Homemade Lite-Brite

[Fuganater]

Anyone ever make a Homemade Lite-Brite? I saw a huge one and the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh and thought it would be sweet to make.

I would make the pegs out of 3/4" acrylic dialrods in all different colors. The hardest part is making it so the light doesn't come through the closed holes. I'll have to get some type of 1/16" or 1/8" rubber and cut an "X" in it where the hole is to make a type of flap. I think. Or maybe just a flap. It all depends on the lighting I use. Weather I use a bunch of LEDs (10mm, probably 3-4 under each hole for the desired brightness through the acrylic rod.) Or some tube lights like you have in your celling at work.

Just wanted to see if anyone has done this before or has some suggestions. I'll be drawing some sketchup models soon.

Cheers.

[OvRiDe]

Talk about weird timing...

We are helping my Sister get some stuff ready for a garage sale, and in the process of going through some stuff, we came across this...

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/ovride/images/misc/Lite-Brite01.jpg

Our Original Lite-Brite!

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/ovride/images/misc/Lite-Brite02.jpg

Still have alot of the pegs.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/ovride/images/misc/Lite-Brite03.jpg

and we even found a box of patterns

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/ovride/images/misc/Lite-Brite04.jpg

My daughter saw it and fell in love, so it looks like it will be in the family for a bit longer. :D

[AmEv]

Hmmm.



A completely LED light-bright?

[SgtM]

I like Am-Ev's idea. Make the LEDs the pegs instead of a peg board. Best of all, you could power it with a 9v battery.

[Fuganater]

FYI guys... this is for my daughters 2nd birthday.

[billygoat333]

I like Am-Ev's idea. Make the LEDs the pegs instead of a peg board. Best of all, you could power it with a 9v battery.


that is what I was thinking... just make it so the leads on the LED pegs make contact with the power on the board.

[AmEv]

And use white LEDs instead of trying to figure out how to program RGB LEDs.

Have the peg push the LED.





Oh, and patent it, if you can. Could make some nice money if it goes through.

[Fuganater]

Ya'll lost me.

[AmEv]

Have white LEDs in a scattered pattern like any light bright is.

But, get ~100-ish LEDs, and have the peg push them, which pushes a button. Individually controlled, and you don't have to waste any paper.

[Fuganater]

Mine will be like this.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Giant-Lite-Brite/

As of now it will cost roughly $200 to make it and that does not include the pegs. Arcylic dial rods are uber expensive so thats another $200.

[TLHarrell]

Saw that at Maker Faire Bay Area. It's always a crowd pleaser.

[Fuganater]

So I'm back at this. We were going to wait but I scored a 47" TV box made of wood. (From America!) I may need some help figuring out spacing for the holes. I'll have to have it all laser cut.

[Fuganater]

To keep a log for myself...

I have figured out:
Amount of Acrylic needed
Light Switch
Plug
How to stabilize the acrylic sheets (Well kind of, I know how to stabilize them on the edges. Need to figure out how to do it in the middle.
Rubber backing needed to cover the holes


Need to figure out:
Lights (2 or 3 sets) (Black light for florescent)
Fans (2 in the bottom only or 2 top 2 bottom)
Acrylic Vendor
Size of Acrylic Rods (1/2"OD, 3/4"OD or 1" OD)
Spacing for holes (Depends on the size of rod)
Wire Terminals (Sold out online at a few stores)
Cable Management (Probably going to use P-Clips)
Moulding (this will hold in the top layer of acrylic and make it look clean)

[TLHarrell]

I'd add a black felt layer behind the holes with little + shaped holes that will block light until the rods are put in. Have that also laser cut.

For supporting the plexiglass in the middle, you might look at using some aluminum L and drilling it out where it covers any holes. You only need to support against forces inward on the panel. Withdrawing the rods should not move the panel at all.

[Fuganater]

The rubber is for behind the holes. Felt will not hold its original shape well.

I'm thinking of making 1x1 stand offs to support thy plexi.

[Fuganater]

Here are some pictures of what I have done so far.

Front
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Misc%20Projects/Homemade%20Lite-Brite/Front2-5-2012.png
The blue box in the top right is the wire box for the switch

Inside bottom
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Misc%20Projects/Homemade%20Lite-Brite/InsideBottom2-5-2012.png
You can see the 2 92mm fans that will pull air into the box.

Bottom
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Misc%20Projects/Homemade%20Lite-Brite/Bottom2-5-2012.png
The fans have grills over them so my daughter doesn't get her finger in there.

Switch Side
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Misc%20Projects/Homemade%20Lite-Brite/Switchside2-5-2012.png
Single Pole Double switch at the top and the IEC plug

Channeling
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Misc%20Projects/Homemade%20Lite-Brite/Channels2-5-2012.png
These channels are 1/4" wide which is enough to get the plexi in. The 2 front pieces will have the holes it it and be spaced 1" apart. Then 1" back will be a solid clear piece of plexi as the backstop.

Still loads more work to come.