Home Sign Up!

Explore Community Submit

All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science Tech

Awesome led cube

by AlexTheGreat on January 22, 2008

Table of Contents

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: Awesome led cube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: materials and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 2: the box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 3: lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 4: finish the box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 5: armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 6: Time Travel! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Intro: Awesome led cube

You never know when you might need a glowing cube to convince people you are from the future.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
step 1: materials and tools
To make this you will need:
A LED (preferably high power)
a 3 volt coin cell battery
a 100 ohm resistor (anything close to 100 will work)
a momentary or push button switch.
thin sheet metal
plexiglass

tools:
hot glue gun
metal shears
sharpie
saw
soldering iron

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
step 2: the box
Cut out 6 squares of equal size from the plexiglass with a saw.
Use the hot glue gun to make them into a box. Leave off the last side for now.
Drill a hole in one side of the box, make the hole large enough for the button on the switch to be pushed through it.

step 3: lighting
Solder together the switch, resistor, and the led.
Duct tape the two wires that remain to the battery.
Hot glue the assembly to the inside of the cube with the button in the hole.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
step 4: finish the box
Fill the box with hot glue to diffuse the light.
Glue the final side on.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
step 5: armor
Cut out of the sheet metal futuristic designs and glue them onto the cube.
Make sure that when you glue onto the button you don't stop it from being pressed down, and that it sticks out enough to be pushed down.

To give you an idea, Duck-Lemon made two templates. (last pictures)

step 6: Time Travel!

Use the cube to slow, stop, or reverse time, or even turn ordinary technology into transformers. Your choice.

It looks the best in the dark.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
 Related Instructables

My LED Cube
Awesome LED My Awesome Get the RBG LED Picture 3D companion DIY - Rubik's
My Awesome (slideshow) by
Computer Mod Led LED Circuit Boxes by cube. Its time to Cube - Blind
Cube.......................LED Cube from Glowing n8man fire up Inventor Man's Cube -
(slideshow) by Brennn10
AlexTheGreat (slideshow) by (Allspark) by Ice Cubes by and make my Metal Rubiks
blckthng Da_Fudge benthekahn own companion cube by gtig
cube. by
Bctcteacher

Advertisements

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 1423 comments

yggdrazil says: Jan 11, 2010. 2:59 PM REPLY

Really cool!
Can you just imagine your opponents face if you make one of these as a Necron monolith for Warhammer 40K?

patto2142 says: Jan 12, 2010. 4:20 PM REPLY

Theyd be like lolwut?

Phoghat says: Jan 12, 2010. 5:26 AM REPLY

the local Rite-Aid had a sale on photo cubes (what you ha ve except no bottom panel) so i bought a few. used window privacy spray paint to fog, and
aluminum foil for metal pieces.

jcb2222 says: Jan 10, 2010. 5:07 AM REPLY

i just checked this out today,i'mnot sure i could afford it 'cause i'm *blank* and bareley get a allowance.

survivletroop says: Jan 8, 2010. 5:59 PM REPLY

my freinds think im from the futre

KeviBear says: Jan 8, 2010. 3:23 PM REPLY

What i just realized is you could add a joule thief just to make it last longer and even make it brighter.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
 pichu1994 says: May 7, 2009. 4:37 PM REPLY
how much were all of the materials? could you get them for under 40$?

wazooda says: Jan 7, 2010. 1:43 AM REPLY

yeah you can get all the materials for about £10/$16. i'm not sure if rapid electronics ships to america. if it does get your stuff from there it's really good

Beard of Zeus! says: Jun 27, 2009. 3:17 PM REPLY

I did mine for free so far: found a decent green LED @ my house, resistor I had (don't ask), took the button from a broken flashlight, and used a CD jewel
case for the sides of the cube. I have yet to complete the outside, though

Tommyhzy says: May 13, 2009. 12:43 PM REPLY

I would say the Plexiglas is about $1, the LED is $.02 online to $3 Radioshack, and the battery is about 0.19 online and $2 in stores. The hot glue is $1
for 300 sticks where I come from.

dunnos says: Jun 29, 2009. 11:53 PM REPLY

OMG, could you send me some? ;P

dunnos says: Jun 29, 2009. 11:54 PM REPLY

some of the glue i meant

Tommyhzy says: Jun 30, 2009. 8:10 AM REPLY

Oops I forgot to put the 0 there... It's supposed to be $10 for 300 sticks.

Kryptonite says: Nov 16, 2009. 10:11 PM REPLY

Mines $10 for 50. Sad.

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 3, 2009. 4:21 PM REPLY

wtf plexiglass is $24 for a good sized sheet led is $2 if high voltage

Tommyhzy says: Jun 3, 2009. 7:26 PM REPLY

Actually, the amount of plexiglas used in this project is surprisingly little, so I would say really, about $1 for what it's worth. The LED you're talking
about is probably from Radioshack or any other electronics dealer. If you buy them online, you can get EXTREME discounts, especially if directly
from the Hong Kong manufacturers.

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 23, 2009. 8:06 AM REPLY

im in hk right now led is $2 hk which is very little . ( tri colour is $2 ) is about 1/7 of a canadian or us $

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 7, 2009. 3:40 PM REPLY

but what thickness? i bought a 10x24 inch plexiglass Y_Y

Tommyhzy says: Jun 7, 2009. 7:18 PM REPLY

Thinner is better, you don't want to cut THICK< CHUNKY plexiglas for hours and hours , do you? But don't get too thin, about 2
millimetres is awesome. (Yes, I'm Canadian, I'll include this so you'll be satisfied: Eh?!! ! :D

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 8, 2009. 4:39 PM REPLY

did i ask if u were canadian ( i am too.) and thicker is better ( stronger) thinner is better (easier to cut)

Tommyhzy says: Jun 8, 2009. 5:12 PM REPLY

Canadian pride! Anyways, I prefer thinner because what's the use of using THICK plexiglas? I mean, it's not going to be a safe...
or a protective screen... Just an enclosing for a hot glue blob.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
 ninj4boy00 says: Jun 11, 2009. 6:12 PM REPLY
im making a ball (sphere) looks cooler

Tommyhzy says: Jun 11, 2009. 7:07 PM REPLY

I'd like to see how you make the plexiglas curved. WAIT A DARN MINUTE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SPELL CHECK
BUTTON?!

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 12, 2009. 5:41 PM REPLY

u buy pre rounded plexiglass duh!!!

Tommyhzy says: Jun 12, 2009. 7:17 PM REPLY

Really? I've never seen it in all the stores I shop in. Does it come in hemispheres or full spheres, ...? I think
rounded Plexiglas could be used for something very cool in the near future... Note: I think Plexiglas is spelled with 1
"s".

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 13, 2009. 9:22 AM REPLY

u could always just buy a hamster ball

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 13, 2009. 9:21 AM REPLY

2 halves makes it easier to put led in

ninj4boy00 says: Jun 13, 2009. 9:21 AM REPLY

buy 2 halves , look in electronics section of hardware, used to create firm light domes 4 lawns take them apart
glue 2 haves tghr

Tommyhzy says: Jun 13, 2009. 4:19 PM REPLY

HaHAHAHAHAmster ball! But you DO realize they're PERFECT with that door abut except for those air
holes... That could make filling the ball with hot glue a pain.

Thanks for the domes tip, I appreciate it.

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 15, 2009. 8:59 PM REPLY

Hobby stores often sell plastic balls in two hemispheres. Sometimes they'll have various sizes. I got one
that was 80mm. I'm not canadian, I'm Texan. (Canadians and Texans seem to be the most prideful
about where they're from of anyone. I can't say who has more pride. Just thought I'd mention that.) But
back to the point. I just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone that was wanting the pre made balls
w/o holes.

Sponzyparadox says: Jun 28, 2009. 4:48 PM REPLY

LOL never met a New Yorker then have ya? Another place to look would be at holiday ornaments
they are round and you can put stuff in them. IDK just a random though

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 28, 2009. 6:47 PM REPLY

I have met New Yorkers before. And as proud as they are, it's less common for them to be as
proud as a Texan or a Canadian (No offense intended). But then again it may also depend on
the area of New York they come from. And you're right, about ornaments. I have looked at them.
They are affordable, and come in multiple sizes. You have to be careful about the glass ones,
they will break, with or without stuff inside them. Their greatest downfall though, is their general
inability to come apart and go back together. Getting the battery assembly in and positioning an
LED inside them could be possible, but tricky. But I like how you think. Keep it up. Happy
tweaking, Sinisterly, The Not So Nice Guy

Tommyhzy says: Jun 28, 2009. 8:55 PM REPLY

Wow... It's so hard to believe that all this started with a simple mention if an idea... By the
way I'm actually 13 years old (seriously) But hey, it's never too late to start being innovative!
Oh and it's just me, normal 13 year old aren't this proud of being 13... :D

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
 ninj4boy00 says: Jan 8, 2010. 2:16 PM REPLY
im 12

mideivalmenace says: Sep 19, 2009. 8:17 PM REPLY

Hay I'm 13 too I think the LED cube is so cool and I discovered that just a 9 volt battery
works fine but I can't decide what color LED to use.

kdude63 says: Aug 8, 2009. 1:40 PM REPLY

I agree... I am 13 too and I am not really that proud of being 13, I would rather be 16 and
have a car and job. :D But I wouldn't say that I am perfectly normal either. lol

Sponzyparadox says: Aug 8, 2009. 6:41 PM REPLY

Never underestimate the power of a 13 year old. And being normal is so boring.
YEAH odd geeks for the win!

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 29, 2009. 6:34 AM REPLY

HAHA! Yeah. I suppose you're right about that. I have a 13 year old brother. He's smart,
and resourceful, but he's not as into this type of stuff. So I know what you're saying. And
yes, it's tough to believe that all this came from the mention of one idea. But it means
that people are thinking. And that's good. That's what makes technological advances
(and good conversation).

Sponzyparadox says: Jun 29, 2009. 10:35 AM REPLY

True very true though the best way to design and build stuff is to talk about it and
then take the best ideas. THough if you fill the bulb with silicone yu will make it
harder to break. And there are bulbs made out of plexi for outdoor use try those. IDK
And well you met the wanna be new yorkers. We don't know what to do with
ourselfves if we can't argue with eachother. Yankees v Mets Jets v Giants the list
goes on and on, Upstate v Downstate is the biggest though.

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 29, 2009. 3:11 PM REPLY

I'm sure I did meet the wanna be's. I went to NYC, and their pride was more in
what was in New York than New York itself (But it may have simply been living in
the crowded city that dampened their pride of state). And the plexi bulbs are a
good idea. Though I've already tried filling ornaments with silicone. It doesn't dry.
It would take years. So try hot glue. Though my dilemma is fitting the battery
through the small hole, and positioning the LED in the center. Positioning the
LED isn't so tough if you simply fill the bulb half way before placing it. But let me
know if you figure out a way to get a battery in the ornament without cutting a
hole too large.

Tommyhzy says: Jun 29, 2009. 8:07 AM REPLY

Now THAT'S what humans are meant to do, think, think, think, idea, idea, idea,
conversation, innovation! I never had such a heated friendly conversation in a
Lonnnnnnnnggg time. It's nice to have other people to talk to.

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 29, 2009. 3:19 PM REPLY

I know what you mean. There is no one our age in this area, much less with our
interests. Unfortunately our type is few and far between, and too often they are
unsavory. But innovators are the builders of tomorrow. So Texans are known for
their pride, I've met enough Canadians to know of their pride, and we now have a
New Yorker testifying of their pride. Argentineans are also prideful. And we have
smaller factions (innovators, Hams, cyclists, etc.) that are prideful. Is there really
any practical, and ethical way to measure a persons pride?

Tommyhzy says: Jun 29, 2009. 4:21 PM REPLY

For some reason, I just can't stop thinking about the Lion from The Wizard Of
Oz. Or was that bravery?

nomooremr.niceguy says: Jun 29, 2009. 7:09 PM REPLY

Yes. He had trouble with bravery. But close enough.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/
 Sponzyparadox says: Jun 30, 2009. 2:21 PM REPLY
how did the lion get into this discussion? lol

Tommyhzy says: Jun 30, 2009. 5:28 PM REPLY

Well, once upon a time, in a faraway time, when all the little
DIYers and Instructablers (?) were frolicking in the gleeful
meadows of the LEDs, there was a ninj4boy00 who decided to
state a very daring resolution. He was going to build a spherical
LED "Cube"! So a Tommyhzy came and got curious, as this type
of idea was seldom heard of. So they got into a very heated but
polite conversation, exchanging knowledge all about the
ridiculously complicated world. nomooremr.niceguy and
Sponzyparadox soon joined the discussion and kind of morphed it
into a philosophical, intellectual talk. So then began the
"arguments" about pride, from Texans to Canadians, New Yorkers
to 13 year olds, all the while still remaining on the firm ground of
related conversation, never straying too far from the base topic,
the topic pichu1994 started, which was the topic of how much the
materials would cost . Soon, the discussion turned a bit, with idea-
to-text-to-world-to-media-to-film connections. And then a curious
little child named Sponzyparadox came and asked about how that
idea-to-text-to-world-to-media-to-film connection was made. So
the eternal storyteller came and started the tale. From then on, the
knowledge of how the lion made its way into the conversation was
known far and wide, to the North, South, East, and West. As the
people gained this knowledge, the townsmen rejoiced, and they
all lived happily ever after. (Wow that actually took me 21 minutes
and I went through 3 drafts)

Gmechanic says: Jan 8, 2010. 11:07 AM REPLY

Patent your cube, and slap that onto a packaging label, mass
produce/market, and there ya go -instant billionaire. ;)

Sponzyparadox says: Jun 30, 2009. 6:30 PM REPLY

Tommy that was epic haha. Yeah I suppose we must have our
ADD moments. I mean who else would look at a cd case and
see glowing sphere thingy?

nomooremr.niceguy Jun 30, 2009. 6:13 PM REPLY

says:
HAHA! Nice. So what should we throw into the mix next?

Sponzyparadox Jun 30, 2009. 6:43 PM REPLY

says:
Ohh cookie mix? lol Yeah man I love convos like this
though

view all 1423 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/Awesome-led-cube/