experience with forming acrylic in that manner though. And I'm also not sure what I'd want to do for a lighting element. OH! I have an idea! Maybe I could hook the power up via a 3 pin connector, plug it into my motherboard for a power source, and then the computer will think it's a fan and by adjusting he RPM I can brighten or dim it. Any thoughts, ideas, or input on my idea here?

[Luke122]

Depending on the size you plan on making it, you might find it not bright enough.

I'd say this is a good candidate for a CCFL taken from an old scanner.. or two or three. :)

I've got one that I've added a molex connector, so it *could* be used as a case light. Except it's really bright.. I'm instead planning on making a 12v utility light for my vehicle, powered either by the lighter plug or clipping directly to the battery posts. :)

[Roughhouse]

Since the logo is of failry basic shapes, I would take the approach of resin casting it. This may be a little more work, becuase of making the molds, but the resin should pour easier than trying to heat and mold acrylic sheets.

As for lighting I think it would be cool if you could cause the two colors to alternate on/off or even give it some kind of light chasing sequence around the logo.

Also if you would take the resin route you could embed some EL wire into the material, which could result in a interesting effect.

[xmastree]

It's a circular logo, so why not just buy a circular light, cut the logo out of sticky vinyl and stick it on the diffuser?

Something like this:
http://www.allenlighting.com.au/prodimg/21_icon.jpg (http://www.allenlighting.com.au/products.php)

[DaJe]

Well because that's just no fun, and it doesn't look as good. I plan on having mine be 3 dimensional.

[Eclecticos]

I think the easiest way to do that is a heat gun and different size pipes.
Along with varying thickness's of acrylic.
Clamp it on one side and let the heatgun do the work.

[DaJe]

A heat gun like one used for heat shrinking wires? If I used pipes, I would still need to shape them to be round like the logo. I should just build an aluminum logo and an acrylic one. The aluminum one can be painted, and the acrylic one can use the aluminum one to mold it.

[Eclecticos]

No. . Not a heatshrink gun. A heat gun 1500w +

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9049/8003zj3.jpg

And different size steel pipes.
All you'd have to do is heat the different acrylic or plexi
. .and it will take the shape of the pipe.

Kinda like pipe bending (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9132&highlight=pipe+bending). Except with Plexi, a Heat Gun, and different size pipes.

Or you could cut different size acrylic pipes down the center and use a acrylic rod for the center of the logo.
Thats just how i'd go about doing it.

[DaJe]

I see what you're saying now. I have my own ideas for how I want to build it though, and what I want it to look like. I found some transloucent blue 1/8" thick 2' x 4' acrylic sheets for $26 each, so that's good. Now I need to figure out what I want to do for lighting. I figure I can have like one 4 pin plug leading to my computer and then a bunch of CCFLs inside of it.

And I also need to figure out how I'm going to join all of the different parts of it together, since it's not one solid object.

[SgtM]

And I also need to figure out how I'm going to join all of the different parts of it together, since it's not one solid object.

Use a piece of clear (or frosted plexi) as a back.

[DaJe]

I was thinking of using aluminum to back each part of it. I have an idea though. I have a 6 inch hard acrylic tube. I should frost it, it use it to join all of the parts together. I could also run wires through it to connect power to all parts.

[si-skyline]

I say join them with the ally as you say but make a artistic modern comtempery look.. like all swirls and random part coming here and there. I like things like that because they dont have a meaning but there cool to look at and then think what it could be xD

good thing to look into is wire art or wire modeling for that stuff ;P
this looks like a fantastic idea and i cant wait to see it on your gloryifed wall :D