New project: lightsabers as a light source
23 Oct 2024 - star wars, ljussabel, lightsaber
Combining my love for Star Wars with a DIY project has always been in the back of my mind, and now that we’re approaching Christmas, it felt like the right time to get started! In this project, I’m building a light source based on four lightsabers – a tribute to the iconic Star Wars saga that also serves as a cool Advent installation. I thought I’d give an insight into my process so far and the challenges I’ve encountered!
The Concept
The idea started as a thought to create an Advent candle holder, but instead of classic candles, I wanted to make something more personal. I decided to 3D print four lightsaber handles and combine them with LED strips mounted in rods to create an illuminated installation that can change color and brightness. The idea is that the installation should not only work as decoration but also have a function – controlled via HomeKit and showing the countdown to Christmas Eve! So normally it’s a light source like any other, but on December 1st, they have a special light pattern that follows the colors from the movies and lights up one by one, with one-sixth at a time. Could be really cool!
Project Components
To get the project to work, I needed some specific components:
- 3D printed lightsaber handles: Anakin’s, Vader’s, Obi-Wan’s, and Luke’s
- LED strips (WS2812B): Each rod contains an LED strip that can be addressed individually, making it possible to control each individual LED.
- Raspberry Pi 4: The Pi will serve as the brain of the project, handling the logic and interacting with HomeKit via Homebridge.
- Power supply: A PSU providing 5V at 40A for the Pi and all LED strips
I’ve also experimented with using different mounting solutions to hold the rods and handles firmly and at the same height, despite their different shapes and sizes.
3D Printing and Design
One of the most fun parts of the project has been printing the lightsaber handles and painting them.
I have all the lightsabers from the only Star Wars trilogy that counts: Anakin’s (which Luke gets from Obi-Wan in the first movie), Vader’s, Obi-Wan’s, and finally Luke’s own that he builds after losing Anakin’s on Bespin.
I have all the lightsabers from the only Star Wars trilogy that counts: Anakin’s (which Luke gets from Obi-Wan in the first movie), Vader’s, Obi-Wan’s, and finally Luke’s own that he builds after losing Anakin’s on Bespin.
I have also sketched and 3D printed adjustable spacers to keep the rods at the same level. One idea is to use superglue to attach the spacers, and I have also created a solution with adjustable lengths to be able to precisely adapt the height.
Mounting Challenges
One of the biggest challenges has been finding a stable and discreet mounting solution to keep the LED rods in place without being too visible. I want the light to spread evenly without any mounts showing. I have considered different methods,
Mer i Hobby
Nyckelord: star wars, ljussabel or lightsaber
